Mgr Demand & Commercial Planning

The Hershey Company•Lower Swatara Township, PA

3d•Remote

About The Position

The Category Consultant, Northeast Grocery will be a key partner to internal teams, leadership, and external customers, helping drive category growth across the wholesale channel. In this role, you will use data, insights, and category expertise to support strategic business plans, identify growth opportunities, and bring compelling recommendations to life with customers and cross-functional partners. This is an exciting opportunity to blend analytics, storytelling, and customer partnership to help shape category strategies for some of Hershey’s most beloved brands. The position is targeted toward experienced professionals at the Managerial level (S50) with a proven track record in demand and commercial planning within complex business environments. The ideal candidate will demonstrate advanced analytical capabilities and leadership skills suitable for a dynamic, cross-functional role. As Manager of Demand & Commercial Planning based in Hershey, this role is pivotal in driving robust planning strategies that intertwine demand insights and portfolio management across diverse market segments. You will architect and sustain sophisticated forecasting frameworks that amalgamate commercial intelligence and financial data, enabling well-informed decision-making at a divisional scale. This role demands a high degree of autonomy to interpret complex datasets and translate them into actionable business strategies, fostering collaboration with stakeholders across Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain functions. By leading process innovation and contributing to the design of cutting-edge planning tools, you will ensure the company remains agile and responsive to market fluctuations and consumer behavior changes. This position offers an exciting career path for individuals passionate about shaping demand strategies that influence both commercial success and financial outcomes.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in demand planning, commercial forecasting, or related strategic roles within fast-paced, data-intensive environments.
A bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field is typically required.
Proficiency with planning software, advanced analytical tools, and the ability to communicate complex concepts clearly to diverse audiences are essential.
Demonstrated skills in cross-functional collaboration, strategic thinking, and problem-solving are critical to succeeding and driving impactful results in this role.

Nice To Haves

Advanced qualifications such as a Master's degree or relevant certifications in forecasting, planning, or data analytics are advantageous.

Responsibilities

Demand and Commercial Forecast Ownership: Develop, refine, and manage comprehensive demand and commercial forecasts that utilize historical data, market trends, and input from multiple business units to support strategic and operational planning.
Scenario Planning and Trade-Off Analysis: Lead the creation of alternative demand scenarios to assess potential business risks and opportunities, evaluating the impact of pricing strategies, promotional activities, and portfolio changes on projected outcomes.
Cross-Functional Planning Collaboration: Engage actively with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to synchronize forecasting efforts, resolve discrepancies, and optimize overall business planning through collaborative dialogues and shared insights.
Performance Analysis and Insight Generation: Conduct detailed analyses of forecast accuracy and commercial performance, identifying deviations and drivers behind them, and delivering clear, data-driven recommendations for continuous improvement.
Process and Planning Capability Improvement: Champion improvements in planning methodologies and tools by evaluating current processes, proposing enhancements, and facilitating the adoption of best practices to drive planning precision and consistency.