Regional Demand Planning Manager – Steel (NAFTA)

Vesuvius•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

This role is responsible for owning and managing the regional demand plan for Steel across NAFTA at product, customer, and location levels. The position ensures the delivery of an unconstrained, consensus demand plan to support supply planning and execution processes, maintaining a clear linkage between demand plans and commercial assumptions. The role also involves leading the statistical baseline forecast process, facilitating commercial review and adjustment cycles, and leading Demand Review meetings to formally release the demand plan into supply planning. Additionally, the manager will own forecast accuracy, bias, and error metrics, identify demand volatility and risks, and drive continuous improvement in demand planning processes. The role also encompasses owning demand segmentation, ensuring correct planning strategies are implemented, and partnering with Supply Planning. The position acts as a key contributor to S&OP, collaborating closely with various departments and providing clear demand insights. A significant part of the role involves leading the effective implementation and use of SAP IBP Demand Planning, supporting master data quality, and assisting with change management and capability building.

Requirements

7–10 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or integrated supply chain roles.
Proven experience leading regional or multi‑site demand planning processes.
Hands‑on experience with SAP IBP or similar advanced planning systems.
Strong understanding of demand planning, forecasting, and S&OP processes.
Advanced analytical skills with the ability to translate data into business insights.
Strong facilitation and stakeholder‑management skills.
Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed, cross‑regional environment.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field.
APICS CPIM / CSCP or equivalent certification preferred.
Experience in industrial or manufacturing environments is preferred.

Responsibilities

Own and manage the regional demand plan for Steel across NAFTA at product, customer, and location levels.
Ensure delivery of an unconstrained, consensus demand plan to support supply planning and execution processes.
Maintain a clear linkage between demand plans and commercial assumptions.
Lead the statistical baseline forecast process and ensure appropriate use of forecasting models in SOP V1 and then in SAP IBP.
Facilitate commercial review and adjustment cycles, ensuring assumptions are documented and understood.
Lead Demand Review meetings and formally release the demand plan into supply planning.
Own forecast accuracy, bias, and error metrics, monitoring performance and driving corrective actions.
Identify demand volatility, structural changes, and forecast risks, and proactively escalate insights to stakeholders.
Drive continuous improvement in demand planning processes, parameters, and data quality.
Own demand segmentation in line with Vesuvius’ planning archetypes (Make To Stock- Make to Order- Make to Consignment).
Ensure correct planning strategies are implemented and maintained for customers and products across NAFTA.
Partner with Supply Planning to ensure segmentation is effectively translated into supply and inventory strategies.
Act as a key contributor to S&OP presenting demand outlook, risks, and scenarios.
Collaborate closely with Sales, Customer Service, Supply Planning, Finance, and Operations to ensure alignment.
Provide clear demand insights to support decision‑making, scenario planning, and trade‑off discussions.
Lead effective implementation and use of SAP IBP Demand Planning, ensuring data accuracy, governance, and user discipline.
Support master data quality (customer, product, hierarchy, and attributes) in partnership with IT and Supply Chain teams.
Support change management and capability building related to IBP and demand planning maturity.