Retail Demand Planner

Curaleaf•Chicago, IL

33d•Onsite

About The Position

Are you passionate about turning data into smart decisions that drive business growth? As a Demand Planner, you'll play a key role in shaping our product strategy by forecasting demand, analyzing trends, and planning inventory across our retail network. You'll help ensure our product assortment meets customer needs, aligns with market trends, and supports our sales goals. This role is highly collaborative; you'll work closely with teams across Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Merchandising to build proactive inventory strategies and identify opportunities for category growth.

Requirements

A Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Economics, Statistics, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
At least 5 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, and sales planning within the retail or CPG industry.
Experience in developing demand forecasting models from the ground up.
Advanced analytical skills and confidence working in Excel, plus experience using tools like Tableau, Omni, PowerBI, or similar platforms to turn data into actionable insights.
Strong communication and collaboration abilities, with a track record of working effectively across departments.
A solid understanding of retail business drivers including pricing, promotions, and assortment strategies.
A proactive, problem-solving mindset and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the food or beverage industry, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or cannabis industry is a plus.

Responsibilities

Build and refine short-term and long-term demand forecasts at the SKU, customer, and channel levels.
Use statistical tools and historical data to predict future demand and adjust for promotions or seasonal shifts.
Monitor forecast accuracy, explain variances, and continuously improve forecasting processes.
Lead S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) conversations with local and regional partners.
Partner with Sales Leaders, Buyers, and Merchandisers to incorporate customer insights, promotional calendars, and product launches into demand plans.
Share demand insights during monthly S&OP meetings.
Support vendor and account meetings with clear inventory turnover and depletion strategies.
Analyze historical sales, category trends, and customer POS data to uncover growth opportunities and risks.
Present findings and recommendations to senior leadership.
Contribute to continuous improvement initiatives focused on forecasting accuracy and data integrity.
Collaborate with Marketing, Supply Chain, Buying, and Merchandising to ensure forecasts align with brand strategies and inventory goals.
Work with Operations to align production plans with demand while minimizing excess inventory.
Support new product introductions by forecasting initial demand and tracking post-launch performance.