Senior Demand Planner

Airgas•Independence, OH

9d•Onsite

About The Position

The Senior Demand Planner serves as a strategic leader responsible for maturing and optimizing the organization's Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes. In this role, you will perform advanced data analysis and research to identify trends and anomalies that support informed business decision-making. You will drive process standardization and mentor team members while facilitating alignment across cross-functional teams. By analyzing complex forecasts, this position directly informs budgeting and financial planning, influencing key executive decisions regarding capital investments and operational targets. Ultimately, this role is essential for ensuring robust demand planning practices that improve product availability and overall operational efficiency.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in supply chain, logistics, operations management, mathematics, engineering, finance, or a related field.
7–10+ years of experience in Demand Planning, supply chain planning related, or S&OP.
Strong expertise in S&OP implementation, demand/supply/inventory balancing, and integrating demand plans with financial forecasting.
Proficient in Microsoft Excel/Google Sheets, Google applications, and Smartsheets.
Experience with Power BI and/or SQL databases for foundational analytics, plus experience with advanced ERP and planning systems (such as SAP, APO, Kinaxis, or Oracle).
Outstanding written, organizational, executive communication, and cross-functional leadership skills.

Nice To Haves

MBA in supply chain, logistics, operations management, mathematics, engineering, finance, or a related field.
CPIM, CSCP, PMP, or IBF certification.

Responsibilities

Define the long-term vision and maturity for global S&OP processes, establishing governance to ensure alignment with organizational standards and business goals.
Design and implement standardized planning frameworks and procedural improvements that enhance forecasting accuracy, reduce waste, and improve cycle times.
Develop rigorous demand plans that directly inform financial forecasting and budgeting, providing actionable data for executive decision-making.
Lead monthly S&OP cycles, facilitating alignment between Sales, Product Management, and Supply Chain teams to proactively manage demand risks and opportunities.
Utilize sophisticated statistical modeling (e.g., control charts, best fit analysis) to manage 24-month rolling forecasts and optimize product availability and inventory levels.
Drive the selection, training, and effective use of supply chain planning tools to modernize demand planning workflows.
Mentor demand planners in data validation, history cleansing, and advanced planning techniques to foster professional growth and operational excellence.
Analyze forecast bias and root causes of variance, developing and executing strategic corrective action plans to improve overall performance metrics.