Senior Demand Planner

Rise Baking Company, LLC•Minneapolis, MN

1d•$90,000 - $125,000

About The Position

The Senior Demand Planner oversees forecasting activities for customers and products in an assigned channel, maintaining accurate data in forecasting systems and producing demand plans that combine statistical models with business intelligence and inputs from sales, marketing, finance, advanced analytics, and other sources. The role supports accurate prediction of customer demand and the company’s financial goals. The position owns and manages sales, operational, and financial volume forecasts at the customer-item-shipping-location level and maintains a rolling 24-month demand plan. It leads analysis of demand drivers, historical trends, forecast models, and SKU-level signals; coordinates cross-functional data preparation and forecasting; and facilitates S&OP reporting and performance improvement. The role also manages SAP APO DP and related supply-chain systems, supports planning for product launches and discontinuations, leads demand-planning ERP transitions, maintains master-data accuracy, and trains users on SAP APO DP. It also supports food safety, quality standards, and product legality, and performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in supply chain, finance, business, statistics, mathematics, or a related field.
At least 5 years of consumer-products forecasting or supply-chain operations experience.
Familiarity with S&OP processes, customer planning, or supply planning.
Expert knowledge of the SAP APO DP forecasting application or supply-planning software.
Experience with or knowledge of IRI, Retail Link, and other external customer data sources.
Experience leading projects.
Strong understanding of statistical reasoning, including multiple linear regression modeling, coefficient of variation, Pearson seasonal test, and seasonal index.
Strong quantitative and analytical skills.
Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office and advanced Excel skills.
Strong decision-making skills and the ability to think critically and solve complex problems.
Strong interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to collaborate with internal and external clients to determine requirements and remove barriers that may affect product delivery.
Ability to organize and manage multiple priorities while maintaining high attention to detail in a fast-paced environment.

Nice To Haves

APICS certification (CPIM or CSCP).
IBF Certified Professional Forecaster (CPF) designation.
Food manufacturing experience and familiarity with commodity-sensitive businesses.
Retail and foodservice channel experience.
Knowledge of other statistical analytical tools, such as Python or R.
Experience with ERP systems; SAP APO DP knowledge is preferred.
Power BI and SQL experience.
Experience with manufacturing modules, including MRP, MPS, and WMS.

Responsibilities

Own and manage sales, operational, and financial volume forecasts at the customer-item-shipping-location level.
Create, review, and validate a rolling 24-month demand plan using statistical models and business intelligence from multiple sources.
Research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, and develop statistical forecast models.
Review historical sales trends and forecasts, evaluate statistical forecast models, and assess forecast results.
Analyze and update SKU-level demand signals based on trends, alerts, models, assumption changes, and other inputs.
Coordinate with sales, marketing, finance, procurement, supply planning, and other departments to ensure accurate, current forecast data.
Coordinate data preparation for cross-functional forecasting meetings with the national sales team.
Facilitate the S&OP process by analyzing, preparing, and reporting on forecast performance, changes from the prior month, and gaps to plan.
Coordinate cross-functional research to reconcile significant variances and refine forecast models based on updated sales and marketing assumptions.
Establish and drive improvements to KPIs, including forecast accuracy (MAPE), bias, inventory measures, slow-moving/obsolete inventory, and customer service (OTIF).
Partner with sales, marketing, and finance to understand demand forecast drivers.
Support the annual planning process and ensure linkage to the monthly volume forecast in financial forecasting.
Manage SAP APO DP and volume-planning software as the primary forecasting system tool.
Manage other supply-chain systems, including ERP, MRP, and data-mapping tables.
Provide ad-hoc analytics and scenario planning for supply chain, customer demand, annual operating plans, sales budgets, and other needs.
Provide input to supply planning, procurement, commercialization, and customer service in developing inventory strategies for existing items, new products, and product phase-outs.
Coordinate the phase-on of new products and phase-out of discontinued products.
Coordinate and communicate customer action plans with supply planning.
Lead Demand Planning ERP transitions, including data cleaning, validation, and implementation.
Serve as an SAP APO DP subject-matter expert, including managing CVCs and the Product Lifecycle Table, running batch jobs, reviewing job logs, monitoring alerts, and understanding data flows to downstream supply-chain tools.
Help train new SAP APO DP users and serve as a point of contact for user questions and concerns.
Validate master data and oversee the accuracy of SAP changes to maintain alignment between planning and execution systems.
Support food safety programs, quality standards, and the legality of manufactured products.
Perform other job-related duties as assigned.