Senior Demand Planner

Dana Innovations Inc•San Clemente, CA

14d•Onsite

About The Position

At Sonance, we believe that life is better with music—and exceptional demand planning ensures our innovations reach customers when they need them. As we experience unprecedented growth, we're seeking a strategic Demand Planner who can transform data into insights and forecasts into competitive advantage. This is your opportunity to be the analytical force behind our supply chain excellence. About Sonance Since pioneering the in-wall speaker in 1983, Sonance has led the architectural audio industry with our "Designed to Disappear" philosophy. We are experiencing rapid growth and expansion from our San Clemente, California headquarters. As we scale our operations to meet increasing market demand across global markets, we need sophisticated demand planning capabilities that balance growth ambitions with operational excellence. We believe in authentic partnerships, continuous innovation, and going beyond expectations—principles that guide both our products and our operations. Your Mission As our Demand Planner, you will be the architect of forecast accuracy, bridging sales aspirations with operational realities. You'll transform complex data into actionable insights, enabling Sonance to maintain optimal inventory levels, minimize costs, and exceed customer service objectives while supporting our aggressive growth trajectory. Your analytical excellence and collaborative approach will ensure we deliver on our promise that technology should disappear, but never disappoint.

Requirements

Education: Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Statistics, Mathematics, or related field.
Experience: Minimum 7 years of progressive experience in supply chain with specific focus on demand planning or related analytical roles.
Proven track record of improving forecast accuracy in high-growth or complex environments.
Experience with S&OP processes and cross functional collaboration.
Demonstrated success in managing demand for consumer electronics or similar industries preferred.
Technical Expertise: Advanced proficiency in demand planning software (SAP APO, Oracle Demantra, Blue Yonder, or similar).
Expert-level Excel skills including complex modeling and statistical analysis.
Experience with ERP systems and data integration.
SQL proficiency and data visualization tools (Tableau, Power BI) preferred.
Knowledge of statistical forecasting methods and machine learning applications.
Core Competencies: Superior quantitative and analytical capabilities with ability to interpret complex data sets and identify trends.
Strong problem-solving skills with exceptional attention to detail.
Capacity to synthesize data from multiple sources and translate technical analysis into actionable business insights.
Excellent verbal and written communication abilities with strong presentation skills for executive-level reporting.
Proven ability to collaborate effectively across cross-functional teams and navigate complex stakeholder relationships.
Ability to work under pressure with competing deadlines and priorities.
Self-motivated with a problem-solving mindset and commitment to continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

APICS CPIM or CSCP certification
Experience in audio, consumer electronics, or luxury goods industries
Knowledge of global supply chain dynamics
Familiarity with AI/ML applications in demand planning

Responsibilities

Develop and refine statistical forecasting models leveraging historical data, market intelligence, and advanced analytics.
Analyze complex patterns including seasonality, trends, and market dynamics to predict demand across multiple time horizons (short-term, medium-term, and long-term).
Continuously enhance forecast accuracy through model optimization and machine learning applications.
Build scenario planning capabilities to navigate market uncertainties and support strategic decision-making.
Serve as the strategic bridge between Sales, Marketing, Product, Operations, and Supply Chain teams.
Lead S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) processes, facilitating consensus meetings to align all stakeholders on the demand plan.
Partner with Sales to capture customer insights, pipeline opportunities, and market intelligence.
Collaborate with Product and Marketing teams to quantify the impact of new product launches and promotional campaigns.
Work closely with Supply Chain and production teams to align forecasts with capacity, inventory planning, and supplier capabilities.
Determine optimal safety stock strategies that balance service levels with working capital efficiency.
Identify and mitigate risks related to slow-moving and obsolete inventory.
Drive initiatives to minimize stockouts while preventing excess inventory buildup that ties up working capital.
Support our "Going Beyond" philosophy by ensuring product availability for critical customer needs.
Design and maintain comprehensive dashboards and reports tracking forecast accuracy, bias, demand variability, and key performance indicators.
Present insights and recommendations to senior leadership with clear, actionable narratives.
Lead root cause analysis on forecast variances between forecasted and actual demand, implementing corrective actions.
Champion continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Six Sigma principles.