Specialist II - Demand Planning

Westlake•Houston, TX

About The Position

Westlake offers you the potential to enrich your work life and career experience in an entrepreneurial environment. We work together to enhance peoples' lives through our products and presence in the communities in which we operate. SUMMARY The Demand Planner will be responsible for oversight for forecasting demand, analyzing historical sales data, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure that our inventory levels are optimized to meet customer demand. This role is essential for achieving efficiency, customer satisfaction, and cost control within our supply chain operations. The demand planner must consistently develop strategies to anticipate changes in customer demand. DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES May include, but are not limited to, the following:

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics or related field
5+ years of experience in supply chain with inventory control, logistics, production planning and scheduling, and purchasing/contract negotiations
Proven experience in demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain management.
Strong analytical and data interpretation skills
Detail-oriented and able to manage complex data and multiple variables
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Proficiency in demand planning software and tools (e.g., Kinaxis, ERP systems, Excel).
Self-directed and able to work without supervision
Energetic and eager to tackle new projects and ideas

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain accurate demand forecasts for products at the SKU level based on historical data, market trends, and input from sales and marketing teams.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to understand product launches, promotions, and other factors that may impact demand.
Monitor inventory levels and work to maintain optimal stock levels to meet customer demand while minimizing carrying costs.
Implement inventory strategies to reduce stockouts and overstock situations.
Analyze and interpret sales data, market trends, and customer insights to refine demand forecasts.
Identify and report on variances between forecasted and actual demand.
Work closely with sales, marketing, and production teams to ensure alignment on demand forecasts and to address any issues or changes in demand.
Participate in cross-functional meetings and communicate effectively to achieve consensus on demand plans.
Continuously improve and refine demand planning processes, tools, and methodologies.
Implement best practices to enhance forecast accuracy and supply chain efficiency.
Identify opportunities to optimize the supply chain network design to reduce costs and improve overall supply chain performance.
Perform inventory analysis and propose recommendations for inventory optimization
Provide support and recommendations for digital innovation strategies
Prepare reports and ad hoc analysis as required