Supply Chain Planning Analyst

Central States•Tontitown, AR

About The Position

The Planning Analyst is a key contributor to Central States’ Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process, providing data, analytics, and decision support to optimize inventory, improve forecast accuracy, and align demand with supply capabilities. The role partners with Sales, Operations, Purchasing, Logistics, and Finance to turn business inputs into actionable plans that improve customer service, reduce working capital, and support profitable growth. It develops planning models, monitors inventory performance, identifies risks and opportunities, and supports data-driven decision-making across the enterprise. The position analyzes demand and forecasts, measures forecast accuracy and bias, and recommends corrective actions. It reviews inventory investment, turns, aging, excess and obsolete inventory, and service levels; develops inventory segmentation strategies; and coordinates analysis across manufacturing and distribution locations. It translates approved forecasts and inventory strategies into recommendations for purchasing, replenishment, transfers, or production, for review and execution by responsible teams. The analyst supports IBP through demand, supply, inventory, capacity, and financial analyses; prepares dashboards, reports, and models; validates planning data and system parameters; and collaborates with business and technical teams to improve data quality and process reliability. The role documents assumptions and standard work, supports users of planning tools and reports, and participates in continuous improvement. Some travel is required. Work is performed in an office environment, primarily sedentary, using standard office equipment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, finance, analytics, operations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
Two or more years of experience in demand planning, supply planning, inventory planning, procurement analytics, operations analysis, or a related analytical role.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, data analysis, and model development.
Experience analyzing large data sets and translating findings into business recommendations.
Working knowledge of forecasting, inventory management, replenishment, lead times, safety stock, and service-level concepts.
Understanding of inventory carrying costs, working capital management, and the financial impact of planning decisions.
Experience working with ERP, planning, or business intelligence systems.
Ability to communicate complex information clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills, with close attention to detail.
Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
Consistently exhibit the company’s values: Own It, Can Do, and Act in Love.

Nice To Haves

Experience in a manufacturing, distribution, or multi-site operating environment.
Experience with Power BI, Power Query, SQL, and data visualization.
Experience supporting Integrated Business Planning, Sales and Operations Planning, or a formal demand review process.
Experience with Epicor or a comparable ERP system.
APICS or ASCM certification, such as CPIM or CSCP.

Responsibilities

Analyze historical demand, customer forecasts, seasonality, market inputs, product changes, and business assumptions to develop and maintain forecasts at appropriate product, category, and location levels.
Monitor forecast accuracy and bias, investigate material variances, document root causes, and recommend corrective actions.
Analyze inventory investment, turns, aging, excess and obsolete inventory, and service-level performance to identify opportunities to reduce inventory and improve working capital efficiency.
Develop and maintain inventory segmentation strategies, including ABC classifications, safety stock methodologies, lead-time assumptions, and stocking policies.
Monitor inventory health metrics and recommend actions to reduce slow-moving, excess, and obsolete inventory while maintaining customer service objectives.
Coordinate planning analyses across manufacturing and distribution locations to ensure inventory is appropriately positioned throughout the network.
Translate approved forecasts and inventory strategies into purchase, replenishment, transfer, or production recommendations for review and execution by responsible teams.
Support the Integrated Business Planning process by preparing demand, supply, inventory, capacity, and financial analyses; identifying risks and opportunities; and supporting executive decision-making.
Create and maintain planning dashboards, reports, and analytical models using Microsoft Excel, Power BI, SQL, ERP data, and other available tools.
Validate planning data and system parameters, troubleshoot data issues, and work with business and technical teams to improve data quality and process reliability.
Document planning assumptions, data definitions, standard work, and decision rules.
Provide training and support to users of planning tools and reports.
Participate in continuous improvement initiatives related to forecasting, purchasing, inventory, warehousing, logistics, and cross-functional planning.
Perform other duties and activities related to the department as necessary to support operations and responsibilities.
Communicate planning risks, assumptions, exceptions, and required decisions proactively to stakeholders.
Maintain accurate, reliable planning reports, models, and master data, and provide timely, documented, actionable recommendations.

Benefits

Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), with an annual allocation of company stock to employees.
401K.
Education assistance of up to $5,250 each year.
Profit-sharing bonus or Own It bonus.
Medical coverage, with 100% employer-paid coverage available.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Holiday pay.
Paid Time Off.
Paid time off to support a cause in the community.
Employee Assistance Program, including confidential emotional support, work and lifestyle support, legal guidance, financial resources, and digital support.
Care Guides to help employees navigate the healthcare system.
Life insurance equal to 1.5 times annual salary, 100% employer paid.
Wellness Program with the opportunity to earn up to $1,200 annually when enrolled in a medical plan.
Health Savings Accounts.
Flexible Spending Accounts.
Short-Term Disability.
Long-Term Disability, 100% employer paid.
Performance-based merit increases.
SHINE program offering employee financial assistance and dependent scholarships.