The Demand Planning Manager will be responsible for generating demand plans, understanding demand drivers for proactive collaboration across Sales, Operations and Finance.
The Demand Planning Manager is responsible for the delivery of demand plans as part of Awe Sum Organics business planning processes.
The Demand Planning Manager serves as the primary voice of demand to the organization, owning and improving the demand planning.
The Demand Planning Manager will develop, consolidate, and synchronize the demand signal across assigned product portfolios and by leading Demand meetings.
The Demand Planning Manager is responsible for leading and executing initiatives that drive improvement in overall demand plan accuracy as well as working with sales and supply teammates to collect forecasting inputs.
This role effectively serves as a champion for demand across the business, working effectively to get key input and influence and collaborate across the Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance teams to deliver demand plans. This is a cross functional management position.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:
- Develop demand forecasts (operational forecasts) at multiple levels for multiple time horizons as part of a demand planning function.
- Support the weekly, monthly, yearly S&OP process, maintain baseline / statistical forecasts, collecting Sales, trade marketing and brand Marketing forecast drivers and highlighting changes and drivers in the plan to key stakeholders. Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results.
- Determine optimal inventory levels based on demand forecast, lead times and desired service levels, monitor inventory levels and recommend adjustments to prevent out of stocks or excess inventory.
- Review promotional and distribution plans with sales and leadership team.
- Coordinate cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances and refine the forecast model to reflect updated sales, supply, and operations assumptions.
- Utilize a collaborative approach by working with sales, supply, operations, and finance to obtain and ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts.
- Provide input to the production organization in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new product launches and product phase-in/ phase outs.
- Closely coordinate and communicate customer action plans with supply planning and deployments.
- Analyze and understand sales and performance data on a weekly basis and more often as needed, reporting out proactively with any perceived challenges or opportunities for improvement.
- Support in developing pricing models and other tools that support our “go to market” strategy.
- Maintain a strong bridge between sales and our supply and business development plans, setting us up for optimal and organized sales execution strategy.
Other Tasks:
- Develop systems and processes to minimize “fire drills” and ensure consistent and proactive behavior that results in the best possible results for our growers and the company.
- Develop KPIs and the dashboard(s) to support fast and good decision-making and reporting.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Agriculture, Finance, Supply Chain with a minimum of 7 years related experience.
- Produce Demand Planning and/or Sales experience with knowledge and experience in Organics highly desirable.
- Computer proficiency in Microsoft, Word, and Excel, and produce industry software.
- Excellent and professional communication, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- A working knowledge of FAMOUS software is a plus but not required.
- Ability to set and meet required timelines and or manage and meet timelines set by other Team Managers.
