Demand Planner

Lactalis American Group - Londonderry, NH

Full-time - Mid Level

Londonderry, NH

10,001+ employees

Food Manufacturing

About the position

Lactalis US Yogurt is seeking a Demand Planner to join our Supply Chain Team in Londonderry, NH. As a part of the Lactalis Group, the world leader in dairy, we are committed to providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. The Demand Planner will play a crucial role in developing a shipment demand plan that utilizes various inputs including consumption data, sales input, statistical models, historical sales data, trade inventory assumptions, and channel inputs. The primary objective of this role is to deliver the most accurate, unbiased, and unconstrained demand plan based on all cross-functional inputs. This position requires collaboration with sales and marketing teams to resolve discrepancies through analysis, category reviews, and the facilitation of monthly demand review meetings. The Demand Planner will be responsible for the demand disaggregation process, translating input from the sales team into an executable item/location forecast that will be utilized in the supply planning processes. This role involves developing demand forecasts at multiple levels of aggregation for various time horizons as part of the overall demand management process. The Demand Planner will also collaborate with marketing, sales, and finance to understand marketing programs, new product introductions, pricing changes, promotions, and distribution changes to meet customer demand. Additionally, the role includes leading the monthly consensus process to develop a forecast that meets Supply Chain service and inventory goals, while also creating the monthly financial forecast. The ideal candidate will leverage demand planning tools and systems to anchor the forecast with a statistical baseline and utilize event modeling to enrich the baseline with new information based on aligned planning assumptions. The Demand Planner will track weekly and monthly forecast errors to identify contributing factors and utilize continuous improvement tools to focus on root causes, along with analytical reporting to identify areas of opportunity and process improvement. This position requires a deep understanding of consumption and shipment trends, as well as category and industry dynamics, to become a brand volume expert and partner with supply planning to understand the implications of forecast changes.

Responsibilities

• Develop demand forecasts (operational forecasts) at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons as part of the overall demand management process
• Collaborate with marketing, sales, and finance to understand marketing programs, new product introductions, pricing changes, promotions, and distribution changes to meet customer demand
• Lead monthly consensus process based on information gained to develop a forecast to meet Supply Chain service, inventory goals, and create the monthly financial forecast
• Leverage the demand planning tools & systems to anchor the forecast with a statistical baseline and utilize event-modelling to enrich the baseline with new information based on aligned planning assumptions
• Develop a 2-year forecast by demand forecasting unit in the planning system to be utilized for manufacturing and deployment planning
• Provide input to the Supply Planning organization in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase-outs
• Track weekly and monthly forecast errors to identify contributing factors and utilize continuous improvement tools to focus on root cause along with analytical reporting and tools to identify areas of opportunity and process improvement
• Perform total brand and item mix analysis and provide insights to lead volume discussions
• Become brand volume expert through understanding consumption and shipment trends in addition to category and industry dynamics
• Partner with supply planning to understand supply chain implications of forecast changes
• Perform both product and customer segmentation analysis to determine appropriate focus areas
• Present the latest brand/segment forecast and associated assumptions
• Evaluate and analyze statistical forecasts for products and product lines using FuturMaster
• Use statistical knowledge to apply appropriate forecast models, trend, and seasonality to finished goods forecasts
• Provide recommendations and input on a continual basis regarding job duties

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, engineering, business, logistics, or related field
• 2+ years of experience in demand planning/forecasting
• Proficiency in Excel and general knowledge of other MS Office applications
• SAP experience
• Knowledge of customer and consumer behavior and how those behaviors impact the demand plan
• Knowledge of the methodologies of statistical forecasting and how this forms the basis of a demand signal
• Knowledge of how to develop a driver-based demand plan and the various inputs that are used
• Ability to demonstrate a drive for results within demand planning and understand how this links with the organizational goals
• Proven ability to build effective relationships with all departments and employees in a collaborative team-oriented environment
• Ability to prioritize and meet deadlines within specified time constraints
• Ability to operate in a team environment
• Ability to adapt in a changing work environment