Demand Planner

$80,000 - $110,000/Yr

Unclassified - Hawthorne, NY

Full-time - Mid Level

Hawthorne, NY

About the position

Allstar Innovations is seeking a Demand Planner to join our dynamic team in Hawthorne, NY. This role is pivotal in ensuring that our company's operations are efficient, timely, and cost-effective. The Demand Planner will be responsible for a variety of demand planning duties, including analyzing inventory flow, developing forecast models, and estimating future product demand. The ideal candidate will possess the ability to think creatively and strategically to identify and create opportunities that enhance our operational effectiveness. In this position, you will execute the forecast process, which includes base item forecasting, promotional and event forecasting, as well as conducting weekly and monthly performance analysis. You will design inventory strategies that support the balance of both new and core merchandise, ensuring that we meet our key performance indicators (KPIs) for in-stock levels and inventory turnover. Your role will also involve developing forecasted demand plans and executing analyses on assortment and promotional effectiveness. A critical aspect of this role is to monitor significant variances between sales forecasts, budgets, and business plans, reporting your findings to upper management. You will lead root-cause analyses on major variances and implement initiatives that may span across various departments to improve forecast accuracy. Collaboration is key, as you will propose plan changes and partner with Sales, Marketing, and Finance teams to seek consensus and approval for achieving the best stock position for the company. Additionally, you will create forward-looking supply shortage predictors and potential mitigation strategies, identifying opportunities and related risks while assessing situations to propose forward actions. As an active and high-performing member of the team, you will also manage and develop any direct reports through effective mentoring in a results-oriented environment. Your responsibilities will include compiling and distributing various departmental analytics, including overall inventory valuation and inventory health by program, while overseeing the value-added services rework process.

Responsibilities

• Execution of the forecast process, including base item forecasting, promotional & event forecasting, and performance analysis.
• Designing inventory strategies to balance new and core merchandise while meeting KPIs for in-stock and inventory turn objectives.
• Developing forecasted demand plans and executing assortment and promotional effectiveness analysis.
• Monitoring variances between sales forecasts, budgets, and business plans, and reporting findings to upper management.
• Leading root-cause analysis on major variances and implementing initiatives to improve forecast accuracy.
• Proposing plan changes and collaborating with Sales, Marketing, and Finance teams for consensus and approval.
• Creating forward-looking supply shortage predictors and potential mitigation strategies.
• Identifying opportunities and risks, assessing situations, and proposing forward actions.
• Managing and developing direct reports through effective mentoring.
• Compiling and distributing departmental analytics related to inventory valuation and health.

Requirements

• Extensive knowledge of Microsoft Excel, including Pivot tables and V-lookups.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to deliver projects on time and of the highest quality.
• Solid business acumen and effective communication skills to interface across all levels of the organization.
• Prior experience collaborating with Sales, Marketing, and/or Finance functions is a plus.
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a plus.
• Bachelor's degree required, preferably in business.
• 5-10 years of prior Demand Planning and Forecasting experience.
• Prior experience working with key national accounts and/or big box retailers.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience with key national accounts and/or big box retailers.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Dynamics 365.