Demand Planner

Norfolk, VA

10,001+ employees

About the position

This role is responsible to develop forecasting tools, analyze business trends and provide insights and recommendations to support the business strategy. Prepare regular and ad hoc reports ensuring accurate, timely and effective data to meet customers' needs. Work with cross functional departments and external customers regarding reports, forecasting, new programs, etc.

Responsibilities

• Develop forecasting method(s) and tools and prepare analytics and reporting of statistical data and performance metrics (i.e., purchasing ability/inventory levels, customer service levels, freight utilization, etc.).
• Identify business trends, research variances and prepare summary reports, insights and recommendations and communicate findings to management to support fact-based decision-making.
• Prepare forecasting and analysis such as sales forecasting to maximize fill rate, promotional forecasting to determine accurate purchase quantities to support ads and events, predictive analysis to maximize purchasing brackets and to optimize freight utilization and closed-loop analysis to align day-to-day operations with the long-term business strategy.
• Prepare regular and ad hoc reports ensuring accurate, timely and effective data to meet customers' needs.
• Modify and/or create new databases and reports to support special projects and business needs.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Distribution and external customers/independent retailers to define test programs, scope and data needs (brands, products, SKUs) to develop baseline statistical modeling.
• Participate in the roll-out of pilot programs, implement approved changes system-wide based on the results and assist with the implementation of the related communication strategy (internal and external).
• Maintain documentation of standards and procedures (including KPI'S and metrics) for demand planning processes and systems; standardize report structures to support pilot programs while ensuring data analytics meet company and customer needs.
• Provide statistical analysis and forecasting, as well as analysis of variations from expected results, for category seasonality, trends, historical performance, item discontinuance, inventory levels, etc. to maximize purchasing ability/inventory levels, improve customer service levels and optimize freight utilization.
• Collaborate with cross-functional departments (procurement, distribution, merchandising, etc.) to implement changes and adjustments based on changes in demand, market changes, etc. based on forecasting and analysis and to discuss opportunities/risks.
• Develop and maintain current knowledge of industry trends and best Demand Planning/Procurement practices; make recommendations to improve current programs and processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree (Required) in Business Administration, Statistics, Logistics/Supply Chain or related field or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
• Five years of combined experience in Demand Planning, Inventory Management, Procurement or related field.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills; strong presentation skills.
• Strong organization, prioritization and attention to detail skills.
• Strong mathematical aptitude, financial acumen and quantitative and analytical skills.
• Advanced proficiency in MS Office (Excel, Word, Access and PowerPoint) and experience with SQL based queries.
• Knowledge of database management, logistics and inventory concepts.