Inventory & Demand Planning Manager

The Recruiting Group - Minneapolis, MN

Full-time

Minneapolis, MN

Administrative and Support Services

About the position

The Inventory and Demand Planning Manager is a pivotal role within our organization, responsible for leading the Demand Planning Team while also executing day-to-day business needs related to demand planning as a working manager. This position requires a functional expert in the forecasting process and the ability to facilitate Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) execution for key business units. The manager will work closely with various business partners to enhance collaboration and achieve optimal business outcomes. Additionally, this role encompasses inventory guidance and oversight across the organization, focusing on slow-moving and obsolete inventory (SLOB), new SKU introductions, and end-of-life process management. In this role, the manager will drive central inventory analytics and optimization to support the weekly, monthly, and quarterly cadence of inventory management. They will provide oversight to organizational inventory targets and lead critical inventory meetings across the business. Regular distribution of weekly and monthly inventory updates to the Leadership Team and Operations sites is also a key responsibility. As an expert inventory analyst, the manager will provide professional business support and guide a team of Demand Planners towards achieving a world-class forecasting and SIOP process. The Inventory and Demand Planning Manager will lead the utilization and best practices of Integrated Business Planning (IBP) within the demand forecasting module, driving continuous improvement in the demand planning process. They will be responsible for content creation as part of the SIOP process and will facilitate discussions during SIOP meetings to ensure cross-functional collaboration. Analytical support during the demand planning process is crucial to ensure consistency, and the manager will compile executive summaries from monthly SIOP meeting notes. Monitoring forecast accuracy KPIs and driving actions to improve performance will be essential, as will collaborating with individual business units to create material objects and realign sales history. Ongoing training for users to maximize the benefits of IBP will also be part of the role, along with leading individual SIOP and demand planning initiatives as assigned. Participation in broader supply chain and business operations initiatives on behalf of the Supply Chain is expected.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Demand Planning Team and execute day-to-day business needs related to demand planning.
• Serve as the functional expert of the forecasting process and facilitate SIOP execution for key business units.
• Improve collaboration with business partners to achieve optimal business outcomes.
• Provide inventory guidance and oversight across the organization, including SLOB, new SKU introduction, and end-of-life process management.
• Drive central inventory analytics and optimization to support weekly, monthly, and quarterly cadence.
• Provide oversight to organizational inventory targets and lead critical inventory meetings across the business.
• Distribute weekly/monthly inventory updates to the Leadership Team and Operations sites.
• Provide professional business support as an expert inventory analyst.
• Guide a team of Demand Planners to a world-class forecasting and SIOP process.
• Lead the utilization and best practices of Integrated Business Planning (IBP) - demand forecasting module.
• Lead content creation as part of the SIOP process.
• Drive discussions during SIOP meetings to ensure cross-functional collaboration.
• Provide analytical support during the demand planning process to ensure consistency.
• Compile Executive Team summary from monthly SIOP meetings notes.
• Monitor forecast accuracy KPI and drive actions to improve performance.
• Collaborate with individual business units to create material objects and realignment of sales history.
• Provide ongoing training to users to maximize benefits of IBP.
• Lead individual SIOP and demand planning as assigned.
• Participate in broad supply chain and business operations initiatives.

Requirements

• BA/BS in Business Management, Supply Chain Management, or equivalent.
• 5+ years in manufacturing, supply chain, and/or inventory management.
• Strong analytical skills in process/data, exceptional problem-solving abilities, and capability to make improvements.
• Knowledge of supply chain processes, including inventory management, demand and supply management, capacity planning, and materials management.
• Proficiency in SAP and experience using advanced planning and scheduling tools (SAP-IBP).
• Ability to influence key stakeholders throughout the organization.
• Previous experience working with data, including analytical analysis.