Global Demand Planning Lead

AFL manufactures industry-leading fiber optic cable, connectivity and accessories and provides engineering and installation services for some of the largest telecom customers in the world. Our company was founded in 1984 with a single fiber optic cable and today, we manufacture thousands of products, generate an excess of $3B in revenue, and employ over 12,000 associates worldwide. At AFL, we recognize that our employees are our greatest asset. We hire and train each individual, investing in them to ensure success in their careers. With a commitment to professional development and growth, let us connect you to your next career opportunity.

• Establish and operationalize a global demand planning model aligned with IBP cadence and “one set of numbers.”
• Deliver a consistent rolling 36-month unconstrained demand plan each cycle.
• Improve forecast accuracy and reduce bias through governance and root-cause analysis.
• Implement standardized dashboards and reporting with clear assumptions and change tracking.
• Build scalable team capabilities, reducing reliance on ad hoc processes.

• →Build, lead, and develop a geographically distributed demand planning team.
• →Establish clear roles, expectations, and career development pathways.
• →Promote a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making.

• →Own end-to-end demand forecasting (statistical and consensus-based).
• →Enhance forecasting methodologies using market data, customer inputs, and product insights.
• →Improve forecast accuracy and bias (MAPE) through continuous improvement practices.
• →Implement governance processes to ensure forecast adjustments add value.
• →Communicate demand assumptions, risks, and outlook across all planning horizons.

• →Lead the Demand Review process within AFL’s IBP framework (Oliver Wight aligned).
• →Ensure a single, aligned demand plan integrated with commercial and financial plans.
• →Prepare and deliver IBP artifacts (KPIs, demand plans, assumptions, action tracking).
• →Standardize IBP processes, templates, and governance to support maturity.
• →Facilitate cross-functional alignment on demand trade-offs and prioritization decisions.
• →Maintain objectivity as the neutral owner of the demand signal.

• →Partner with Sales, Product Management, and Operations to translate market signals into plans.
• →Align demand plans with supply and production strategies while maintaining an unconstrained view.
• →Collaborate with Finance to align volume plans with revenue and margin targets.
• →Identify and drive resolution of risks, gaps, and opportunities across the business.

• →Lead optimization of demand planning systems (e.g., SAP IBP, Kinaxis RapidResponse).
• →Define system requirements and partner with IT to implement enhancements.
• →Develop dashboards and analytics for real-time demand visibility.
• →Ensure strong data governance, planning hierarchies, and forecast accuracy.
• →Maintain auditable and traceable demand planning outputs.

• Sales Leadership & Commercial Operations
• Product Management
• Supply Planning & Operations
• Finance / FP&A
• IT, Analytics & Data Governance

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, or related field (MBA preferred).
• 10+ years of supply chain experience, including 5+ years in demand planning leadership roles.
• Experience building or transforming demand planning functions in manufacturing environments.
• Hands-on experience with demand planning systems (SAP IBP, Kinaxis, or similar).
• Strong knowledge of IBP processes (Oliver Wight framework preferred).
• Demonstrated ability to link demand planning with financial and business outcomes.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and leadership skills.

• Experience in a global, multi-site manufacturing environment with complex SKU portfolios.
• Familiarity with telecom, broadband, energy, or data center markets.
• APICS CPIM or IBP certification.
• Experience in a matrixed or global enterprise environment.