Demand Planner

About the Role The Demand Planner is responsible for developing and maintaining accurate demand forecasts to support business planning and decision-making. This role ensures alignment between sales, marketing, supply chain, and finance by consolidating market trends, historical data, and business inputs into a reliable demand plan. The position plays a key role in optimizing inventory levels, improving customer service, and supporting the company’s financial and operational objectives. Responsibilities 1. Forecast Development & Maintenance Build statistical forecasts using historical data, seasonality, and market trends. Integrate inputs from sales, marketing, and finance into demand plans. Update and adjust forecasts regularly to reflect changing market conditions. 2. Demand Review & S&OP Leadership Lead monthly demand review meetings with cross-functional teams. Align forecasts with volume assumptions, promotional plans, and business priorities. Provide a clear demand outlook to support supply planning. 3. Forecast Accuracy & Continuous Improvement Track and report forecast accuracy and bias at product and customer levels. Identify causes of forecast deviations and recommend corrective actions. Continuously refine forecasting models and methodologies. 4. Support Inventory & Supply Planning Work with procurement and supply chain to balance demand and supply. Define and review safety stock and reorder points. Ensure customer service levels are met while minimizing excess inventory. 5. New Products & Promotions Incorporate new product launches and promotional activities into forecasts. Collaborate with sales and marketing for accurate volume planning. Track and evaluate new product performance versus forecast. 6. Reporting & KPI Management Prepare regular demand planning and performance reports. Track KPIs such as forecast accuracy, bias, and inventory turns. Recommend improvements based on KPI performance and market insights. Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Statistics, Economics, or a related field. 3–4 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain planning. Strong understanding of demand planning, forecasting, and inventory management principles. Proficiency with forecasting tools, ERP/planning systems, and advanced Excel (Power BI/Tableau a plus). Strong analytical and quantitative skills with the ability to interpret complex datasets. Good financial acumen to understand the impact of forecasts on working capital and costs. Effective communication and presentation skills for cross-functional engagement. Strong problem-solving and critical thinking abilities. Ability to lead demand review (S&OP) discussions and influence decisions. Ability to work independently, prioritize tasks, and perform under pressure.