Job Title: Senior Demand Planner
Reports to: Supply Chain S&OP & Projects Manage
Location: Drogheda, Co. Louth (Office based role)
Role Overview:
This Demand Planning position is responsible for global forecasting activities associated with customers and products. The Demand Planner creates and maintains forecast models for their customers, incorporating business intelligence, retailer and Distributor stock levels and forecast information gathered from sales, marketing, finance, retailer replenishment analysis, and other market intelligence.
Basic forecast modelling is the key responsibility for this position which supports the S&OP process. This position leads the dialogue each month for their respective customers in Sales, Marketing and directly with distributors where appropriate. Additionally, the role will identify and implement relevant administration processes that will lead to increased efficiency, cost reduction and continuous improvement of the overall supply chain function.
Role Deliverables:
- Drive the forecasting process, collaborate across all functions to deliver business initiatives that aim to improve performance, lead to more effective decision-making processes, and balance & align supply and demand.
- Create statistical forecasts: 1) Gather, analyse and validate data. 2) Execute statistical modelling software. 3) Review resulting statistical forecast model. 4) Forecast Accuracy and Bias monthly/Qtr/YTD 5) Apply error analysis techniques to improve forecasting. 6) Summarize/aggregate statistical forecasts
- Analyse customer ordering profiles, historical data and impact of recent sales profiles on SOH or current demand plan/production capacity and lead times using customer data provide analysis of inventories and impact of customer orders v forecast, recommend required changes to mitigate possible OOS or unnecessary excess.
- Lead the Stock at risk process gathering sales/orders data from Customers, Distributors and align with Marketing/Sales to identify actions/opportunity to run out stock with zero write off cost.
- Review sales plans, customer finance Budget Updates or Latest Estimates and demand drivers:
- Present, gather and assess feedback on the various forecasts from sales, marketing and finance
- Recommend adjustments for operational forecasts
- Review promotional plans with sales and NPD with the Innovation team.
- Manage discontinued SKU demand
- Achieve consensus for operational demand forecasts by facilitating a collaborative planning process with sales, marketing and finance personnel
- Facilitate and manage demand planning/customer/distributor meetings
- Provide the Supply Planning function with sense-checked data to deliver raw material requirements and facilitate production planning
- Provide analysis and input to business supply & production planning process to enable resource and capacity monthly/quarterly & annual planning.
- Maintain the demand planning system and software.
- Monitor trends in forecast accuracy and bias
- Identify relevant market-related data and competitive intelligence
Key Deliverables
- Regional, Country, Customer and SKU demand forecast which incorporates historical, current and accurate market information that allows the business to predict customer demand and provide its supply chain with the appropriate information to plan supply, production and customer demand.
- Builds relationships with sales, marketing and finance, which will lead to effective knowledge sharing and an optimal consensus forecast for the business
- Refines systems and methods to continually improve forecasts to ensure that the business can better anticipate customer needs.
- In event of supply constraint, the Demand Planner will be responsible for driving allocation activities supporting the commercial team and Customer Service with information and direction
- Highlight and report on risks regarding customer replenishment performance metrics
Experience and Qualifications:
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in Demand planning/forecasting preferably in a fast-paced manufacturing organisation
- APICS CPIM or relevant qualification an advantage
- Experience in implementing and supporting the S&OP process.
- Excellent, interpersonal and communication skills are essential to effectively interact with all teams, areas and levels of business affecting the forecast process.
- Ideal candidate will be a subject expert with depth of knowledge of key forecast methodologies and planning tools.
- Have a very strong commercial and market understanding.
- Strong Excel skills
- Ability to deliver in a fast-paced, flexible and results-focused environment
- Strong negotiation skills
- Excellent analytical skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office suite of products and other related software packages
- Experience of ERP deployment an advantage
- Experience in SAP4/Hana an advantage
Days and hours of work: Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Salary: €55,000 - €65,000 per year (DOE) plus 20% bonus
For a confidential discussion on this or any other current opportunity please contact David Donegan
IAC-Sep23-O