The Demand Planner is responsible for developing and maintaining accurate demand forecasts to support sales, inventory, and customer service objectives. This individual contributor partners cross-functionally translate data, trends, and business inputs into actionable demand plans that drive business performance. The role operates in a professional office or remote environment with frequent virtual meetings and cross-functional collaboration.
Key Skills for Success
To excel in this role, you will need to demonstrate strengths in the following skill areas:
Core Competencies & Expertise
• Demand Forecasting: Develop and maintain top-down and bottom-up demand forecasts across weekly, monthly, and seasonal horizons.
• Data Analysis & Insights: Analyze historical sales, trends, demand drivers, and category, SKU, and regional performance to identify risks and opportunities.
• Reforecasting & Forecast Accuracy: Perform in-season reforecasting, monitor forecast accuracy, and conduct root-cause analysis on forecast variances.
• Inventory & Financial Alignment: Support alignment of demand forecasts with sales, margin, inventory, open-to-buy, and financial targets; identify over/under-bought risks and recommend corrective actions.
• Cross-Functional Planning: Partner with Merchandising, Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Inventory, and Finance to gather inputs and communicate forecast updates, risks, and opportunities.
• Product & Assortment Planning: Incorporate product launches and lifecycle changes into forecasts; support assortment planning, product performance analysis, and test strategies.
• Planning Systems & Reporting: Utilize demand planning systems, ERP platforms, Microsoft Excel, and BI tools to generate reporting and actionable insights.
• Process Improvement: Maintain data integrity and support continuous improvement of demand planning and S&OP/demand review processes.
Preferred Competencies & Skills
• Experience in a retail, omnichannel, or consumer goods environment
• Familiarity with S&OP / Integrated Business Planning processes
• Experience with Power BI, ERP systems, or demand planning tools
• Strong business acumen and understanding of cross-functional impacts on demand and inventory
Minimum Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or a related field
• 3-5+ years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or inventory planning
• Experience working with forecasting tools, data analysis, and reporting
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with the ability to analyze large data sets and generate actionable insights
• Strong communication, collaboration, organizational, and prioritization skills
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
• Detail-oriented approach to planning and analysis
Physical Demands
This is largely a sedentary role. The individual is required to sit for extended periods, use a computer, and communicate effectively. Occasional walking and standing may be required. This is a full-time position; occasional extended hours may be required to meet business needs, and limited travel may be expected.
Expected Base Pay Not Including Potential Commissions, Incentive, Bonus, etc. Opportunities:
$72,000 - $90,000
