Purpose StatementThe role of the Strategic Demand Planner is to collaborate with key customers and gather insights to improve the demand signal. During the Forecasting process, this person is responsible for understanding customer demand, inventory on hand (if available), product shelf-life status and end-to-end order lifecycle.
Key Accountabilities and OutcomesThe Strategic Demand Planner is responsible for the following activities:
- Develop and manage 24-month forecast and demand plan at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons (operational and strategic).
- Evaluate accuracy of forecasts generated by demand planning tools and cross-functional forecasts provided by sales managers, marketing managers, customers, and other stakeholders and determine the forecast value add (FVA)
- Coordinate cross-functional activities during IBP pre-meetings to reconcile significant variances between system generated forecasts and functional forecasts, and refine the demand plan to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions.
- Support sales managers and marketing managers in creating scenarios to address main gaps between the demand plan and annual operating plan.
- Evaluate past performance, assumptions and forecast-value-add in collaboration with Sales, Marketing and Finance to ensure that current and accurate information is used for generating the forecasts and consensus demand plan in current planning cycle
- Participate in Demand Review meetings of IBP to present analysis and options around exceptions.
- Participate in Supply Review meetings to understand demand fulfillment risks, understand fulfillment options and provide guidance on demand probability.
- Release the consensus demand plan on a weekly basis, to support tactical inventory and supply plan generation for the short-term
- Prepare and release the consensus demand plan on a monthly basis to support the inventory planning, rough-cut capacity planning and decision-making under the IBP process.
- Assist and support sales managers in their collaboration with strategic customers to get an understanding of medium to long term outlook around:
- Their customer demand and their priorities
- Customer order forecasts for RICH'S distribution centers
- Sharing past fill rate performance and forecast accuracy
- Understanding the product and service attributes they value and attributes they can negotiate on.
- Identify opportunities for sharing insights and information to drive accuracy and stability in demand signal
Knowledge, Skills, and Experience- Bachelor's degree in Statistics, Mathematics, Supply Chain Management or related field, with 5+ years of statistical forecasting and supply chain experience
- MBA preferred
- Professional certification preferred. (e.g.; APICS)
- Statistical Forecasting and Model development
- Knowledge of manufacturing, distribution and customer service
- Strong written, interpersonal and presentation skills
- Knowledge of Sales and Marketing functions preferred
- Experience in Integrated Business Planning
- Strong PC proficiency to include Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint (Access preferred) and advanced proficiency in Excel required
- Strong Administrative skills and attention to detail
- SAP or related systems experience preferred
- Experience with advanced ERP planning systems (BW, SAP, APO) preferred
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COMPENSATIONIn accordance with state law, the rate or range provided is Rich Products Corporation, its subsidiaries and affiliates ("Rich's"), reasonable estimate of the base compensation for this role. The actual amount may be higher or lower, based on non-discriminatory factors such as experience, knowledge, skills, abilities, shift differential, and location.
Annual Range/Hourly Rate$86,455.00 - $116,968.00
BRINGING YOUR BEST SELF TO WORK.As a family-owned company, caring for our associates-their whole selves-is a top priority. That's why we provide benefits and tools to help our people balance the integration of work and life:
- Competitive compensation
- Health & financial benefits
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Family planning support
- Flexible work policy
- Associate resource groups
- Volunteering & community impact opportunities
- Holiday gatherings
- In-house taste tests (we are a food company after all)!
It's all part of how we support our family of associates.
Because in the company of family, all things are possible. 
