Senior Demand Planner

Company Overview:Royal Oak Enterprises, LLC is a leading manufacturer and marketer of branded and private label charcoal, manufactured fie logs, fire building products, matches and toothpicks.In addition, the Company also manufactures railroad cross ties, which strengthens our relationship with our suppliers in the charcoal business.We offer a full suite of grilling products including charcoal briquettes, all-natural lump charcoal, fire starters along with the Pine Mountain fire building brand, the Diamond brand, and the Specialty Wood Products brand.Position Summary:The Senior Demand Planner will specialize in analyzing data to predict consumer demand on a rolling 18-month basis to manage inventory and guide supply chain operations.The Senior Demand Planner will report to the Director of Planning & Procurement.This role engages in a variety of tasks such as creating and maintaining forecast models for customers, as well as incorporating business intelligence and forecasting information gathered from other areas such as sales, marketing, finance, new product development, and supply planning.The Senior Demand Planner will lead the Sales and Operations process steps relevant to Demand such as the Key Customer Demand Gathering meetings and the Demand Alignment Meeting.In these meetings, the Senior Demand Planner will discuss forecast changes with the sales teams and then communicate changes in Demand to Sales Director, the Planning Managers, and the Director of Planning.Demand planners analyze past sales data, advertising and marketing budgets and priorities, the actions of distributors and retailers, natural disasters, weather, and sometimes political and social events.With seasonal businesses, balancing demand with pre-building supply is also critical. Responsibilities: •Leading SIOP processes that center on Demand Planning: The Key Customer Demand Gathering Meeting and the Demand Alignment Meeting.•Driving increased forecast accuracy using appropriate lags to measure validity of inputs.•Collecting data from internal and external sources on factors known as affect demand.•Modeling data to forecast future demand, creating statistical base forecasts.•Analyzing historical sales trends, POS data, and retailers to create customer level forecasts.•Obtaining information on other volume drivers that could impact demand like promotions, competitive initiatives, pricing, distribution, and production delays.•Developing demand forecasts at lowest level and rolling up to category level plans; using multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons.•Prepare regular reporting of sales pacing against sales forecasts and variance reporting.•Interacting with Sales, Marketing, and Finance to understand demand forecast drivers.•Summarizing forecast adjustments supplied by sales teams from sales forecasting modules and reasons for adjustments for Supply Inventory and Operations Planning (SIOP initiatives).•Working with Supply Planning and Logistics to plan transfers to meet site level demand.•Providing input to the supply planning organization in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, seasonal pipe-fills and product phase-outs.•Using and maintaining the demand planning software (Netstock).•Creating plans to address business seasonality that enables Supply planning to pre-build inventory.Position Requirements/Skills:A successful Senior Demand Planner will need a set of skills that include analytical capabilities, strong business discernment and judgment, and an ability to influence decisions by working across different organizational functions beyond the supply chain.These are combination of "hard" analytical skills and "soft" interpersonal and presentation skills.•3+ Years Demand Planning/Forecasting work experience (with CPG company a plus).•Experience with SIOP/S&OP/IBP processes and execution of Demand Planning steps.•Extensive knowledge of Demand Planning Software for developing Statistical Forecasts and cross-loading data into ERP.•Understanding of seasonal businesses, peak demand times, and proper pre-building.•Analysis of problem-solving skills such as the ability to question, accurately identify a need, and present an effective solution.•Understanding of raw material and production lead-times to deliver Finished Goods to customer on time and in full.•Ability to translate numbers and data into reliable insight.•Basic knowledge of inventory management and End-To-End Supply Chain functions.•Attention to detail; Excellent organizational skills and time management skills.•Strong written and verbal communication skills; strong presentation skills.•Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teammates.•Ability to follow and understand big-picture economic trends.Systems Knowledge:•Supply Chain ERP; Microsoft D365, SAP, Oracle, etc.•Demand Planning Software such as Netstock (a plus), SAP APO, Rapid Response, etc.•Strong computer skills with proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)Required Education:A Bachelor's Degree is required for the Senior Demand Planner position preferred degrees:•Business Administration•Supply Chain Management•Marketing•Operations/LogisticsA Day in the Life:Working in Demand Planning is a cyclical process that starts over each month.Your day includes staying on top of customer POS trends by watching sales data and communicating with sales teams, customers, supply planners, and operations.The Senior Demand Planner will attend many meetings with Sales, Supply Planning, Purchasing, and distribution operations.Through the Sales Division, the Senior Demand Planner will receive information regarding movement in market indicators, and future demand.From supply planners, the Senior Demand Planner will receive information about demand that impacts production and capacity.Most days involve using demand planning software, databases, and modeling to forecast and plan.Many demand planners use Excel to build forecasting and programs such as Power Query/PowerPivot to maintain relational databases.The Senior Demand Planner will use understanding of inventory management practices and procedures as a base for planning daily.Many things come quickly so the Senior Demand Planner must be able to multi-task and pivot adeptly from one focus to another.Finally, the Senior Demand Planner will continually need to use excellent communication skills in constructing and leading SIOP presentations and delivering synopses to key stakeholders.Royal Oak Enterprises, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an all-inclusive environment.We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States.However, we are not able to sponsor visas.