Demand Planner II

Overview:

The Demand Planner II plays a critical role in the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, leading the Demand Review to align sales and operations on a 12-18-month operational forecast. This role is responsible for maintaining the forecast in Oracle, which informs supply planning, manufacturing, and procurement decisions. Additionally, the planner develops long-range forecasts to support annual inventory target setting and capacity planning.

Demand Planners develop the operational forecast by combining input from sales teams gathered during the S&OP process with the statistical forecast generated in Oracle. This forecast also incorporates installation data provided by sales. Planners are responsible for preparing pre-alignment and demand review meetings and are measured against a set of predefined performance metrics.

Responsibilities/Essential Functions:

• Ensures best-in-class forecast performance by managing and improving key metrics such as forecast accuracy and bias.
• Benchmarks forecast accuracy against industry standards across multiple product categories to support strategic planning and operational excellence.
• Collaborates with the Sales team to develop a comprehensive 12-18 month demand plan that aligns with business goals and market expectations.
• Partners closely with the Supply Planning Manager to ensure alignment between demand forecasts and supply strategies, supporting optimal inventory levels and service performance
• On a weekly basis:
• Maintain the install forecast in Oracle, ensuring it reflects the most up-to-date and accurate demand signals.
• Monitor and track actual bookings versus forecast to identify variances and improve forecast accuracy.
• Review the statistical forecast (bookings forecast) generated in Oracle and evaluates its alignment with market trends and historical performance.
• Make informed adjustments to the forecast based on data analysis, cross-functional input, and business intelligence.
• Leverage forecast management experience to drive continuous improvement in demand planning processes and support strategic decision-making.
• Partner with Supply Chain New Install Manager and Supply Planning Manager where key forecast oversells/undersells are identified to create action plan to resolve.
• On a monthly basis:
• Review and incorporate key economic indicators and market trends into the demand plan to enhance forecast accuracy and support long-term business planning.
• Prepare pre-alignment and Demand Review presentations in weeks one and two of the S&OP cycle.
• Update Oracle with the consensus forecast.
• Make necessary adjustments to maintain target performance metrics.
• On a quarterly/annual basis:
• Supports annual planning by ensuring the demand forecast accurately reflects growth assumptions and input provided by Sales and Finance.

Experience/Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree - BS/BA in business, finance, marketing, industrial engineering or Supply Chain Management
• 5-8 years of analytical/systems experience
• Demonstrates strong initiative and the ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Excellent oral communication and presentation skills
• Experienced in actively participating in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) routines
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while consistently meeting deadlines.
• Possesses excellent analytical skills with a proven track record of effective problem-solving and data-driven decision making.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint
• Preferred, but not required:
• Experience with Oracle, Power BI and Access
• Practical experience in Supply chain planning, purchasing or distribution of product