Demand Planner at Highline Warren in Lisle, IL

Job description

• Highline Warren is looking for a highly analytical and detail-oriented Demand Planner to join our team. In this role, you will be responsible for generating accurate and unbiased demand plans, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and communicating demand plan decisions to key stakeholders. This role serves as a key liaison between Commercial and Supply Chain teams to ensure that demand plans align with customer requirements, market intelligence, and strategic business goals.
• The Demand Planner also plays a central role in supporting the monthly Integrated Business Planning (IBP) cycle by enriching baseline model demand forecasts with business insights to deliver the unconstrained consensus demand plan that supports operational execution and financial performance. This position requires strong analytical skills, and exceptional communication abilities
• *Relocation assistance provided.

Responsibilities

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function.
• Demand Management
• Serve as a trusted advisor to key sales channels
• Collaborate closely with Sales, Marketing, Product/Category Management, Finance, and customers, to understand business insights, pricing, promotions, market dynamics, new products, and other supporting assumptions that impact demand
• Develop accurate and reliable demand plans by enriching baseline demand forecast models with input from cross-functional partners across the rolling 24+ month planning horizon
• Enter, update, and maintain forecasts in all planning and ERP systems to ensure data quality
• Participate in new product launch planning and lifecycle management
• Monitor daily and weekly demand variances
• Liaise with Customer Operations and Supply Planning on abnormal demand identification and management
• Participate in regular CPFR alignment calls with key customers, sales, and supply chain teams to align promotional plans, order forecasts, and replenishment strategies that ensure optimal product availability and service levels
• Utilize POS, inventory, and order data from customer systems (Retail Link, Relex, web portals, etc.) to identify trends, forecast variances, and potential supply risks.
• Integrated Business Planning (IBP) Process Participation
• Support the Sales, Marketing, Product/Category Management and Finance teams including the Demand Review process leader, in preparing for the Demand Review step of the monthly IBP cycle
• Collaborate with Commercial teams to reconcile the demand forecast with business assumptions and strategic objectives
• Develop, document, update, and challenge the factors and assumptions supporting the demand plan
• Support Finance with volume projections for budgeting and financial forecasting
• Ensure seamless handoffs between Demand, Supply, and Financial Planning processes
• Data Analytics and Reporting
• Utilize demand planning and analytics tools to generate demand forecasts and scenario analyses
• Maintain performance dashboards to monitor and analyze key performance indicators (KPIs) for demand plan accuracy, including (MAE/WMAPE, Bias, FVA, etc.)
• Identify root causes of variances and recommend corrective actions
• Translate data into actionable insights that drive decision-making
• Continuous Improvement
• Drive continuous improvement in demand planning capability through analysis of demand trends, assumption tracking, and business intelligence
• Contribute to improving demand planning processes, tools, and data quality
• Participate in system enhancements, testing, and adoption of best practices
• Drive a culture of accountability and transparency around demand plan ownership

Requirements

• An individual qualified for this job must have and maintain the following qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in business, data analytics, supply chain, or a related field
• 2-3+ years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain planning
• Ability to use data to solve problems, make informed decisions, and implement effective solutions
• Strong organization skills and the ability to synthesize complex data into clear, actionable insights
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication, to include presenting data effectively
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with advanced Excel and data visualization proficiency (e.g., Power Query, Power BI, Tableau etc.).
• Experience with forecasting tools and ERP/planning systems (SAP, Oracle, JDA, o9, Kinaxis, etc.)
• Experience in the retail industry or consumer packaged goods (CPG) a plus
• Familiarity with S&OP/IBP principals and best practices a plus

Skills

Required

• Strong organization skills
• Collaboration
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Advanced Excel
• Power Query
• Power BI
• Tableau
• SAP
• Oracle
• JDA
• o9
• Kinaxis