Manager Demand Planning

Purpose:

Leads the demand forecasting process for their respective business channel to generate a perspective on unit demand. Facilitates discussions with business stakeholders to reconcile unit level forecasts against financial targets, key initiatives and productivity and margin targets. Builds and maintains seasonal demand plan in global forecasting system (ILS).

Key Accountabilities:

• Responsible for monthly forecast submission into global forecasting system (ILS)
• Educates business area on demand forecasting process and requirements
• Partners with stakeholder groups to generate a monthly perspective on unit demand
• Ensure alignment between Demand Plan and Financial Forecast- identifying gaps and generating solutions to reconcile them
• Leads historical and statistical data modelling work for monthly demand view
• Facilitates monthly forecast review/planning meetings with business area to review forecast, to discuss current trends and risks/opportunities to business
• Responsible for communicating delivery constraints, identifying pull forward opportunities, operational issues/opportunities, and fielding forecasting questions.
• Leads demand planning monthly reporting
• Participates in monthly Supply Availability Review (SAR) call with Global Supply Planning
• Responsible for providing quarterly & seasonal hindsight review to business -historical data (volume & sku productivity), analysis & insight as inputs for future season planning
• Supports manager in defining and establishing "best in class" demand planning processes and driving strategic and continuous improvement activities
• Flags irreconcilable issues to manager for problem solving and escalation as needed
• Drives the development and roll-out of tools to support demand planning efforts and data collection
• Develops root cause analysis and action plans to improve forecast accuracy
• Supports the development and monitoring of KPIs to track forecasting accuracy and other key metrics

Knowledge Skills and Abilities:

• Commercial and business acumen to facilitate resolution of disconnects between stakeholders
• Strong analytical skills
• Strong interpersonal skills (e.g. relationship management, facilitation)
• High personal impact and high communication skills
• Proven methodological skills (e.g. data analysis, trend forecasting)
• Proficient in MS Office applications - Word, Excel, and PowerPoint (Access a plus)
• Fluent in written and spoken English.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 5-7 years of operations experience within a large Footwear, Apparel, Sporting Goods, or Consumer Products organization and with increasing degree of responsibility
• Preferable experience in the sports or clothing industry
• 5-7 years of experience in planning, buying, replenishment or other related field
• 4 year college degree with emphasis in business or finance