Demand Planner bei DecoPac, Inc.

Be a part of the behind-the-scenes world of the cake industry—where the art of celebration is part of your job description! DecoPac, Inc. is a high growth, high energy company that designs, markets and distributes the most popular cake decorations and bakery supplies in the bakery industry. Located in Anoka, MN we work with licensors and brands to produce, sell and distribute our products to supermarkets, retail bakeries, and ice cream stores throughout North America.

Summary:

The Demand Planner is responsible for the demand planning processes for their assigned product lines.  This includes generating the statistical base forecast for their assigned portfolio and projecting future demand based on an analysis of history and future requirements.  These plans will be developed and executed in support of the Business Unit requirements and company goals for those products. The Planner will work to manage supply-demand alignment with key stakeholders in Sales, Product Management and Procurement.  They will regularly update and aggregate forecast requirements by product line, customer group and category to support the IBP process.

Essential Functions:

• Create, review, and validate the demand plan for rolling 12 plus-month horizon through statistical models and incorporating business intelligence from multiple sources to achieve an unbiased customer demand plan
• Research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, and prepare analysis to review with sales team
• Review historical sales trends and forecast accuracy reports to validate the statistical models and evaluate forecast results
• Analyze and update multi-level (SKU, program, customer) demand signal based on trends, alerts, models, assumption changes, inputs, etc.
• Communicate with sales, marketing, finance, procurement, supply planning, and other departments to ensure that current, accurate data is available for forecasts
• Prepare data for cross-functional forecasting meetings with the national sales team
• Support the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process by analyzing, preparing, and reporting on future and past sales forecast performance
• Participate in cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances and refine the forecast model to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions
• Assist in establishing and driving improvements to Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), including forecast accuracy (MAPE, bias), inventory, Slow Moving/Obsolete, and customer service
• Partner with sales, marketing, and finance to understand demand forecast drivers
• Participate in the annual planning process; ensure linkage to monthly volume forecast as part of financial forecasting process
• Provide ad-hoc analytics and scenario planning for, but not limited to, supply chain, customer demand, annual operating plans, sales budget, etc.
• Provide input to supply planning, procurement, commercialization, customer service, etc., in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase-outs
• Assist with phase-on of new products and phase-out of discontinued products
• Track and communicate customer action plans with supply planning
• Support food safety program, quality standards, and legality of manufactured products
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, finance, business, statistics, mathematics or related field
• 2-5 years of consumer products forecasting or supply chain operations experience; experience with S&OP processes or supply planning
• Experience with forecasting application or supply planning software
• Quantitative and analytical skills
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office with advanced skills in Excel; 
• Ability to think critically and solve complex problems
• Ability to effectively communicate and work with multi-level personnel
• Ability to organize, manage multiple priorities, and maintain high attention to detail in a fast-paced environment
• Self-motivated, goal oriented, quality driven, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision

Physical and Mental Demands:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and/or hear, and/or use hands to fingers, handle, or touch objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, and/or walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds while moving files or small packages. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. Work in excess of 40 hours in one workweek as needed. Travel required up to 10%. The mental and physical requirements described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Mental Demands consist of frequently interpret data, make decisions, organize, problem solve, and time management.

Work Environment:

Hybrid work environment requiring both onsite (in-office) and remote (home office) work. 

Benefits:

 Full time employees working an average of thirty (30) hours or more will be eligible to enroll in a comprehensive benefit package, including medical, dental, vision, life, disability, and retirement plan benefits.

 DecoPac, Inc. is committed to providing equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees according to all applicable laws, directives and regulations of federal, state, and local governing bodies and agencies. In keeping with this commitment, DecoPac, Inc. will recruit, hire, train and promote persons in all job titles, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex (including factors related to pregnancy or child birth), national origin, age, marital status, familial status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity status with regard to public assistance, employment status, local human rights commission activity, status as a protected veteran, genetic information, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, or any other protected category.