Demand Planning Manager presso Gentex Corp

Description

PURPOSE:

The Demand Planning Manager is responsible for ensuring supply chain efficiency and meeting customer expectations through accurate forecasting and planning globally across 5 US and UK locations. The ideal candidate excels at cross-functional collaboration, has a strong analytical mindset, and demonstrates effective leadership skills to guide a team toward high performance. Ability to work closely with a wide range of stakeholders, meet deadlines while delivering high-quality data and information.  In Summary, this role is to be responsible for helping the business optimize finished goods levels and replenishment plans such that inventory and costs are minimized while a superior customer experience level is maintained. This will be achieved by working closely with Operations, Customer Service and Sales teams to determine and monitor the planned and actual finished goods levels, customer satisfaction and other key business metric targets.

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Define, implement and operate integrated, automated and IT systems to deliver desired results (current primary system tools are SAP, Salesforce, QLIK, and MS excel).
• Work with Product Management and Business Development to develop a long-term planning horizon across the aircrew portfolio. 
• Liaise with engineering and operations on the configuration management of assembled products to streamline cycle times from quotation to delivery
• Participate actively in corporate initiatives related to ERP improvements
• Monitor sales forecasts and order bookings to sense and implement changes to finished goods plans
• Responsible for managing finished goods inventory to support elevated levels of customer satisfaction.
• Establish lead times based on customer requirements and liaise with Operations to ensure lead times are met
• Review impact of forecasts on capacity (globally and domestically) and liaise with Operations to ensure optimal Manufacturing capacity is available as required
• Liaise with Operations to ensure external Supply Chain planning will support the planned level of Customer Experience
• Manage finished goods inventory within agreed budgeted levels
• Realize cost saving opportunities and areas to increase efficiency of the inventory management system and to cut costs.
• Confer with other managers outside of inventory management to ensure coordination of other functions such as production, supply chain management and quality assurance.
• Develop use of metrics for key performance indicators (Inventory Turns, Forecast Accuracy, and performance relative to inventory targets) and ensure improvement initiatives are developed and implemented.
• Ability to learn on the fly and identify gaps and areas for improvement

Requirements

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration or a Supply Chain related field

EXPERIENCE: 

The Ideal candidate will have 10+ years of strong Supply Chain background, with experience creating forecasts, inventory analysis, budget preparation, SIOP, and an overall a strongly data driven mindset. Prior in the Aerospace/Military, Consumer or Automotive centric background in inventory management and logistics planning is ideal as well. Extensive experience in defining, monitoring and improving the people, processes and tools within supply chain to deliver desired results is a must. 7+ years of Distribution/Logistics/Inventory management experience in high volume manufacturing facilities is a plus.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Must be able to perform the following:

• Supply chain knowledge with diverse experience in forecasting, planning, and scheduling within a medium to large size organization.
• Highly systems oriented with strong analytical skills
• Detail oriented; accomplishes tasks by considering all areas involved showing concern for all processes and tasks, no matter how small
• Communicate effectively and able to lead, coordinate, and handle internal negotiations and problem resolution with functional areas such as inside sales, program/project management, Marcom, business development, and accounting as well as other areas in day-to-day activities.
• Excellent communicator including strong verbal and written abilities, excellent listening and feedback skills and the ability to provide clear direction
• Working knowledge and use of Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Familiarity with CRM tools such as Salesforce.com 

SUPERVISION:

This Role leads a small team, typically 1 to 2 direct reports

CONTACT WITH OTHERS:

Provides constant contact with internal cross functional and cross locations personnel at all levels of the organization. Specifically, Sales, Business Development, Sourcing / Site Procurement, Operations and Engineering.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL REQUIREMENTS:

Employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. The employee may lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The individual must have a high level of comprehension, and a high level of general, verbal, and numerical intelligence. Must be able to travel regularly within the United States and internationally using a variety of methods of transportation. 

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Works majority of the day in a climate-controlled environment, except for occasionally performing work in the warehouse, which is subject to moderate changes in temperature. Must be able to work remotely and on the road as needed. Due to time zone and holiday differences the candidate may be required to be available/participate during non-standard hours (time flexibility).

TRAVEL:

Limited travel required 

LOCATION:

Gentex’s Carbondale facility is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania in Lackawanna County. Carbondale, PA is about twenty miles north of Scranton, PA, 50 miles south of Binghamton, NY, and about 125 miles from New York City and Philadelphia. The area hosts numerous nearby state parks, nature preserves and local colleges and universities, including The University of Scranton and Marywood University. Northeast Pennsylvania is a beautiful area and offers an excellent cost of living. It is a great place to work, recreate, meet people, raise a family and live!

Gentex Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard for any applicable state or federal protected class. Gentex is an E-Verify Participant. Pre-employment drug/alcohol/background screening is required.