Director Demand Planning

Job Description

Director of Demand Planning leads the end‑to‑end demand forecasting process to ensure accurate, data‑driven visibility of customer demand across the business. This role partners closely with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, and Operations to create a consensus demand plan that supports revenue growth, service level targets, operations capabilities and inventory optimization. The Director oversees the demand planning team, develops forecasting strategies, and drives continuous improvement through advanced tools, analytics, and cross‑functional alignment.

• Demand Forecasting & Analytics
• Own the creation, accuracy, and continuous improvement of the statistical demand forecast across all product families.
• Implement advanced forecasting methodologies, tools, and models to improve forecast accuracy and bias.
• Analyze historical data, market trends, customer insights, economic indicators, and promotional impacts to drive the best demand assumptions.
• Monitor forecast performance using KPIs (e.g., MAPE, Bias, Forecast Accuracy, Demand Volatility).
• SIOP / IBP Leadership
• Serve as the functional lead in the Sales, Inventory, & Operations Planning (SIOP) or Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process.
• Facilitate the monthly Demand Review, driving alignment with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Planning to align on the Consensus Demand Plan.
• Identify risks, gaps, opportunities and create scenarios/options for mitigation.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Build strong relationships with commercial and operational teams to gather market intelligence and validate forecast assumptions.
• Partner with Finance on revenue projections, budgeting, and strategic planning.
• Collaborate with Product Management to model demand impact from new product introductions (NPIs), product lifecycle changes, and end‑of‑life strategies.
• Inventory & Service Level Optimization
• Work closely with Supply Chain and Operations to balance forecast accuracy, inventory levels, service commitments, and working capital goals.
• Identify demand variability and develop mitigation strategies to support customer‑service expectations and operational efficiency.
• Guide Entitlement Model calculations - safety stock policies, segmentation strategies, and demand buffers.
• Team Leadership
• Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing team of demand planners and analysts.
• Establish clear goals, metrics, and performance standards.
• Promote a culture of data‑driven decision‑making, continuous improvement, and collaboration.
• Process & Systems Improvement
• Champion digital transformation initiatives related to forecasting tools, planning systems, and analytics platforms.
• Drive the adoption of advanced planning systems (APS), AI/ML forecasting, and automation enhancements.
• Develop standardized processes, best practices, and documentation across global or regional planning organizations.

• Education
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Engineering, Economics, Statistics, or related field required.
• Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
• APICS/ASCM certifications (CPIM, CSCP) a plus.
• Experience
• 10 plus years of experience in demand planning, supply chain planning, or related fields.
• 5 plus years in a leadership role managing planning teams in a complex, multi‑SKU or global environment.
• Demonstrated success managing SIOP/S&OP/IBP processes.
• Experience in manufacturing, consumer goods, industrials, or similar industries preferred (customizable).
• Skills & Competencies
• Strong analytical and statistical modeling skills.
• Expert knowledge of forecasting methodologies and planning systems (e.g., SAP IBP, APO, o9, Kinaxis, Anaplan, OMP).
• Excellent communication, executive presence, and cross‑functional influence.
• Strategic thinking paired with strong operational execution.
• Ability to manage complexity, ambiguity, and changing priorities.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Forecast Accuracy (MAPE)
• Forecast Bias
• Inventory Turns
• Customer Service Levels / OTIF
• SIOP Plan Adherence
• Reduction in Excess & Obsolete Inventory
• Team and process maturity metrics

In addition to a competitive salary, leading‑edge work, and developing…