Job Location: Chicago

Chicago (hybrid)

Want to make an impact?

The Demand Planner – International & Ecommerce position maintains ownership for all forecasting activities associated with Ferrara’s international and ecommerce sales pillars. The Demand Planner creates and maintains forecast models for their customers, incorporating business intelligence and forecast information gathered from sales, marketing, finance, retailer replenishment analysts, and other sources (i.e.: Nielsen or other syndicated consumer data). The planner is responsible for their internal demand planning KPIs, contributing to the company’s overall growth.

In addition to demand planning activities, the position will play an important role in continuing to grow Ferrara’s international business. The Demand Planner – International & Ecommerce position will own analyses related to our international points of distribution and end-to-end international supply chain. The position will lead cross functional projects requiring collaboration to ensure timely & efficient operations, mitigation of risk, and support of financial plan to our international customers.

Ways you will make a difference

• Develop demand forecasts (operational forecasts) at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons as part of demand planning function and create statistical forecasts.
• Coordinate cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances and refine the forecast model to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions.
• Performs other duties as assigned.
• Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results.
• Design and implement solutions to improve process maturity within our internal demand planning department as well as international end-to-end supply chain.
• Use and maintain the Demand Planning software as the primary forecasting system tool.
• Understands and demonstrates the Company’s core values.
• Identify & escalate operational and financial risk within international supply chain
• Deliver timely analyses related to our international sales and points of distribution.
• Ensures adherence to all company policies and procedures.
• Utilize a collaborative and consensus approach by working with Sales, Marketing and Customer Finance to obtain and ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts.
• Achieve consensus for operational demand forecasts by facilitating a collaborative planning process with sales, marketing and finance personnel.
• Closely coordinate and communicate customer action plans with supply planning.
• Interact with sales, marketing, and customer finance to understand demand forecast drivers.
• Provide input to the Supply Planning organization in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase-outs.
• Review sales plans, customer finance Budget Updates or Latest Estimates and demand drivers.

Skills that will make you successful

• High tolerance for ambiguity
• Prior demand planning/forecasting experience within CPG
• Detail oriented self-starter and comfortable taking initiative, as well as capable of producing high quality results on a sustainable basis
• Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment and able to shift priorities quickly
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office products; primarily Excel
• Strong verbal, written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills
• Demonstrated supply chain knowledge within demand planning, supply planning, manufacturing, transportation & logistics
• Strong mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills

Experiences that will support your success

• Masters or certification preferred
• Bachelor's degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Proficiency with the Microsoft Office suite with emphasis on Excel
• APO experience preferred
• SAP experience
• Minimum 3-5 years’ experience

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