Demand Planning Manager

Job Description

• Analyze inventory positions at all points of the supply chain (supplier, redistribution center, distribution centers and restaurants) to ensure supply and minimize inventory risk to the system.
• Develop forecasts at both a menu-level and item-level detail to project weekly demand.
• Recommend ideal depletion or transition dates based on available system supply.
• Review distribution center (DC) open purchase orders for reasonableness and implement modifications as needed to prevent gaps in supply and to meet target DC and / or in-restaurant dates.
• Proactively provide required follow ups with both suppliers and DCs to ensure supply chain readiness.
• Work with Distribution and Logistics team and the distribution centers to secure transportation to transfer product as needed. Review freight rates to determine if product transfers are justified.
• Become an expert at using reporting tools to analyze key data sets.
• Support internal supply issue tracking process. Create and manage reporting for this activity. Follow-up with distributors and suppliers regarding root causes of inventory shortages.
• Ad hoc reporting and analysis – prepare Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, Power Point charts, etc. as required.
• Relationship Management Manage relationships both internally (purchasing, distribution, finance, etc.) and externally
• Communications Prepare and assist in the preparation of documents to support national launches, product transitions or item eliminations including, item level forecasts, DC Communications, and NewsBriefs.
• Actively participate in the preparation and management of bi-weekly DC conference calls to further prepare distributors for upcoming activity.
• Assist the Distribution and Member Support team with communications and ad hoc analysis.
• Miscellaneous Support the invoice payment process related to distributor and supplier excess inventory and freight charges associated with balancing inventory. Provide follow-up to distributors / suppliers on payment status.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE :

A four–year degree and / or direct and relevant work experience is required. Ideally 3+ years professional experience.

OTHER QUALIFICATIONS

Must have excellent written and oral communication skills, strong interpersonal skills, ability to work independently, and as a member of a team, in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, ability to proactively identify problems and develop solutions, detail oriented and computer literate in the MS Office environment (Excel, Word, PowerPoint). Requires great attention to detail, organization, able to manage and prioritize numerous projects simultaneously.