As a key step in the Monthly S&OP cycle, the Demand Planner coordinates the process of developing a Consensus Demand Plan with Regional Commercial and Operations partners. Collect and organize Demand requirements from Direct Sales Markets and Distribution partners in close collaboration with the Commercial and Marketing teams for existing products, new markets and new products.
Analyzes the demand requirements using statistical methods; provide feedback to business partners and generate final consensus demand plans.
Necessary Duties and Responsibilities include the following:
- Analyze product and customer sales performance (sell in – sell out) to develop item level demand forecasts across all product families.
- Use data to analyze trends related to consumption, distribution, product mix to develop the demand plan.
- Upload and maintain current demand requirement values in SAP.
- Monitor and improve Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to demand planning and demand management.
- Perform Demand Sensing by monitoring demand vs actual throughout the month and raise issues if there is a significant mix issue in which the demand plan needs to be immediately updated.
- Identifies opportunities to continuously improve forecast accuracy.
- Work closely with Business Planner to anticipate changes in product demand due to new commercial contracts/tenders, commercial campaigns, etc.
- Collaborate with Commercial and Customer teams to ensure customer events are captured in forecasted plans. Transform marketing and commercial information into meaningful adjustments in the forecasting model and validate the outputs.
- Develop conclusions, and make recommendations about forecast opportunities and risks to maximize business unit performance.
- Prepare information for and participates in recurring S&OP meetings.
- Incorporate feedback and communication from regional S&OP meetings.
- Provide visibility to demand forecast in the format, level and detail required by all customers.
- Support implementation of new tools, systems, and business processes to improve upon the current systems in place.
- Continuously improve the forecast accuracy by conducting root cause analysis of forecast errors and by challenging the demand inputs provided by the Sales, Marketing, and Distribution partners.
- Prepare for and drive 1:1 meetings with Sales, Marketing, and Distribution partners to refine forecasts.
- Coach business partners on the Forecasting and Demand consolidation process to build awareness of the importance of the process and of obtaining accurate information.
Relationships and Roles:
- Reports to S&OP Jr. Manager.
- Collaborate with Commercial Managers.
- Distributor Partners, Customer Service, Marketing, Warehouse and Logistics Operations personnel, as well as others trough-out the ESTA Operations and Commercial teams.
Job specifications:
- Proficient with computer systems and software programs, including SAP and SAP IBP.
- Excellent analytical and organizational skills, with high attention to detail.
- Customer centric mentality.
- Experience with roles / projects requiring collaborative approaches; ability to function in a team environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to directly lead and/or co-lead high-impact process improvement projects.
Job requirements:
- 3-5+ years of prior experience in Demand/Forecast management.
- Bachelor degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or equivalent experience in the field.
- Experienced in the medical device industry (silicone implants is a plus).
- APICS certifications is a plus.
- Proficiency in several languages: o English – Mandatory o Spanish – Preferable o Portuguese – Preferable.
