Demand Planner

Herr’s is proud to offer a variety of quality benefits and wellness programs where we have been recognized as a 5-time Well Workplace Award winner in the area! Elective benefits include medical, dental, vision and hearing insurance, long term disability, life insurance, accident, hospital and critical illness indemnity plans, and legal plans. The company also provides opportunities to contribute to a 401k with a company match, vacation, sick and holiday pay; EAP services, and tuition reimbursement. Benefits start the first of the month following 30 days of service (unless otherwise noted in plan description).

• Focuses on understanding the business to recognize the business driver inputs and initiatives.
• Translate customer and Business Development team contribution for input into the demand plan.
• Responsible for baseline forecasts in a high SKU count branded and private label portfolio.
• Assemble and analyze large volumes of data pertinent to creating the forecast (historical sales, market trends, seasonality, promotions), and provide insight and recommendations to improve process internally and externally.
• Develop and execute changes to the demand plan based on changes in demand, promotions, and market trends, including new product launches and placement.
• Collaborative planning with internal customers as part of Integrated Business Planning to layer inputs into baseline forecasts. Ensure reasonableness of forecast inputs. Challenge assumptions & escalate for decisions as needed.
• Track monthly forecast error results versus established targets and identify and report on the root cause.
• Participate in IBP Demand Reviews, clearly interpreting the demand plan and underlying assumptions to a cross functional audience.
• Support implementation of new demand planning system(s), including data validation, testing, and process
• Support Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning process by reviewing model selection, monitoring the change introduced by statistical forecast adoption to baseline for sense check, and making appropriate adjustments to stat adopted baseline where necessary to align with business assumptions/expected trends.
• Work to maintain high accuracy rates as defined by Management, at the Sales Channel and Product Family level.
• Support other arms of the Integrated Business Planning Process as needed (PMR, Supply Review, IR, MBR).
• Bridge IBP long-term demand plan to short term execution, analyzing orders against forecast and demand signals to production.
• Short-term weekly demand planning, partnering with Supply Chain Analyst, is another critical piece of this role.
• Part of cross-functional teams with Business Development, Marketing, Supply Chain, Customer Service, and Operations to ensure cross-functional alignment and meet customer fill rate objectives.
• Play an active role in the annual budget process.

In addition to the essential functions listed above, the employee is expected to exercise honesty, integrity and respect with all clients and co-workers, preserve confidentially of all business information and data, maintain a professional appearance and demeanor, demonstrate a positive attitude, communicate effectively with co-workers and clients, work with accuracy, efficiency, and attention to detail, respect the work environment and keep it as environmentally friendly as possible, and exercise initiative to learn new skills and tasks and to help co-workers when possible. Reliable attendance and punctuality are also required. The employee is also expected to perform other related duties, special projects and functions as required from time to time.

Any questions about this position or any others, please contact the Human Resources department at 610-932-6500 or recruitment@herrs.com

Herr Foods Inc. is a drug-free workplace and an equal opportunity employer M/F/Veterans/Disabilities

• Effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment undergoing transformation
• Self-directed, approachable problem-solver comfortable speaking up and dealing with ambiguity.
• Ability to summarize and highlight key messaging
• Understanding of statistical forecast principals
• Demonstrated communication, collaborative and analytical competencies
• Experience in category level Integrated Business Planning preferred
• Strong Microsoft Excel skills required. Intermediate required. Advanced preferred.
• Knowledge of demand planning software is a plus.
• B.S degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Statistics, Operations Research, or related field
• 3-5 years of previous experience in consumer product forecasting, preferably within the food industry or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) related companies