Associate Demand Planner

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A great job-and a great future-awaits you at Smithfield Foods. We are an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. We’re looking for motivated people who want to join our team and grow lasting and meaningful careers with us. Apply Now!

Your Opportunity

Our team members receive industry-competitive salaries and are eligible for great benefits packages:  

Accountable for all forecasting activities associated with finished goods products, customers, plants and distribution locations. Creates and maintains forecast models for the product categories at a sku level, incorporating business intelligence and forecast information gathered from Sales, Business Development, Finance, and other sources (i.e.: Nielsen or other syndicated consumer data). Leads the monthly consensus meetings with Sales and Business Development and is a key team member in S&OP meetings.

Core Responsibilities

Creates statistical forecasts:

• Gathers, analyzes and validates data.

• Executes statistical modeling software.

• Reviews resulting statistical forecast model.

• Applies error analysis techniques to improve forecasting. 

Reviews sales plans, business development updates and demand drivers:

• Presents, solicits, and assesses feedback on the various forecasts from sales and business development.

• Recommends adjustments for operational forecasts.

• Reviews promotional plans with sales.

• Identifies and reports on ‘root cause’ for forecast error and below targets. Assists in establishing annual forecast accuracy targets.

• Tracks sales inputs to new and lost business and sales promotions. Aligns the forecast to changing demand by DC.

Achieves consensus for operational demand forecasts by facilitating a collaborative planning process with sales and business development personnel:

• Prepares relevant material to facilitate research and discussion.

• Coordinates cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances and refines the forecast model to reflect updated sales and business development assumptions.

• Drives SKU Rationalization for sku’s within managed group.

• Responsible for understanding shipment trends and category dynamics to support and endorse total volume forecast.

Provides input to volume planning (Latest Estimates / annual process):

• Facilitates and manages demand planning/sales and business development meetings.

• Achieves consensus with the business side and the demand chain.

• Leads internal cross functional communication, integrating information into the forecast via the demand consensus and S&OP process. 

Maintains demand planning system and software:

• Attains forecast accuracy targets by sku/by location at a weekly level.

• Monitors trends in forecast errors and takes action to improve.

• Identifies relevant market-related data and competitive intelligence.

• Utilizes Logility, SAP, BI to ensure exceptional level of data integrity.

• Provides timely updates and analysis to Supply Chain partners to identify scenario planning opportunities.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

•  Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in business administration or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Company will consider a currently enrolled college student with an anticipated graduation by end of current school year as qualified.

• Proven analytical ability combined with an attention to detail.

• Knowledge of SAP, a plus.

• Good problem-solving and analytical skills.

• Strong mathematical aptitude.

• Strong oral, written and verbal communication.

• Highly organized, detail-oriented and excellent customer service skills necessary.

• Aptitude to collaborate with cross functional teams in a complex matrix organization to promote productivity and enhance supply chain overall functions.

• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.

• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Salary Range

EEO/AA Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.