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The Demand Planning Manager will lead and oversee a team of planners and collectively own final operational forecast generation for the assigned business (category, region, segment). Drive value added enrichments to system forecast and work with the statistical forecasting team to optimize manual forecast actions based on exceptions and non-historical event management.

Serve as the interface to the area buying teams for assigned business to incorporate market input and event or promotional planning.

Work cross-functionally with finance, sales and category management teams to capture value added strategic intelligence into the system forecast. Execute the consensus strategic planning to collaborate and reconcile top down and bottom-up forecast.

The position will maintain, analyze, and communicate data and information for key business decisions on demand forecast. The position is accountable for key metrics related to working capital performance, including forecast accuracy, bias, service levels, and inventory productivity.

Flexible Work Policy: The Demand Planning Manager position has been segmented as Hybrid, meaning the work is a combination of onsite (only 2 days per week) and virtual (3 days per week). This position is based out of our corporate headquarters in Rosemont, IL.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES  

The role sits within the Demand Planning sub-team in the Replenishment Excellence team, which provides centralized support to the area buying teams. The role is pivotal in developing accurate demand forecast for the area buying teams to utilize for Purchase Order (PO) and inventory management.

Forecasting enrichment process and outcomes:

Lead and oversee the forecast enrichment process, ensuring a high-quality operational forecast is generated using the system forecast as a starting point.

KPI Management: Deliver against performance targets (Forecast Accuracy, Bias, Service, DIOH and Spoilage) and identify methods to improve planning behaviors that adversely impact these measures.Demand segmentation: Collaborate with Senior Manager, Demand to continually assess, shape, and improve the demand segmentation framework to determine companywide approach to demand forecasting for different demand types (e.g., high volume, low volume, high volatility, seasonal, specific customers, segments) Forecasting Strategy: Identify, action, and collaborate on changes to demand strategy relative market and business changes, including demand pattern changes, seasonal influences and shifts in business focusDemand enrichment factors: Identify demand factors such as promotions, sales growth, category management changes, customer changes that are likely to impact forecast.  Establish process to logically bring in those enrichments into system forecast while tracking enrichment value addExternal demand factors:  Guide forecast enrichment team identify which macroeconomic indicators influence demand trends and need to be factored into forecasts; guide team to model impact and work with stat forecasting team to build logic into forecast. Oversee how tracking of forecast value add of these factors and guide team to adjust accordingly

Area buying support & forecast exception management:

Oversee a team that is responsible for supporting area buying teams on forecast exceptions and other demand related queries.

Forecast Performance reviews with region teams: Conduct forecast performance reviews with region replenishment teams (SDRR, RDR, ADR) – review major forecast changes for region, discuss upcoming transitions (item, customer, events), review performance (accuracy, bias, value add)Forecast reconciliation: Oversee reconciliation of forecasts with other buyer enrichments, ensure one-time adjustments do not impact forward-looking forecastsBuyer exception communications: Establish and communicate forecast enrichment guidelines to buyers (e.g., for exceptions) to promote value-add outcomesBuyer point of contact: Oversee enrichment team that serves as buyer Point of Contacts (POCs) for forecast related issues: forecast errors & exceptions, factoring in item and customer transitions, SOQ issues related to forecast

Cross-functional collaboration on forecast enrichment:

Oversee a team that is responsible for collaboration closely with finance, sales, and category management teams on value added forecast enrichments.

Finance collaboration: Oversee coordination with finance on top-down financial forecast and operational forecast reconciliation; establish process and guardrails on how to update forecastsSales collaboration: Oversee coordination with local and national sales team on key events such as customer/ item transitions, holidays and event planning; establish process and guardrails on how to update forecastsCategory management collaboration: Oversee coordination with category management teams on item lifecycle (item transitions); establish process and guardrails on how to update forecasts

Forecast performance management:

Oversee maintenance and improvement of operational forecast performance across the company.

Monitor and root-cause key forecast metrics:  Shape process and oversee active tracking, monitoring and root-cause forecast metrics at a granular levelEnriched forecast accuracy: across all demand forecasting units (DFU) dimensions - time, category, region, channelEnriched forecast bias: across all DFU dimensions - time, category, region, channelTrack and act on forecast value add metrics:  Oversee all manual forecast enrichments made on system forecast improve the eventual forecast accuracyEnrichment value add:  Track forecast value add (impact on accuracy from forecast changes) of the enrichments done by buying team and forecast enrichment team; adjust processes and access to forecast changes as needed

Team leadership:

Manage a team of planners. Specifically:

Recruit, hire, and train top talent to build a strong Demand planning team that focuses on KPIs, root cause and corrective actions. Ensure smooth coordination and information flow within the entire demand planning team (statistical forecasting team, forecast enrichment team)Drive efficient collaboration with the area buying teams, sales team (national and local), and merchandising / category management teamsBuild a strong culture of customer service orientation, collaboration, performance, and continuous improvement within the teamProvide adequate coaching and process guidance to your team; when needed, work closely with Replenishment leadership to develop the required capabilities within the teamRepresent the team on regular performance evaluations and help build strong talent pipelineProvide regular 1x1 feedback to your team based on cross-functional inputs

Process & continuous improvement:

Drive process consistency and build strong competencies within the demand planning team.

Subject matter expertise & process development:  Assume SME role in forecasting enrichment process and help build standard procedures/ playbook; conduct trainings for new team membersContinuous improvement: Share the team’s current challenges, operational learnings, and process opportunities with Replenishment Excellence (RE) leadership group and brainstorm ways to addressSystems trust & reliance: Drive high reliance, trust and adoption of demand forecasts within company.  Work with Replenishment leadership to address challenges regarding adoptionCompetency development: Identify required process, analytics, and system training needs within your team; work with replenishment leadership to co-develop those competencies and bring those trainings to the team
 

SUPERVISION:

Responsible for a team of Demand Planners
 

RELATIONSHIPS

This role sits within the Supply Chain – Replenishment function.  It is part of the Replenishment Excellence team and the demand planning sub-team.  Given the cross-functional nature of this role, there is a need to build and maintain communications with multiple functions within the company.

Replenishment function leadershipReplenishment Excellence teamArea buying teamsCategory management teamSales team (Local and National)Finance

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Hybrid: This role is partially remote, and the associate is expected to perform assigned responsibilities from a combined home-based and office-based environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

5 years of work experience within forecasting and demand planning functionsExperience managing a team of individual contributors with a strong analytical backgroundProficiency in data analysis & visualization tools (i.e., Excel, Sigma, Tableau, PowerBI, etc.)Experience working Supply Chain Planning & Inventory Management systems (i.e., Blue Yonder, Logility, SAP etc.)Preferred exposure to supply chain functions (Replenishment, supply planning, logistics, S&OP, etc.)Strong interpersonal skills and ability to collaborate cross-functionally and draw linkages to businessAbility to synthesize key information, structure communication, and present to leadership teamHigh attention to detail, strong customer orientation, and fact-based decision making

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, analytics, supply chain or similar functions or equivalent military or professional experience

CERTIFICATIONS/TRAINING

Certified Professional Forecaster (CPF) or Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP) preferred

Universal pay verbiage:

Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law.  The expected base rate for this role is between $85,000 - $140,000. This role will also receive annual incentive plan bonus.​

​Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance. To review available benefits, please click here: https://www.usfoods.com/careers/benefits.html.

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