Qureos Mentor

Buddy's Pizza

Operated since 1946, Buddy’s Pizza is the birthplace of The Original Detroit-Style Pizza. For eight decades, the restaurant has been serving patrons at its numerous locations and has received accolades from various media outlets. Consistently voted as Detroit’s number one pizza, Buddy’s Pizza remains committed to its Detroit roots and traditions, continuing to delight fans across the nation.

<div><p><b>Senior Demand Planner</b></p><p><b>
Buddy's Pizza</b></p><p>
Detroit, MI | Full-Time | Reports to Director of Supply Chain</p><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
About Buddy's Pizza</b></h2><p>
Buddy's Pizza is a Detroit institution &mdash; home of the original Detroit-style pizza since 1946. With 19 full-service restaurant locations and a rapidly growing Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) channel, we're scaling our supply chain to match our ambitions. This is a high-impact role at a company where your work directly shapes how we grow.</p><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
The Role</b></h2><p>
We're looking for a Senior Demand Planner to own demand forecasting and inventory planning across two distinct channels: our 19-unit restaurant operation and our expanding retail/CPG business. This role sits at the intersection of operations, sales, and finance &mdash; translating market signals into actionable supply plans. This role is responsible for the management of product logistics and delivery to customers within 36 states.</p><p>
The right person thrives in a mid-size environment where they can build processes, not just follow them. You'll have visibility across the entire business and a direct line to leadership.</p><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
Key Responsibilities</b></h2><div><ul><li><b>
Demand Forecasting: </b>Develop and maintain rolling demand forecasts for both restaurant and CPG channels, incorporating seasonality, promotions, new product launches, and market trends.</li><li><b>
CPG Channel Planning: </b>Manage retail demand signals including retailer POS data, promotional lifts, distribution gains/losses, and new store authorizations. Collaborate with CPG sales to translate pipeline activity into actionable forecasts.</li><li><b>
Restaurant Operations Planning: </b>Forecast ingredient and supply needs across 19 locations, factoring in menu changes, LTOs, catering, and location-level variability.</li><li><b>
S&amp;OP Support: </b>Serve as a key contributor to the Sales &amp; Operations Planning process, preparing demand inputs and facilitating alignment between sales, operations, and finance.</li><li><b>
Inventory Optimization: </b>Partner with procurement and distribution to set safety stock targets, reduce waste, and maintain fill rates across both channels.</li><li><b>
Analytics &amp; Reporting: </b>Build and maintain demand planning dashboards. Track forecast accuracy (MAPE/bias) and drive continuous improvement.</li><li><b>
New Product Forecasting: </b>Develop demand estimates for new CPG SKUs and restaurant menu items using analogous product analysis and market data.</li><li><b>
Delivery Management:</b> Management of BOL&rsquo;s and proof of delivery and appointment time accuracy and Load accuracy.</li><li><b>
Cross-Functional Collaboration: </b>Work closely with Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Finance to gather demand intelligence and ensure alignment on volume assumptions, as well as challenge unwarranted deductions.</li></ul></div><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
Required Qualifications</b></h2><div><ul><li>
5+ years of demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain planning experience</li><li>
CPG industry experience required &mdash; understanding of retail sell-through dynamics, trade promotions, retailer replenishment, and distributor/broker networks</li><li>
Proficiency with demand planning tools (e.g., SAP IBP, Oracle Demantra, Kinaxis, Blue Yonder, or similar); advanced Excel/Google Sheets at minimum</li><li>
Strong working knowledge of S&amp;OP / IBP processes</li><li>
Demonstrated ability to manage forecasts across multiple channels or business units simultaneously</li><li>
Analytical mindset with strong statistical forecasting fundamentals (time series, regression, causal modeling)</li><li>
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Economics, Mathematics, or related field</li></ul></div><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
Preferred Qualifications</b></h2><div><ul><li>
Experience in food &amp; beverage CPG specifically (frozen, refrigerated, or perishable products a strong plus)</li><li>
Familiarity with foodservice or restaurant supply chain operations</li><li>
Experience in a high-growth or scaling environment &mdash; building processes, not just inheriting them</li><li>
APICS CPIM, CSCP, or IBF CPF certification</li><li>
Experience working with retail partners (grocery, club, convenience) and understanding of their planning cycles</li><li>
Comfort with BI tools (Tableau, Power BI, Looker)</li></ul></div><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
Location</b></h2><p>
Location: Detroit, MI &mdash; on-site preferred; remote considered for exceptional candidates</p><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
What Makes This Role Compelling</b></h2><div><ul><li>
Dual-channel complexity &mdash; you're not just running a static forecast; you're balancing a mature restaurant business with a high-growth CPG rocket ship</li><li>
Visibility &mdash; direct access to senior leadership in a company that's scaling fast</li><li>
Impact &mdash; you'll be building the demand planning function, not filling a seat in a 50-person planning team</li><li>
Culture &mdash; Buddy's is a Detroit legacy brand with the energy of a growth-stage company</li></ul></div></div>

Senior Demand Planner

<div><p>Director of Brand &amp; Digital Transformation</p><p><i>
Buddy&rsquo;s Pizza | Detroit, MI | On-Site</i></p><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
About the Role</b></h2><p>
Buddy&rsquo;s Pizza, the Detroit original and inventor of Detroit-style pizza since 1946, is entering its next chapter. We&rsquo;re looking for a Director of Brand &amp; Digital Transformation to lead the modernization of one of Michigan&rsquo;s most iconic restaurant brands &mdash; honoring 80 years of heritage while making Buddy&rsquo;s irresistible to a new generation of guests. This is a hands-on builder role for someone who lives at the intersection of brand storytelling, consumer data, and modern marketing technology.</p><p>
You&rsquo;ll own the brand&rsquo;s evolution end-to-end: how it looks, how it shows up digitally, how it talks to guests, and how we use data and AI to make every touchpoint smarter. You&rsquo;ll work directly with the CEO and executive team and have the runway to reshape how Buddy&rsquo;s connects with its community.</p><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
What You&rsquo;ll Own</b></h2><ul><li><b>
Brand modernization.</b> Lead a refresh of Buddy&rsquo;s voice, visual identity, and creative expression for a younger, digitally native audience &mdash; without losing the soul of the brand.</li><li><b>
Digital ecosystem.</b> Own the website, app, online ordering experience, third-party delivery presence, and review channels. Make every digital surface feel as good as a slice out of the pan.</li><li><b>
Social and content.</b> Build a social-first content engine across Instagram, TikTok, and emerging platforms. Develop creator and influencer partnerships in the Detroit market and beyond.</li><li><b>
Loyalty and CRM.</b> Launch and scale a first-party data and loyalty program. Use guest data to personalize offers, drive frequency, and grow lifetime value.</li><li><b>
AI and marketing tech.</b> Evaluate, implement, and operationalize modern tools &mdash; generative AI for content, customer data platforms, marketing automation, analytics dashboards, and review management.</li><li><b>
Performance marketing.</b> Run paid social, paid search, geo-targeted local campaigns, and new-store openings. Hold every dollar accountable to measurable results.</li><li><b>
Frozen retail and brand extensions.</b> Support marketing for the growing frozen pizza retail business and other brand extension opportunities.</li><li><b>
Insights.</b> Build the muscle for guest research, sentiment tracking, and competitive intelligence so the brand makes decisions from data, not gut.</li></ul><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
What You Bring</b></h2><ul><li>
7+ years of marketing experience, with at least 3 in a senior digital, brand, or growth role</li><li>
Multi-unit restaurant, hospitality, or consumer brand experience strongly preferred</li><li>
Demonstrated track record modernizing or repositioning a legacy brand for a younger audience</li><li>
Hands-on fluency with modern marketing tools: CDPs, loyalty platforms, marketing automation, analytics tools, and generative AI applications for content and creative</li><li>
Strong creative judgment and the ability to brief and direct designers, agencies, and content creators</li><li>
Comfort with first-party data, basic SQL or BI tools, and reading dashboards to drive decisions</li><li>
Experience launching or scaling loyalty programs and CRM strategies</li><li>
Bias for action, scrappy execution, and the willingness to roll up your sleeves in a lean team</li><li>
Bachelor&rsquo;s degree required; MBA a plus but not required</li></ul><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
What Sets You Apart</b></h2><ul><li>
You&rsquo;ve worked inside a private equity-backed or founder-led company and understand operating with discipline and pace</li><li>
You have an existing network in the Detroit creative, content, and food scene</li><li>
You&rsquo;ve built or rebuilt a restaurant loyalty program with measurable lift</li><li>
You think like an operator, not just a marketer &mdash; you understand how marketing decisions hit the four-wall P&amp;L</li></ul><h2 class="jobSectionHeader"><b>
The Details</b></h2><p><b>
Location: </b>On-site at Buddy&rsquo;s Pizza headquarters in metro Detroit. This is not a remote or hybrid role &mdash; you&rsquo;ll be in market, in restaurants, and with the team.</p><p><b>
Reports to: </b>Chief Executive Officer</p><p><b>
Benefits: </b>Full health, dental, vision; 401(k); PTO; meal benefits; and the chance to help write the next chapter of a Detroit institution</p></div>

Director of Brand & Digital Transformation

Join Buddy's Pizza and explore 2   exciting career opportunities. They're hiring for various roles with options for remote or on-site work. Apply today and become part of their innovative team.

Buddy's Pizza

About Company

Senior Demand Planner

Director of Brand & Digital Transformation