Director, Demand Forecasting & Planning

Position Summary

The Director of Demand Forecasting & Planning leads the development, management, and continuous improvement of the demand planning and forecasting processes across the organization. This role ensures that customer demand is accurately projected, aligned with sales and operations plans, and translatable into actionable inventory and supply strategies.

This individual will work closely with Sales, Marketing, Supply Planning, Procurement, DC & Branch Operations, Transportation, and Finance teams to balance service levels, working capital, and profitability objectives while supporting a high-volume, SKU-intensive distribution network.

Key Responsibilities:

Demand Forecasting

· Develop, own, and refine the company’s demand forecasting models for all products across regional distribution centers and the respective branch networks.

· Incorporate sales trends, market trends, market research, seasonality, promotions, and model changes into forecasts.

· Leverage advanced statistical methods and AI/ML-based forecasting tools to improve forecast accuracy.

· Collaborate with Category Management and Sales to align forecasts with product introductions, price changes, and regional market shifts.

Sales & Operations Planning (SIOP)

· Own the demand component of the SIOP process, ensuring alignment between demand forecasts, supply plans, and financial objectives.

· Facilitate monthly cross-functional consensus meetings with Sales, Operations, Supply Planning, and Finance.

· Provide scenario and sensitivity analyses to support business decisions (e.g., demand surges, supplier disruptions, or economic shifts).

Analytics & Performance Measurement

· Track and report key demand planning KPIs (forecast accuracy, bias, service level, inventory turns, and days of supply).

· Identify root causes of forecast errors and lead corrective action initiatives.

· Partner with IT and data analytics teams to enhance demand planning tools, dashboards, and data integrity.

Leadership & Collaboration

· Build and lead a team of demand planners and analysts.

· Foster a culture of continuous improvement, analytical rigor, and cross-functional collaboration.

· Partner with SI logistics and procurement to optimize replenishment and minimize obsolescence.

Qualifications:

· Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Economics, Engineering, or related field (MBA or advanced degree preferred).

· Experience:

o 10+ years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or supply chain management.

o Minimum 5 years in a leadership role within a complex distribution environment.

· Technical Skills:

o Proficiency with forecasting tools (e.g., Oracle, SAP IBP, Blue Yonder, Kinaxis, NetSuite Demand Planning, or similar).

o Strong Excel and data modeling capability; Power BI or Tableau experience a plus.

o Familiarity with ERP and WMS systems.

· Soft Skills:

o Strong analytical, strategic thinking, and communication abilities.

o Proven success leading cross-functional collaboration.

o Ability to balance service levels with inventory and cost efficiency.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

· Forecast Accuracy / MAPE

· Forecast Bias

· Inventory Turnover & Days of Supply

· Service Level / Fill Rate

· Forecast Value Add (FVA)

· On-Time and In-Full (OTIF) Delivery Support

· Lost Sales Reduction