Blue Diamond Growers – Demand Planning Manager

Job Description Summary

This role is responsible for all activities associated with developing an operational forecast for the
Global Ingredients division to execute against. The Demand Planning Manager creates and maintains
forecast models for their network and product portfolio incorporating Sales forecast input, contact
balances, business intelligence, Marketing insights and shipment history.
The Demand Planning Manager is the primary integration point into the sales and commercial
organization. This position leads the Demand Review process each month with key counterparts in
Sales, Marketing and Supply Planning. Delivering a timely, accurate and actionable forecast to
Operations, Finance and Supply Chain is the responsibility of this position.

Essential Job Functions:

 Develops and maintains weekly operational forecast down to Item/Location using the
IBP Demand Module. Utilize sales plans, Contract commitments/ balances, distribution
changes, shipment history, competitor activities and marketing plans.
 Balance product availability versus market dynamics to provide insight to sales team for
crop sales.
 Collaborative forecasting with sales and customers to draw out insight that reflect
against forecast to improve availability.
 Conduct weekly root cause analysis of forecast error and identify corrective actions –
effectively communicate this information to sales, marketing, finance and supply chain.
 Leads monthly Demand Review process to align on single operational demand signal
across businesses and functions.
 Works closely with Customer Service and Sales Planning to understand customer
performance, promotional activity, new item distribution and discontinued products for
incorporation into monthly forecasts looks with weekly shifts.
 Works with cross-functional partners on projects such as new product launches,
obsolescence (SKU rationalization) and supply planning for aligning demand and
production.     
 Collaborates with Marketing and Sales on the development of Annual (AOP), LE 1 and
LE 2 forecasts.
 Develop processes to fully leverage recently implemented demand planning software
(IBP) and recommend enhancements to maximize its effectiveness.
 Partners with supply planning to understand supply chain implications of forecast
changes and deliver the most effective and complete Supply Chain plan.
 Works with supply planning to review production capacity relative to customer demand
requirements to ensure timeliness of product availability.
 Represent the operational demand plan across departments and functions in support of
projects including innovation, capacity and capital planning etc… The role will have
routine interaction with Sales, Marketing, Operations, IT and R&D up to leadership
levels.
 Provides insight of sales forecast and impact potential contract balances with risk linked
to crop availability.
 Lead collaborative planning and forecast review with key customers to review
forecasted consumption and contract balance planning.
  This job description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions; it does
not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS                                                                                  

 Bachelor's Degree   
 7-10 years of related industry experience
 APICS or other Forecasting certification preferred

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES

 Bachelor’s degree in Business administration, Finance or Supply Chain. MBA Preferred.
 Sound understanding of concepts and principles in Sales/Marketing and working
knowledge of the same in Finance and Supply Chain.
 In depth understanding of how a demand forecast impacts Sales , Marketing, Finance,
Supply Chain and the Business.
 SAP/IBP experience
  Experience with analytical insights to correlate information from multiple systems.  
 Applies complex math formulas and builds algorithms to evaluate financial data, detect
crop trends and recommend sales selection strategies.
 Outstanding organization, communication, presentation, collaboration, relationship
building and management skills.
 Strategic Thinking: Ability to recognize and develop sustainable solutions while
considering long-term and short-term impact of actions when making choices.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS
 Office environment demands including frequent speaking both in person and over the
phone; writing, reading files, reports and PC screen.  Prolonged sitting at computer
terminal.  Regular vision concentration for reading and checking reports, forms and data
entry.  

WORK ENVIRONMENT
   Standard office environment with low levels of noise, adequate lighting and
comfortable temperatures.