Sr. Sales Forecast Planner - Highline Warren
Naperville, IL 60563
About the Job
Drive Sales Success through Data-Driven Forecasting
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function.
Strengthened Customer Relationships:
- Act as a liaison between customers/sales and internal forecasting team
- Proactive support and assistance across the entire customer value chain (replenishment to buyer)
- Ensure timely communication and problem-solving to address customer needs
- Use data-driven insights to optimize inventory levels and promotional planning
Inventory Management Excellence:
- Accurate inventory tracking and replenishment to prevent stockouts and dips in in-stock rates
- Anticipate inventory needs based on sales trends and weather forecasts
- Monitor customer inventory levels aiming for a 98.5% fill rate
Data-Driven Forecasting and Planning:
- Create forecasts based on historical data and customer conversations
- Identify and correct forecast inaccuracies to improve fill-rate
- Plan, monitor, and review for seasonal fluctuations, promotions, and modular/POG updates
- Partner with internal IT team to find ways to integrate customer data into the forecasting model
Customer Interface:
- Participate in all key customer Collaborative Planning, Forecasting, and Replenishment (CPFR) calls for forecast alignment
- Understand customers’ forecasting capabilities and identify partnership opportunities
- Provide timely assistance for feature store lists, special requests, and order fill information
- Monitor customer inventory levels and communicate replenishment needs
- Identify opportunities where more inventories could maximize feature/promo sales
Sales / Demand Forecasting and Planning (Integrated Business Planning process focus):
- Conduct regular reviews and updates to forecasts based on historical data, customer supply plans, and external factors
- Use Planalytics to proactively plan/push inventory to address changes in demand
- Proactively identify and address potential forecast inaccuracies based on trends
- Breakdown forecast / performance by customer location and roll up to supporting plant
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES
An individual qualified for this job must be able to:
- Strong analytical and conceptual skills with a focus on business results
- Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative data analysis linked to KPI’s
- Motivated to drive business results versus personal preferences, and in group achievement rather than individual achievement
- Meets deadlines and work under pressure, with limited supervision
- Well-organized and high level of attention to detail
- Knowledge of forecasting processes across various business functions
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects at once
- Evaluate scenarios in with end-to-end supply chain impact in mind
- Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication, including great presentations
MINIMUM EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION, AND CERTIFICATIONS
An individual qualified for this job must have and maintain the following qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree (BS/MS in supply chain, engineering, operations management, or math/economics desired)
- At least 7-10 years of prior experience in forecasting, supply chain planning, inventory management, manufacturing operations, or a field that demands complex quantitative analysis
- Experience working with distribution and wholesale distributor models is a plus
- Hands-on experience with modeling, forecasting, analysis and simulation tools
- Excel Mastery: Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel, including pivot tables, VLOOKUP, and complex formulas for data manipulation and analysis.
- Database Management: Understanding of database systems to retrieve and manage large datasets efficiently.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an individual to successfully perform the Essential Functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- This is a desk-based job and will require the individual to remain seated for long periods of time and have the manual dexterity to operate standard office equipment such as computer keyboard, mouse, calculator, phone, copier/scanner, and similar machines.