Demand Planner

Responsible for developing a collaborative forecast for select product lines sold by High Liner Foods. In this role each month you will generate a statistical forecast, analyze sales data, coordinate the consensus process, document forecast related assumptions, track opportunities/risk and conduct root cause analysis for forecast variances.

The focus of the interaction with the Sales & Marketing organizations is to identify the drivers of variance sales vs. monthly forecasts, challenge existing assumptions, provide sales trend analysis, quantify anticipated incremental sales from marketing events/promotions, new product launches as well as the decrement of sales for end of life strategies.

The focus of the interaction with Finance, Procurement & Operations is to develop short and long term plans, which can act as the basis for tactical/strategic planning. Leverage in month pacing analysis to advise of risk to forecast attainment. Provide input into the budget process in developing a base strategic forecast. Provide input to the Supply Planning organization in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase outs. Closely coordinate and communicate action plans with supply planning.

This is a highly interactive position with peers in many other disciplines of the business. The ability to prioritize and be decisive is imperative. Must be able to handle a diverse range of duties with limited supervision as well as demonstrate initiative and independent judgment. Completion of job responsibilities will be through both internal and external contacts and accomplished in a timely, ethical, and courteous manner.

Essential Duties and responsibilities

• Utilize and maintain the demand planning software as the primary forecast management tool to generate statistical forecasts: gather, analyze and validate data, execute statistical modeling software, review resulting statistical forecast model, apply error analysis techniques.
• Coordinate & Lead monthly consensus meetings with Sales & Marketing: Reconcile discrepancies in forecasted vs. actual, challenge current assumptions and refine the forecast model to improve forecast accuracy.
• Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, review past promotions, prepare forecast data, document major assumptions and evaluate forecast results.
• Maintain accurate 18-month demand forecasts based on sales input, market analysis, and statistical forecasts used for financial reporting, capacity planning, production planning, materials planning, and raw material forecasts for vendors.
• Engage Sales & Marketing partners in forecasting of new product launches from ideation to production to ensure success.
• Develop and maintain planned safety stock levels for manufactured products to accommodate the normal variation in demand required to support customer service fill rate of 98.5 %.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain subject matter experts to monitor and identify disconnects between Demand & Supply Plans.
• Prepare and maintain relevant reports pertaining to demand planning process.
• Foster a positive working environment ensuring that Policies of the Company and the Company's Code of Conduct are respected in your area and the Company's responsibilities to employees are fulfilled. This would include being familiar with and implementing, according to your role within the Company, Company policies as published from time to time. In particular, as a leader with accountability for fostering our vision and values, the incumbent must review and communicate on a regular basis the High Liner Code of Conduct. The incumbent must at all times demonstrate behavior and actions consistent with the Code and ensure that employees in his or her area do the same, and are knowledgeable about the Code and all policies referred to in the Code.