Manager, Demand

Join to apply for the Manager, Demand role at Ajinomoto Foods North America, Inc. 1 day ago Be among the first 25 applicants Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features. Base pay range $130,000.00/yr - $140,000.00/yr The Demand Planning Manager develops statistical forecasts in Demantra for products, channels, and customers assigned, working with SBUs to create consensus demand plans incorporating factors like distribution changes, promotions, pricing, customer projections, trends, and historical data. These enable robust 18-24 month rolling forecasts to support business decisions. Demand Planning serves as a strategic partner, driving growth and resilience through data-driven insights, proactive planning, and cross-functional collaboration. The goal is to provide actionable forecasts that balance supply chain efficiency, inventory, customer satisfaction, and business growth. Demand Planning Deliver best estimated unconstrained consensus 18- to 24-month rolling demand forecasts at SKU/customer level to enable business decisions. Create, own and maintain statistical forecasts within the forecasting software (Demantra) for assigned products and customers. Track statistical forecast performance, run simulations, review inputs, manage methods and flags, and raise concerns to resolve model issues as needed. Apply demand planning best practices, implement exception-based planning, and conduct analysis on different streams of forecasts, improve forecast accuracy with correspondent action plans, ensuring that only input directly affecting forecast value are utilized. Collaborate with SBUs to review, assess, and document assumptions, opportunities and risks. Validate and understand the change assumptions before layering up or adjusting the baseline/statistical forecast, e.g., distribution changes, pricing, competitors, promotions, phase-ins/phase-outs, new introductions/discontinuations, etc. Use external data, such as customer’s forecast or Circanda data and validate trends for demand sensing. Communicate forecasting and demand planning policies and procedures to all cross-functional teams. Quantify and report forecast accuracy (error) at item/channel, item/customer and item/DC levels for statistical, sales, customer, and consensus forecasts. The accuracy measures will be used to improve demand planning and assist in setting appropriate levels of safety stocks. Work with Supply Planning to ensure alignment between demand and supply and meet key KPIs for Forecasting Accuracy and Fill Rate metrics. S&OP Conduct monthly pre-demand meetings with sales and category teams for assigned channels and customers to establish demand plans, make informed decisions, assign action items, and evaluate opportunities and risks at the customer level. Work with the CPG demand planning manager to organize and facilitate monthly demand reviews, which enables decision-making, and get consensus on an approved 12–18 month category-level demand plan that serves as the single source of truth. Support SCM by providing best estimate of unconstrained rolling 18-month demand forecast at DC level, including assumptions, opportunities and risks. Provide promotions and new launches monthly outlook. Maintain promotions/distribution changes at customer level to ensure it is properly mapped to DC. Support S&OE on reviewing exceptions weekly and providing insights or actions. Manage and participate in S&OP as defined in RACI by the S&OP meeting structures and process. Work with the supply chain and technology vendor consultants to leverage the process and applications (JDE and Demand Planning) relating to statistical and collaborative forecasting needs. Analytics, Automation and Continuous Improvement Organize statistical, marketing and sales, customer forecasts, and related analyses for presentation, discussion, and resolution within the established S&OP meeting framework. Ongoing enhancements in operational efficiency and effectiveness, as well as advancements in reporting, analytics, and automated presentation processes. Provide the sales team with customer-level baseline, analysis and reports for review and updates. Support RGM (Revenue Growth Management), TPM (Trade Promotion Management)/TPO (Trade Promotion Optimization) initiatives aimed at integrating promotion data and analytics into Demantra. Keep current on supply chain and demand planning best practices. Maintain forecasting tools and systems (e.g., Demantra, PowerBI, Excel). Continuous improvements and enhancements. Spearhead data accuracy analysis and advocate for data integrity to optimize statistical models. Maintain in-depth working knowledge of the system capability, process and be the subject matter expert. Facilitate, coordinate, and document regularly scheduled monthly meetings to include meeting minutes, consensus agreements between functions and stakeholders and follow-ups. Ensure appropriate forecast metrics are monitored and reported. Analytics Ability to apply statistical models to predict future demand. Translating raw data into actionable insights and identifying patterns in historical sales and market data. Using Excel with advanced formulas, pivot tables, and data visualization. Evaluating the impact of promotions or market changes. Tracking forecast accuracy, bias, and service levels. Identifying patterns in historical sales and market data. Qualifications: A minimum of 8 years in supply chain with an impressive history of accomplishments and continuous improvements. Bachelor’s degree – Supply Chain, Business Administration, Operations, or Engineering CPG/Food Industry Knowledge: Understanding of how promotions, pricing, and distribution changes affect demand. Financial Acumen: able to understand and apply financial principles to make sound business decisions. Strong understanding of demand forecasting methodologies, inventory management principles and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously. Exceptional problem solving and analytical skills with strong leadership skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization. Ability to interact with internal and external executive stakeholders. High level proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and Project Management. Project BI experience is a plus. Must be able to travel up to 10% of the time. Range of pay $120,000 - $140,000 per year. Plus, annual bonus. #J-18808-Ljbffr