The Demand and Supply Planning Analyst (Category Planner) is responsible for ensuring optimal stock availability across distribution channels to provide a positive customer experience and maximize sales opportunities. He/she creates and maintains forecast models for a defined product category, incorporating information gathered from Sales, Merchandising, Finance, Operations, relevant business intelligence, and KPI’s. He/she acts as the key interface between these groups/functions and proactively supports the business planning and S&OP process giving full visibility of product category contribution to the market growth target and maximizing working capital.
Responsibilities:
- Develops demand plans for multiple distribution channels related to the specific category assignment and responsibility.
- Reviews historical sales trends, researches and determines demand drivers, prepares forecast data, develops statistical forecast models, and evaluates forecast results based on sales, inventory and other data.
- Maintains forecast accuracy by collaborating with the cross-functional team to gather updated sales and marketing information, especially for events that significantly affect demand such as promotions and supplier stock issues.
- Regularly reviews the inventory level and ensures that product availability is within category guidelines and targets.
- Leads replenishment planning to ensure that inventory is in the right quantities and assortment across various locations to meet the demand.
- Collaborates with the supply chain teams to ensure timely replenishment, considering the different ordering processes for the category.
- Plans, manages, and coordinates all activities related to the procurement of necessary inventory needed to meet the changing levels of product demand
- Responsible for advising on the adjustment of the replenishment plan by defining priorities and necessary action, both in case of shortage and over stocks.
- Define and recommend necessary action with regards to safety stock adjustments, overstock or dead stock depreciation and destruction and transfer proposals and manage system updates.
- Conducts monthly reviews with management to communicate forecast and inventory estimations, reports on forecast and inventory accuracy, and proposes improvement solutions
- Supports management with risk assessments and mitigation activities
Minimum Qualifications
- 3-5 years of professional experience in Supply Chain or a related field
- Bachelor’s degree
- Proficiency in statistics, forecasting and forecasting methods with an understanding of their financial and operational impacts.
- Solid understanding of inventory management practices and procedures
- Strong interpersonal skills to effectively interact in a cross functional environment with all teams, areas and levels of business affecting the forecast process.
- Capability to multitask and problem-solve in a fast-paced environment
- Strong sense of time organization and urgency
- Detail and process oriented
- Able to work independently and within a team
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Working knowledge of demand or supply planning systems.
- Proven capability to analyze and synthesize data.
- Strong negotiation, decision making, and presentation skills.
Benefits
Comprehensive benefits include fully subsidized medical, dental, and vision insurance as well as life insurance, dependent care and flex spending accounts, a generous 401k match, pet insurance, a very competitive PTO, education reimbursement, and a flexible working environment. Additional perks include complimentary marketplace, and gym discounts if local to UT. Walker Edison also offers several company and individual team building enrichment activities and educational classes throughout the year!
Walker Edison is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity or Veteran status.
This role is eligible to work full-time remotely in the US with occasional travel to headquarters in Salt Lake City, or, locally on a hybrid schedule.
