Demand & Inventory Planner

The Role

This role is responsible for supporting the in-market demand planning process by implementing and championing that process for the Canadian market. This role will support the business to successfully achieve its business objectives through driving improved demand planning and forecast accuracy.

You Will

1. Forecast Preparation
   • Attend forecasting meetings with Canadian Sales, CEX, Finance, Marketing, Product Management, and Leadership team and lead by contribution of ideas.
   • Prepare and input base forecast by product by channel.
   • Capture peaks and troughs in the forecast around large project sales orders and seasonality.
   • Capture promotional activity into Retail forecasts.
   • Support the sales teams to develop strong forecasting behaviours.
   • Provide insight and information to state sales teams related to supersessions and new product introductions.
   • Establish sell out plans for obsolete models and sell in of new models.
   • Support Sr Demand & Inventory Planner in the review and adjustment of new product forecasts based on changed assumptions and performance.
   • Prepare and communicate risks and opportunities as required including adjustments to new products following launch.
   • Create and maintain reports that provide the sales team clear visibility of largest variances to the forecast from a top level to SKU level.
   • Improve forecast accuracy and bias to meet set KPI’s.
   • Input proportional factors to manage Vancouver and Toronto distribution centre forecast split.
   • Collaborate with Global Planning to analyse the demand forecast vs. stock on hand/in transit reports to positively influence the forecast accuracy.
2. Stakeholder Management and Communication/Productive Collaboration
   • Successfully supports business sales while balancing inventory to deliver the right product at the right time.
   • Support the demand planning process by cross functional collaboration to understand and influence the market demand plan.
   • Collaborate with both sales and marketing on promotional performance within required process.
   • Liaise closely with Global Planning to understand supply impact and communicate changes in the demand plan.
   • Collaborate with global supply chain for continuous improvement opportunities, and communicate in-market activities that may impact wider supply chain.
3. Demand Review/Sales Forecast Pricing and Promotion meetings
   • Support the in-market demand review. Present current business demand plan. Understand the key assumptions and drivers of change.
   • Post demand review provide communication of plan to key stakeholders across the business.
   • Support structured review sessions with both sales and product marketing team to align expected promotional uplift.
4. Reporting, analysis and insight generation
   • Prepare forecast accuracy analysis.
   • Utilise analytical methods to understand, predict and improve the market demand plan.
   • Analyse past performance to build insight into the forward demand plan.
   • Support the data maintenance requirements within the demand planning tool to optimise statistical forecasting and driving improving baseline demand.
   • Review and assess risk to supply and demand variability, identify opportunities to manage and mitigate risk.
   • Measure and track performance business objectives through KPI’s. Develop continuous improvement action plans to improved business performance from KPI results.
   • Identify, analyse and communicate trends in the channels purchasing behaviour by Brand, Product Category and SKU.
5. Spares
   • Collaboration w/ Global planning on KPI improvement
   • Backorders Analysis at Item level & Check US stock levels
   • Transfer File creation for approval from US team & order creation in JDE
   • Rush Order request processing (approvals+ follow ups)
   • Review Spares inventory issues with CEX Team
   • Outstanding Backorders- Collaborate with global team to expedite direct shipments for backorders not filled from US
   • Monthly ROP & Forecast Review based on sales and update to global or in Vanguard.

You Have:
• 2-4 years in Demand Planning, Forecasting and or supply chain management
• Bachelor’s Degree or relevant supply chain industry experience
• Relevant Demand Planning Software e.g. Vanguard/Demantra/SAP
• Advanced level Excel Skills
• Knowledge of statistical models
• Knowledge of Demand Planning and S&OP Cycle and key activities
• Data Cleansing
• Reporting and analytics experience (e.g. Power BI)
• Commercial Acumen, strong financial understanding and analytical skills

Equal Opportunity Employer
Fisher & Paykel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, or other characteristics protected by law.