Senior Demand Planner

Senior Demand Planning

Full Time

Hybrid 3/4 day in office 1/2 day work from home

Vaughan

Position Summary

We are seeking a Senior Strategy Consultant to lead our end-to-end forecasting architecture and drive predictive planning excellence. In this role, you will own the governance of our predictive modeling framework and lead cross-functional alignment initiatives across our broader ecosystem. Operating as a critical strategic advisor, you will leverage advanced data insights to identify long-term trends, run scenario modeling, and mitigate systemic risks.

The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between commercial strategy and execution capabilities, working closely with functional heads and executive leadership to scale our operational resilience.

Essential Responsibilities and Accountabilities

Demand Planning Leadership & Forecast Strategy

• Own the end-to-end demand forecasting process and ensure alignment with corporate supply chain strategy.
• Lead development of short-term, mid-term, and long-term demand forecasts using statistical models, machine learning tools, and business intelligence inputs.
• Establish forecasting governance, standards, and best practices across product lines and markets.
• Identify structural demand drivers such as market growth, product lifecycle changes, pricing shifts, and macroeconomic indicators.
• Lead demand scenario modeling and risk analysis to support strategic planning and supply chain resilience.
• Act as the organization’s forecasting subject matter expert, providing guidance and mentorship to junior analysts.

Advanced Analytics & Data Insights

• Develop and implement advanced forecasting models, including time-series, regression, and predictive analytics techniques.
• Analyze complex datasets from ERP, CRM, POS, and external market data sources to uncover demand signals and trends.
• Track forecast accuracy metrics such as MAPE, bias, and forecast value add (FVA) and lead initiatives to improve performance.
• Design executive-level dashboards and demand analytics reports to support business decision-making.
• Identify demand variability drivers and recommend strategies to mitigate volatility.

Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)

• Lead the Demand Review portion of the S&OP process, ensuring alignment between sales forecasts and operational capacity.
• Facilitate cross-functional demand consensus meetings with Sales, Finance, and Operations.
• Translate demand forecasts into actionable planning signals for production, procurement, and inventory management.
• Provide strategic recommendations during S&OP and Integrated Business Planning (IBP) meetings.

Cross-Functional Strategic Collaboration

• Partner with Sales and Marketing to incorporate promotions, pricing strategies, product launches, and customer insights into the forecast.
• Collaborate with Production Planning and Inventory teams to balance service levels, production capacity, and working capital.
• Work with Procurement to anticipate material requirements and supply risks.
• Support Finance with demand-driven revenue projections and scenario analysis.

Continuous Improvement & Capability Building

• Lead initiatives to modernize forecasting tools, analytics platforms, and planning processes.
• Support implementation or optimization of ERP/MRP and demand planning software.
• Develop forecasting playbooks, SOPs, and training materials for demand planning teams.
• Identify opportunities for automation and digital transformation in forecasting and reporting processes.
• Conduct root-cause analysis of forecast deviations and implement corrective improvements.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Analytics, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, Economics, or related field.
• Master’s degree in Supply Chain, Data Science, Business Analytics, or MBA is preferred.
• Minimum 7+ years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, supply chain analytics, or related roles, preferably in manufacturing or consumer goods environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading S&OP demand processes and cross-functional planning initiatives.
• Strong experience with ERP/MRP systems such as SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards, or Microsoft Dynamics.
• Experience implementing or managing forecasting systems or analytics tools is highly desirable.

What we are looking for:

• CPG Experience: Proven track record in the Consumer Packaged Goods industry.
• Solid Analytical Toolkit: Strong Excel skills (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs are second nature, though you don't need to be a macro/VBA power user).
• Immediate Availability: Ready to hit the ground running in a contract capacity.