Manager of Demand Planning (Hybrid, Mt. Prospect)

The Manager of Demand Planning is responsible for leading and continuously improving the demand planning function across all product portfolios at Mizkan America. This includes ownership of both short- and long-term forecasts, development of a high-performing team, and close cross-functional and external alignment. This role champions a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and digital enablement to drive forecast accuracy, business agility, and operational excellence.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Forecast Ownership

• Lead forecast strategy development, including base, incremental, and innovation forecasts.
• Own alignment across marketing, sales, supply chain, and finance on volume assumptions.
• Leverage predictive analytics and 'what-if' scenario planning to manage volatility and uncertainty.
• Incorporate external data sources (POS, market trends, customer inputs) to enrich forecast quality.
  
  

Process Leadership & System Use

• Lead the monthly demand cycle process meetings, including forecast consensus meetings and ES&OP demand inputs.
• Ensure rigorous forecast evaluation using baselines, incremental and naive models.
• Drive automation, standardization, and effective use of demand planning platforms (e.g., Blue Yonder, ORI).
• Champion digital fluency-integrating AI/ML models (future), ERP systems, and BI dashboards (e.g., Power) and ORI
• Configure and optimize planning parameters within Blue Yonder (or equivalent systems) to improve forecast accuracy and responsiveness.
• Leverage system functionality-such as statistical modeling, demand sensing, and lifecycle planning-to maximize planning precision.
• Lead team training and adoption to ensure consistent, full utilization of all planning tools and capabilities.
• Lead demand planning relationships 3rd parties with Blue Yonder ORI and Genpact. Recommend future state of our systems and work thru process to gain approval and implementation.
  
  

Performance Management & KPIs

• Establish and manage key KPIs such as forecast accuracy, OTIF, ADFI, and forecast value add (FVA).
• Use KPIs not just for reporting, but to influence inventory, service levels, and cost-to-serve trade-offs.
• Own root-cause analysis of consistent forecast deviations and lead corrective actions.
  
  

Team Development & Collaboration

• Build, coach, and lead a high-performance demand planning team.
• Foster strong partnerships with commercial, finance, and supply chain teams.
• Extend collaboration externally by integrating customer input, broker feedback, and joint business planning where applicable.
• Champion a continuous improvement (Kaizen) mindset across the team-streamlining workflows and improving speed-to-insight.
  
  

Education, Experience, And Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Analytics, or related field or equivalent work experience required
• 5+ years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or S&OP
• Strong analytical and forecasting skills, with experience using planning tools and statistical models. - Proficiency with ERP and planning systems (e.g., SAP, Blue Yonder, Oracle, Kinaxis).
• Proven ability to clearly communicate/ influence cross-functional teams, C Suite and drive business outcomes.
• Demonstrated, hands-on on experience with Blue Yonder is preferred, in addition to Intermediate to advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite with particular focus on Excel
• Demonstrated project and change management of a system implementation preferred
• Must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience within CPG, food manufacturing, or retail planning is preferred
• Data mining skills including the ability to retrieve, manipulate, analyze and interpret information critical to success.
• Strong time, project management and prioritization skills required.
• Organizational Skills: Must be able to manage multiple projects and complete projects on time.
• Prioritization Skills: Must work well under pressure and be highly responsive to short deadlines.
• Must be self-motivated, detail oriented, intellectually curious and driven to succeed.
• Demonstrated ability to interface effectively with people at all levels of a company.
• Ability to work in a fast paced and changing environment.
  
  

The annual base salary for this position ranges from $98,800 to $150,000.

Compensation is based on a number of factors including market location and may vary depending on job-related knowledge, skills and experience. Short-Term Incentive and other forms of compensation may also be provided as part of a total compensation package.

A full range of medical, dental, vision, 401K plus up-to-four percent (4%) match, profit sharing, wellness program, paid parental leave, long-term-care insurance, critical accident insurance, short- and long-term disability and education assistance are also available.

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