Strategic Account Planner

Job Details

Job Location:

Avon, OH 44011

Position Type:
Full Time

Job Shift: Day

The Strategic Account Planner encompasses all the functions of sales forecasting associated with specific strategic accounts across our Industrial, Retail, and international businesses. This position is responsible for continuously improving the forecasting process and its accuracy, encouraging dialogue with key counterparts in Sales, Customer Sales Operations, Product Marketing, Finance, Demand Planning, and Supply Planning. The role influences procurement and production planning for multiple stocking setups, impacting customer service, vendor compliance, and company cash flow.

The planner makes decisions on behalf of strategic accounts to optimize supply and revenue opportunities and supports the long‑term strategic business goals of an industry‑leading Demand Management Team.

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts at multiple levels of aggregation for a channel over 12+ month periods to support the S&OP/IBP process, based on historical trends, demand drivers and/or business stakeholders' knowledge.
• Responsible for specific accounts identified by the company as strategic customers.
• In conjunction with the Sales Management team, support the account portfolio activities such as product life cycle management, buying strategies, promotion planning, and customer‑facing projects.
• Lead the strategic account plan review to gain sales leadership alignment; this plan will serve as a critical input for the creation of the consensus plan. Assist the sales team in preparing materials for customer meetings.
• Develop and maintain an account/unit forecast for the assigned strategic accounts at multiple levels of aggregation, leveraging assumptions from sales, global demand planning, product marketing, finance, and supply planning.
• Integrate POS‑based analytics and inventory strategies into the planning process to deliver product availability, forecast accuracy, high service levels, and channel health.
• Lead and execute the collaborative planning process; prepare agenda and materials, lead monthly strategic account planning reviews, perform consistency checks against targets, communicate plans, identify gaps and recommendations to key stakeholders, and assist the account team in developing financial targets.
• Monitor the performance of the plan; monitor ongoing demand and inventory needs for strategic items; analyze POS data to identify opportunities and liabilities in customer inventory; root‑cause forecast deviations and drive corrective actions.
• Provide relevant input for the consensus, S&OP/IBP, and customer meetings.
• Coordinate the planning and successful execution of promotions, new product launches, and phase‑outs.
• Work closely with Global Demand Planners to understand inventory risks and opportunities.
• Act as a change agent to drive process improvements.
• Support ad‑hoc reporting/analysis requests and customer‑facing projects.
• Ensure business process documentation remains in line with the latest business practices.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or supply chain related field.
• 3–5 years of demonstrated results in forecast management activities in a manufacturing/procurement environment focused on demand/supply alignment, process improvements, and analysis to achieve results.
• Strong business acumen with POS data and its application in planning processes.
• Demonstrated results in forecast accuracy improvements.
• APICS or IBF Certification(s) preferred.
• SAP MRP, ERP planning software experience preferred.
• Experience with O9 Solutions preferred.
• Excellent skills in Excel, PowerPoint, BI tools; MS Access a plus.
• Experience dealing with customers and customer requirements.
• Strong interpersonal and influencing skills.
• Excellent communication skills, with advanced written and presentation skills to different levels of the organization.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to influence without authority, gain buy‑in and drive consensus.
• Strong organizational skills and proven experience in developing and managing processes in a fast‑paced business.
• Proven ability to articulate…