Demand Forecasting Manager

Supply Chain Demand Manager Overview The  Supply Chain Demand Manager oversees the development and enhancement of demand forecasting and planning processes for various product lines, customers, regions, and sales channels. This role involves collaborating with different departments to ensure product availability, optimize inventory, control costs, and deliver exceptional customer service.

Responsibilities Create, manage, and enhance statistical and consensus-based demand forecasts across product lines, customers, channels, and regions.

Lead demand planning activities within the S&OP/IBP process to ensure alignment on forecasts, assumptions, risks, and business priorities.

Analyze historical sales, customer demand, market trends, seasonality, promotional activity, and other factors influencing demand.

Collaborate with different departments to gather business intelligence and establish one approved demand plan.

Monitor forecast performance using key metrics and identify root causes of forecast variances.

Support inventory strategies by providing demand-based recommendations for safety stock, service levels, and inventory positioning.

Identify and mitigate risks related to shortages, excess inventory, supply constraints, changing customer requirements, and demand volatility.

Develop demand plans for new product introductions, transitions, engineering changes, phase-outs, and discontinuations.

Balance customer demand with production capacity, material availability, lead times, and inventory objectives.

Drive continuous improvement in demand-planning processes, systems, reporting, data quality, and collaboration.

Apply advanced analytics and automation to improve forecasting capabilities.

Present demand reviews, KPI dashboards, forecast scenarios, and executive-level summaries.

Establish demand-planning policies, procedures, and best practices to support business processes.

Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Statistics, Engineering, or related field.

Minimum of five years of experience in demand planning or a related discipline.

Demonstrated experience in leading S&OP or IBP processes.

Proven ability to improve forecast accuracy and translate complex data into actionable recommendations.

Experience with ERP/MRP systems and demand-planning tools.

Proficient in Microsoft Excel and analytical tools.

Strong understanding of inventory management, capacity planning, and supply-and-demand balancing.

Excellent communication, collaboration, and problem-solving skills.

Ability to present information to senior leadership and influence stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Analytics, Engineering, or related field.

APICS/ASCM certification, such as CPIM or CSCP.Demand-planning experience in aerospace, defense, or complex manufacturing.

Experience managing demand for products with long lead times, constrained materials, or engineering changes.

Experience with advanced forecasting tools and AI/ML-supported planning applications.