Demand Planner

**WE ARE ON A MISSION**

To design the smartest tech protection on the planet. We call this The Science Behind Peace of Mind

Tech21 is a fast-growing, material protection manufacturer and technology accessory brand. With a heritage and legacy of producing the best and highest standard of technology protection on the market, Tech21 offers a range of leading technical, sustainable, and quality products with huge plans for diversification globally. Today, the business is looking to transform and grow with a critical focus on Operations and Production, and we are looking for a Demand Planner to help us on this journey.

Our workplace is one of innovation, collaboration, and teamwork. We are proud of our organisation which is welcoming and rich in talent, backgrounds, and cultures. We empower our people to be the best they can be, we see uniqueness as a key asset to our community.

**JOB PURPOSE**:
Review, define and develop processes within planning team to provide statistical forecasts across the business. Working with key stakeholders to ensure forecasts are in line with budgets, product launches and realistic.

**CORE COMPETENCIES:
**Flexibility** - adapt to changes whilst remaining focused on goals.
**Evaluation Skills** - evaluate data and results according to our methodologies.

**Multi-Tasking** - ability to juggle multiple projects and priorities.

**KEY AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITIES**:

- Develop demand forecasts (operational forecasts) at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons as part of a demand planning function,
- Review historical sales trends, research demand drivers, prepare forecast data, develop statistical forecast models, and evaluate forecast results.
- Provide item level forecast (bottoms up) and reviewing to budget/open orders
- Engaging with Sales Directors to an agreed forecast and final output to be released to Supply Planning on a strict planning cycle.
- Coordinate cross-functional research activities to reconcile significant variances and refine the forecast model to reflect updated sales and marketing assumptions.
- Interact with sales, marketing, and customer finance to understand demand forecast drivers.
- Actively engage in internal discussions and where required escalate and push back in support of a controlled and rigid Planning methodology
- Provide inputs into internal S&OP to facilitate internal, cross-departmental negotiations in terms of stock manufacture, dissemination, NPD and EOL
- Utilize a collaborative and consensus approach by working with Sales, Marketing and Customer Finance to obtain and ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts.
- Provide input to the Supply Planning organization in developing inventory strategies on existing items, new products, and product phase-outs.
- Closely coordinate and communicate customer action plans with supply planning
- Establish and develop direct and functional relationships with customer-based supply and demand planners
- Show continuous strategy and development with customer in terms of optimising planning methodology and processes
- Work with Teach 21 leadership to continuously develop internal systems and processes
- Conduct pareto analysis [80/20] to prioritise customer interactions and development
- Coordinate consignment inventory controls and reporting
- Supports sales requirements through the facilitation and control of the consignment process

**SKILLS**:

- Outstanding analytical skills with demonstrated success organising, analysing, and accurately interpreting large amounts of data.
- Solid Understanding of allocation strategies
- Demonstrated Analytical Skills
- Exceptional time management and organisational abilities via calendar/task planning to reach deadlines.
- Ability to make and communicate informed judgements particularly under time pressure and non-routine situations.
- Operational Process Mapping, Analysis, and Improvement Skills
- Excellent knowledge of Microsoft Office, in particular Excel and Access
- Ability to manage multiple priorities
- Understanding of S&OP process and importance to SCM
- Knowledge of Customer Relationship Management
- An ability to work under pressure and changing environments.
- Ability to track and record the competitive market and price demand to review online competition and suggest product and demand generation strategies to drive consumer pull and market growth.