Job Overview:

The primary responsibilities of a Demand Planner Forecaster include managing customer and internal promotional projections and incremental forecasts for turn inventory or new products across all UNFI regions and National Procurement categories, representing over 185 million cases and ~$4.5 billion annually. The incumbent will work collaboratively with Customer Care, Replenishment, Merchandising, Sales, and Retail Customers to determine the amount of inventory needed for customer promotions and other events above and beyond normal turn inventory. The incumbent will drive total demand signal accuracy, customer fill rate, and limit excess product related to incremental sales volume.

Job Responsibilities:

• Responsible for accuracy and timeliness of forecasting all additional demand needs to drive fill rate without generating excess through weekly forecast reviews, direct engagement with internal and external key stakeholders, and detailed historical and trend analysis

• Be able to influence key retailers to drive for the most accurate demand signal through data and industry knowledge

• Decision Maker on all forecast accuracy touchpoints for UNFI and retail driven promotions leveraging historical and customer-provided data

• Builds and leverages strong relationships with highly complex customers and suppliers to drive results and hosts regular meetings to drive accountability 5.0%

• Ability to work independently to identify opportunities, determine the best way forward and implement solutions

• In concert with key partners develop and oversee and execute the strategy for seasonal volume builds generating an action plan and maintaining accountability throughout the planned activity

• Generate and successfully utilize systemic and Excel-based reporting to drive daily execution of all duties including mid and post-action reviews to drive understanding and action and leftover and OOS visibility to understand root cause and implement changes for future activity

• Review reporting with key stakeholders and maintain accountability with internal and external partners

• Engage with Customers, Manufacturers, and external UNFI departments as the subject matter expert on Demand Planning processes and actions, taking follow-up action where appropriate to support the business 

• Responsible for ensuring overall promotional maintenance is completed, including but not limited to ads/deletes, date changes, type changes, and quantity adjustments

• Engage key stakeholders to oversee the creation and management of non-promotional added demand including, but not limited to, new item launches, new and added stores, DC sourcing changes, new customers, and loss of customers

• Take a continuous improvement approach to all aspects of their assigned desk, sharing opportunities and improvements across the team to encourage broad-based improvement and efficiency

• Educate and train internal and external partners on expectations and impacts of incremental demand accuracy to drive accountability on timeliness and completeness of ads and ensure proper processes are followed to maintain visibility and drive action at the right levels

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements: Education/ Certifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field preferred or equivalent experience

Experience:

• 3-4 years of relevant experience.

Knowledge/Skills/ Abilities:

• Have a thorough knowledge of procurement and logistics processes

• General understanding of promotional practices

• Strong analytical and math skill set

• Proficient in Microsoft Excel

• Capable of learning and utilizing multiple disparate systems

• Ability to identify and understand trends

• Ability to investigate and analyze information and to draw conclusions 

• Excellent problem-solving capabilities

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community. Ability to use own judgement to make decisions and drive results

• Can work independently as well as with a larger group

• Ability to perform complex tasks and to prioritize multiple projects

• Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and impart confidential information

• Good judgment is required for this position, as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.

Work Environment: Remote Role:

This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.

Travel (minor): This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or other locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.

About UNFI: We are North America’s premier grocery wholesaler, delivering the widest variety of fresh, branded, and owned brand products to community grocers and retail chains alike. A pioneer in natural and organic foods, we are growing and transforming to meet the needs of an evolving workplace. Our 29,000+ employees work across America in our 50 Distribution Centers and corporate offices. Learn more: Organic, Natural and Conventional Food | Wholesale Food Distributors | UNFI