Associate Demand Planner

Smithfield Foods; Smithfield (VA); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Smithfield Foods in Smithfield, VA, is seeking an Associate Demand Planner to drive accurate SKU level forecasts and support the Sales & Operations Planning process. You will collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Finance, and Operations to build data-driven demand models and align forecasts with capacity.

The role emphasizes analytical thinking, proficiency with tools like Logility, SAP, and Anaplan, and the ability to turn market insights into actionable plans.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong analytical thinking, problem-solving, and mathematical aptitude for data-driven decisions.
• Excellent oral and written communication; ability to build relationships.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and customer-focused.
• Collaborative, adaptable, and able to work in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Create statistical forecasts and improve data-driven demand forecasts using historical and market data.
• Collaborate with Sales and Business Development to review plans and align forecasts with promotions and new business.
• Lead forecast refinement, reconcile variances, and support S&OP with cross-functional insights.
• Conduct cross-functional consensus meetings to align forecast assumptions and actions.
• Monitor forecast accuracy, data integrity, and leverage SAP, Logility, and BI tools for improvements.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Logility

SAP

Business Intelligence (BI)

Anaplan

Job description

Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special - a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact.

The Value You’ll Bring

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section.

Are you a driven and motivated professional who thrives in a fast-paced environment, building relationships, collaborating with great colleagues, and achieving business results? Join one of the country’s top consumer packaged goods companies, Smithfield Foods! We have built a culture that places value on our employees, our animals, the environment and the communities we all share. Smithfield Foods is consistently evolving and looking for individuals that can help foster relationships and achieve results to impact our bottom line!

As an Associate Demand Planner, you will play a critical role in shaping the future of our supply chain by driving accurate demand forecasts that ensure our delicious products - including BACON- are always available to our customers and consumers. As an Associate Demand Planner at Smithfield Foods, you will collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Business Development, Finance, and other key teams to build and maintain SKU level forecast models that reflect real-time market intelligence and consumer insights. You will lead monthly consensus meetings and actively contribute to our Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, aligning forecasts with strategic goals and operational capabilities. If you're a proactive problem-solver who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys turning data into action, this is your opportunity to grow with one of America’s top consumer packaged goods companies.

What You’ll Do

• Creates statistical forecasts: Drive the development and continuous improvement of data-driven demand forecasts by collecting, validating, and analyzing historical and market data, leveraging advanced statistical modeling tools, and applying error analysis techniques to enhance forecast precision and support smarter supply chain decisions.
• Reviews sales plans, business development updates and demand drivers: Collaborate closely with Sales and Business Development to present and evaluate forecast data, gather feedback, and recommend strategic adjustments to operational forecasts. Review promotional plans and track inputs from new business, lost accounts, and sales initiatives to ensure forecasts align with evolving demand across distribution centers. Identify root causes of forecast variances, report performance against targets, and contribute to setting annual forecast accuracy goals to drive continuous improvement and supply chain agility.
• Forecast Optimization & Business Insights: Lead forecast refinement and business alignment by preparing analytical materials to support collaborative research discussions, coordinating cross-functional efforts to reconcile forecast variances, and integrating updated assumptions from Sales and Business Development. Drive SKU rationalization within your assigned portfolio, analyze shipment trends and category dynamics, and ensure total volume forecasts reflect real-time market shifts and distribution center demand.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Consensus Building: Orchestrate demand planning meetings with Sales and Business Development to foster alignment across teams, build consensus on forecast assumptions, and integrate cross-functional insights into the demand planning and S&OP process. Ensure seamless communication between commercial and operational stakeholders to support accurate, agile forecasting.
• Forecast Accuracy & Data Integrity: Optimize forecast accuracy at the SKU and location level by monitoring weekly performance, analyzing error trends, and implementing corrective actions to improve reliability. Leverage tools such as Anaplan, SAP, and Business Intelligence platforms to maintain high data integrity, incorporate competitive and market insights, and provide timely updates to Supply Chain partners to support scenario planning and strategic decision making.

What We’re Seeking

• Education & Experience: Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university; or an equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• Analytical & Technical Proficiency: Strong foundation in analytical thinking, problem-solving, and mathematical aptitude to support data driven decisions. Utilize tools such as Logility, SAP, and BI platforms to maintain high levels of data integrity and enhance forecasting accuracy. Ability to interpret complex datasets with precision and attention to detail is essential for success in this role.
• Communication & Relationship Building: Exhibit strong oral, written, and verbal communication skills while fostering a respectful, approachable, and team-oriented presence. Build positive working relationships across departments and contribute to a collaborative, high performing work environment.
• Organization & Customer Focus: Highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to delivering excellent customer service.
• Collaboration & Adaptability: Thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Demonstrate flexibility, teamwork, and a proactive mindset. Committed to the overall success of supply chain operations.

Other Skills That Make You Stand Out

• Familiarity SAP, Business Intelligence (BI) platforms, and Anaplan is a plus.

Physical Demands & Work Environment

• Capable of sitting for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs.
• Frequently required to sit; stand; walk; reach with hands and arms.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
• Able to travel as needed.
• Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The expected pay range for this position is $50,000 - $70,000 annually.

Smithfield Foods provides pay ranges that reflect its good faith estimate of the salary or hourly wage the company reasonably expects to pay for a position at the time of hire. Individual compensation will be determined based on several factors, including but not limited to, the scope and responsibilities of the role, location of the position, the candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions and budget considerations. At Smithfield Foods, base pay represents only one aspect of the comprehensive total rewards package.

Relocation Package Available No

EEO Information

Smithfield is an equal opportunity employer committed to workplace diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans status, status as a disabled individual or any other protected group status or non-job characteristic as directed by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and would like to request a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment selection process, please call us at 757-357-1595.