Associate Demand Planner

Smithfield Foods, Inc.; Smithfield, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation package available

Be Well programs and benefits

Smithfield Scholarship Program

Job summary

Smithfield Foods, Inc. is seeking a data-driven Demand Planning professional to develop and refine forecast models using historical data and market insights.

You will collaborate with Sales, Business Development, and Operations to ensure forecasts reflect real-time market dynamics and distribution center needs. The role emphasizes analytical rigor, cross-functional collaboration, and use of tools like Logility, SAP, and BI platforms to maintain data integrity and support scenario planning in a

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Strong analytical mindset and mathematical aptitude for data-driven decisions.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills across departments.

Responsibilities

• Create data-driven demand forecasts using historical and market data with statistical models.
• Collaborate with Sales and Business Development to align forecasts with plans.
• Review promotional plans and inputs from new business and initiatives to adjust forecasts.
• Identify drivers of forecast variance and contribute to accuracy targets.
• Lead forecast refinement and cross-functional alignment through analytical materials.
• Drive SKU rationalization by analyzing trends and distribution center demand.
• Ensure effective communication between commercial and operations to support Agile forecasting.

Skills

Forecasting

Analytical thinking

Communication

Collaboration

Problem-solving

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Logility

SAP

BI platforms

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!

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

The physical demands described here are representative of those an employee should possess to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 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.

RELOCATION PACKAGE AVAILABLE

Relocation Package Available

Compensation

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. Learn more about our benefits package here.

Benefits

• Beyond our medical plans, our Be Well programs offer tools and resources to enhance your quality of life, at no additional cost.
• These programs are uniquely tailored to our Smithfield team and provide support for elective surgeries, weight loss, mental health, cancer, kidney disease, diabetes, smoking cessation, asthma, maternity management and more.
• We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.

Equal Opportunity Statement

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.

Company Culture & Commitment

At Smithfield, good food starts with good people. “Good food. Responsibly.®” is more than just our tagline; it's what we do. We provide good jobs. We take good care of our animals. We are good stewards of the environment. We do good in our local communities. Smithfield is proud to offer robust, flexible and affordable benefit plans and programs to support our team members and their loved ones, and with out-of-pocket costs, on average, 20 percent less than plans offered by other employers. Our company invests in your future. We offer comprehensive training and professional development programs designed to help you reach your full potential. Through LinkedIn Learning, employees can access on‑demand courses, professional certificates, and skill‑based training to build capabilities aligned with career and business needs. Our partnership with Guild supports your continuing education with tuition assistance covering English language learning, high school completion, and degree programs, while our leadership development initiatives nurture high‑potential talent. We also offer unique benefits like our Smithfield Scholarship Program for employees’ children.

Company Overview

Headquartered inSmithfield, Virginia,since 1936,Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield®, Eckrich® and Nathan's Famous®, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com and connect with us on Facebook, X, formerly known as Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.