Category Demand Planner

Colgate-Palmolive; Piscataway Township (NJ); On-site; USD 96,800 - 137,000; Full time

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive is seeking a commercially minded Demand Planner to lead a rolling 0–24 month demand plan and coordinate with Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain. The role emphasizes market sensing, advanced analytics, and cross-functional leadership to ensure products are available when consumers reach for them.

You will drive integrated planning processes, establish forecasts for NPIs, and continuously improve forecasting accuracy across the organization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain/Finance, Engineering, Finance, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in Demand Planning within the Consumer Goods or Manufacturing sectors.
• Familiarity with Kinaxis Rapid Response is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Craft and maintain a detailed 0–24 month demand plan capturing market trends and promos.
• Keep forecasting models sharp by running exception reviews and cleansing data.
• Partner with Customer Development, Brand Marketing, and Fulfillment Planning to translate insights into forecasts.
• Play a leading role in the monthly Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process for alignment.
• Establish forecasts for New Product Innovations (NPIs) and manage sunsetting/SKU transitions.
• Use advanced demand-sensing to catch short-term market shifts and trends.
• Drive top-tier forecast accuracy and investigate variances to implement improvements.
• Champion continuous improvement of planning tools and workflows within Demand Planning.
• Coordinate with Supply Planning to balance supply and demand volatility.

Skills

Demand planning

Forecasting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Admin / Supply Chain / Finance

Tools

Kinaxis Rapid Response

Job description

No Relocation Assistance Offered

Job Number #175153 - Piscataway, New Jersey, United States

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specializing in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous— we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Ready to Shape the Future of Fresh?

At Colgate-Palmolive, we bring confidence and smiles to millions of homes every single day. From the legendary zesty scent of Irish Spring to the comforting suds of Softsoap and the reliable, all-day confidence of Speed Stick, our Personal Care portfolio is stacked with household mainstays.

We are looking for a commercially-minded, data-driven Demand Planner to step up as the operational conductor behind these iconic brands. In this high visibility role, you won't just look at numbers in a spreadsheet, you’ll be the master conductor aligning Sales, Marketing, and Supply Chain. You will read the pulse of the market, harness cutting edge demand sensing tools, and make sure that when millions of consumers reach for their favorite body wash or deodorant, it's right there on the shelf waiting for them. If you thrive at the intersection of market strategy, advanced analytics, and cross functional leadership, this is your stage.

Your Day to Day and The Future

• Craft and maintain a detailed, rolling 0–24 month demand plan that captures market trends, promotional spikes, and long-term business goals.
• Keep our statistical forecasting models razor-sharp. Run exception reviews, cleanse historical data, and tune out the noise to keep our demand data pristine.
• Partner closely with Customer Development, Brand Marketing, and Fulfillment Planning teams to turn real-time market intelligence into actionable forecasts.
• Play a starring role in the monthly Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process, driving alignment across functions to land a single, high-conviction demand plan.
• Establish initial forecasts for game-changing New Product Innovations (NPIs), track early launch signals, and manage smooth, seamless transitions for product sunsetting/SKU rollouts.
• Utilize advanced demand-sensing capabilities to catch short-term market shifts, demand spikes, and consumer trends before they hit the radar.
• Drive top-tier forecast accuracy, dive deep into root causes when variances happen, and implement smart, lasting solutions.
• Be a champion for continuous improvement—introducing new planning tools, streamlining workflows, and elevating the Demand Planning function.
• Engage with Supply Planning to optimize our response to supply and demand volatility.

You’ll need to have:

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain/Finance, Engineering, Finance, or a related field
• 3+ years of experience in Demand Planning within the Consumer Goods or Manufacturing sectors

Even better if you have:

• Familiarity with demand planning within Kinaxis Rapid Response
• Proficient in effective communication, promoting teamwork, and leading by example.
• Skilled in fostering open dialogue, exchanging feedback, and valuing diverse contributions.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and implement change, with a strong focus on consumer and customer needs.
• Capable of influencing and negotiating with stakeholders, building relationships, and making analytical decisions.li>
• Adept at planning, prioritizing, and executing tasks efficiently.
• Knowledgeable in demand management, master data interpretation, advanced statistical forecasting models, and integrated business planning.
• Committed to continuous improvement, leveraging systems and reporting analytics, and applying business and financial acumen.

Compensation And Benefits

Salary Range $96,800.00 - $137,000.00 USD

Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit-sharing, and long-term incentives for Executive-level roles.

Benefits: Salaried employees enjoy a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, paid parental leave, disability coverage, and participation in the 401(k) retirement plan with company matching contributions subject to eligibility requirements. Additional benefits include a minimum of 15 vacation/PTO days (hourly employees receive a minimum of 120 hours) and 13 paid holidays (vacation days are prorated based on the employee's hire date within the calendar year). Paid sick leave is adjusted based on role and location in accordance with local laws. Detailed information regarding paid sick leave entitlements will be provided to employees upon hiring and may be subject to adjustments based on changes in legislation or company policies.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

For additional Colgate terms and conditions, please click here.