Category Demand Planner - Fresh

Lidl US; Arlington (VA); Hybrid; USD 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Starting pay $33.66/hour

Health & dental insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays and PTO

DailyPay

Job summary

Lidl US is seeking a Category Demand Planner to join our Fresh Buying team. This role forecasts demand, manages replenishment, and collaborates with suppliers to ensure on-time delivery from distribution centers to stores.

You’ll analyze inventory, participate in promo forecasting, and support category management, with duties ranging from item setup to KPI reporting. The position offers competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, and a hybrid work arrangement.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business or related field.
• 3–5 years of related experience (or 5+ years without degree).
• Proficient with Google Workspace tools.
• Excellent communication and organizational abilities.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Forecast and purchase fresh protein commodities daily to maintain proper inventory levels.
• Manage service levels and inventory write-offs for assigned commodities.
• Review inventory daily to adjust purchase orders for store demand.
• Participate in weekly promo forecasting meetings with data-driven recommendations.
• Collaborate with category management to build a promotional calendar for managed commodities.
• Report weekly buying KPIs to leadership.
• Assist in new item setup and vendor onboarding for speed to market.
• Communicate supply chain challenges and opportunities to relevant teams.

Skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Time management

Analytical skills

Problem-solving

Google Workspace

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or related field

Tools

Google Workspace

Job description

Summary

Lidl US is searching for the next Category Demand Planner to join our Fresh Buying team! The Demand Planner is responsible for the profitable procurement and timely delivery of products for assigned commodities. This position is responsible for forecasting demand, product replenishment, timely follow-through with supplier service level issues, and the entire lifecycle from product receipt at the distribution centers to store receipt for assigned commodities. Additionally, this role will assist in the development and category management of the items within their assigned commodities.

What You’ll Do

Essential Functions

• Forecast and purchase fresh protein commodities daily sustaining proper inventory levels aligned with demand, while adhering to company dwell time expectations and quality standards
• Manage assigned commodities’ service levels and inventory write-offs
• Review and analyze inventory levels daily to evaluate service levels and inventory turns, adjusting purchase orders as needed to meet store demands
• Participate in weekly promo forecasting meetings with recommendations for quantities needed based on analytical data, trends, and other pertinent information
• Make product addition and subtraction recommendations within the assortment based on item KPI performance
• Manage the new item setup process through the initiation of a new item form and vendor setup, ensuring speed to market
• Analyze and evaluate projects and develop innovative ideas and/or practical solutions for streamlining business processes
• Collaborate with category management to build a promotional calendar for managed commodities
• Report weekly and period buying KPIs for owned categories to leadership
• Maintain strong follow-up and documentation on quality issues to mitigate and/or eliminate write-offs
• Collaborate with Supply Chain partners in planning product promo forecasting, product allocations, and other product supply concerns, when applicable
• Communicate challenges or opportunities with the appropriate Supply Chain teams
• Perform other duties as assigned

What You’ll Need

Required Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate
• Proficient in Google Workspace tools or related software

Required Education, Certifications/ Licenses, Related Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, or a related field
• 3-5 years of experience in a related field
• In lieu of degree, 5+ years of experience in a related field will meet the education and related experience requirements listed above

Physical Job Requirements

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer
• Must be able to lift up to 15 pounds at times

Travel Requirements

• This position commutes between stores, regional offices and/or distribution centers up to 10% of the time

What You’ll Receive

At Lidl, we know that in order for our people to do their best, they must be at their best. That’s why as a company, we offer one of the most generous benefits packages in the industry.

All our Lidl employees are eligible to receive the following benefits:

• Starting pay of $33.66 per hour (with potential to earn $38.47 per hour in the future)
• 10% employee-only discount on purchases made at Lidl stores
• Medical & Prescription | Dental | Vision coverage
• Paid Holiday & Paid Time Off (PTO) to use for sickness or vacation
• Dedicated training plans to ensure you are set up for success
• 401K Plan (+ 5% company match)
• Voluntary Term Life & AD&D Insurance
• Total Well-Being Program
• DailyPay, a voluntary benefit to offer employees access to their pay on their own schedule

Lidl US views our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) through a lens of actions that are Good for the Environment, Good for People, and Good for You.

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