Demand Planner

Gentex Corp; Carbondale (IL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Gentex Corporation in Carbondale, IL is seeking a Demand Planner to develop forecasts and analyze data to support inventory and supply planning. This role requires strong Excel skills, data interpretation, and the ability to turn complex information into actionable business insights.

You will partner with the Senior Demand Planner, manage assigned products, and contribute to reporting and optimization efforts across cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field required.
• 2–4 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or analytics.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with large data sets.
• Advanced Excel skills: PivotTables, lookup, conditional formulas.
• Ability to turn analysis into clear business insights and recommendations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; data accuracy is essential.
• Experience with ERP, demand planning, or forecasting systems; BI familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts using historical sales, trends, seasonality, promotions, and drivers.
• Analyze actual versus forecast to identify trends, variances, risks, and opportunities.
• Own assigned products, SKUs, customers, or categories within the forecasting process.
• Support forecast accuracy and bias analysis and identify improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Operations to incorporate drivers.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Data interpretation

Storytelling with data

Strong communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business, Finance, Economics, Analytics, or a related field

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Power BI

Qlik

Job description

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Demand Planner is responsible for developing, maintaining, and analyzing demand forecasts to support inventory planning, supply planning, and overall business performance. This is a highly analytical role requiring strong Excel skills, data interpretation, reporting, and the ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable business insights.

The Demand Planner works closely with the Senior Demand Planner to support the overall demand planning process, providing detailed analysis, reporting, forecast maintenance, and data-driven insights. This role serves as an important analytical partner to the Senior Demand Planner while taking ownership of defined products, customers, categories, or portions of the forecasting process.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Demand Planning & Analysis

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts using historical sales, trends, seasonality, promotions, customer activity, and other demand drivers.
• Analyze actual versus forecast to identify trends, variances, risks, and opportunities.
• Own assigned products, SKUs, customers, or categories within the broader demand planning process.
• Support forecast accuracy and bias analysis and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Investigate changes in demand and identify root causes.
• Maintain accurate forecast assumptions and planning data.

Reporting, Excel & Data Interpretation

• Build and maintain recurring demand planning reports and analytical tools.
• Analyze large datasets using advanced Excel capabilities.
• Reconcile data from multiple sources and investigate discrepancies.
• Translate data into clear insights.
• Prepare concise reports and presentations that highlight key trends, variances, risks, and opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to improve or automate reporting and analytical processes.

Senior Demand Planner Partnership

• Partner closely with the Senior Demand Planner on forecasting, reporting, and demand review activities.
• Provide analysis and insights to support the Senior Demand Planner's recommendations and decision-making.
• Assist with complex analysis, scenario planning, special projects, and business reviews.
• Escalate significant demand changes, data issues, risks, and opportunities.
• Independently manage assigned responsibilities while seeking guidance from the Senior Demand Planner on more complex issues.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partners with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Planning, and Operations to understand demand drivers and changes in the business.
• Incorporate relevant business information into forecasts and planning assumptions.
• Communicate analytical findings clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Participate in demand planning and business review meetings.

Requirements

EDUCATION:

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Business, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or related field.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, Business, Finance, Economics, Analytics, or a related field.
• 2–4 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, supply chain, business analytics, or a related field.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with experience working with large datasets.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, lookups, conditional formulas, and data analysis.
• Strong ability to read, interpret, and summarize reports and data.
• Ability to turn analysis into a clear business story and actionable insights.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to data accuracy.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating closely with the Senior Demand Planner and cross-functional teams.
• Experience with ERP, demand planning, or forecasting systems.
• Experience with Power BI, Qlik, or similar reporting tools.
• Familiarity with forecast accuracy, forecast bias, inventory, and service-level metrics.

PHYSICAL/MENTAL/COMMUNICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; manual dexterity to handle, or feel objects, tools, keyboards or controls; reach with hands and arms; climb stairs; balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, talk or hear. The employee may lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by the job may include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The individual must have a high level of comprehension, and a high level of general, verbal, written, and numerical intelligence.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Works majority of the day in a climate-controlled environment.

TRAVEL:

Limited travel required

LOCATION:

Gentex’s Carbondale facility is located in Northeastern Pennsylvania in Lackawanna County. Carbondale, PA is about twenty miles north of Scranton, PA, 50 miles south of Binghamton, NY, and about 125 miles from New York City and Philadelphia. The area hosts numerous nearby state parks, nature preserves and local colleges and universities, including The University of Scranton and Marywood University. Northeast Pennsylvania is a beautiful area and offers an excellent cost of living. It is a great place to work, recreate, meet people, raise a family and live!

Gentex Corporation is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard for any applicable state or federal protected class. Gentex is an E-Verify Participant. Pre-employment drug/alcohol/background screening is required.