Demand Planner

Dexian; East Hanover (NJ); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading staffing and IT solutions provider is seeking an Entry-Level Demand Planning Manager to support forecasting and demand management initiatives. Responsibilities include customer-level forecasting, performance management, and cross-functional discussions. Candidates should have a strong analytic background, with experience in demand planning and proficiency in advanced Excel. This role is situated in a fast-paced environment, offering opportunities to influence without authority and connect insights to business outcomes.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in demand planning or forecasting.
• Strong understanding of demand drivers and forecasting processes.
• Experience in a CPG, Foodservice, or Omni Channel environment.

Responsibilities

• Support customer-level Bottoms-Up demand forecasts.
• Manage near-term executional forecasts and align with long-term forecasts.
• Lead reconciliation of forecast accuracy and monitor variances.

Skills

Demand & Forecasting Experience

Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel

Ability to identify gaps between plan vs actuals

Relationship & Influence

Education

5+ years in a related field

Tools

APO System

Sales Force

Job description

Position Description

This is a key role in our Customer Demand Planning team and is crucial in supporting customer + location level forecasting, short-term demand + horizon alignment, new item distribution and assortment forecasting, forecast reconciliation, and cross-functional demand representation.

• Customer & Location Level Forecasting: Support customer-level Bottoms-Up demand forecasts for key customers (Food Service & E-comm), including regional and location-level oversight to ensure accuracy and alignment.
• Short Term Demand & Horizon Alignment: Manage near-term executional forecasts (0-13 Weeks) and support alignment to Lag 2 Month and Lag 5 Week forecasts across planning horizon.
• New Item, Distribution & Assortment Forecasting: Maintain forecasts for new item launches, customer-specific distribution changes, resets, and assortment updates including timing and volume assumptions.
• Forecast Reconciliation & Performance Management: Lead reconciliation between Bottoms-Up and Brand / IBP forecasts, monitor sales vs forecast, investigate variances, and track forecast accuracy and bias.
• Cross Functional Demand Representation: Represent Customer Demand in S&OE and DMS forums, supporting demand insights, promotion & event forecasting, and root cause analysis tied to service and CFR impacts.

Position Requirements

Experience Level – Entry Level Manager (5+ years or work-related equivalent)

Must Haves:

• Demand & Forecasting Experience
• APO System Functional knowledge preferred
• Strong analytical skills with advanced Excel
• Proven ability to analyze forecast accuracy, bias, and error trends
• Ability to identify gaps between plan vs actuals and quantify Root causing
• Relationship & Influence
• Must have comfort in influence without authority

Analytical & Forecasting Expertise (Must Have)

• Experience in having owned customer-level shipment forecasts in CPG, Foodservice, or Omni Channel environment
• Strong understanding of demand drivers
• Proven ability to analyze forecast accuracy, bias, and error trends
• Ability to identify gaps between plan vs actuals and quantify Root causing
• Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, variance analysis)
• Preferred experience with APO planning system and Sales Force
• Ability to diagnose forecast variance across multiple dimensions
• Customer behavior change, promotional execution gaps, supply / deployment constraints, timing, etc.
• Experience partnering with Sales to:
  • Gather field intelligence
  • Translate qualitative inputs into fact-based forecast adjustments
  • Continuously refine assumptions
  • Comfortable documenting and communicating clear “what changed, why, so what” narratives

Story Telling & Executive Presence

• Lead customer and cross-functional demand discussions
• Influence without authority
• Connect insights to business outcomes (Service, revenue, inventory)
• Demonstrated ability to challenge inputs constructively
• Proven track record of building trust with sales team – thought partner
• Comfortable navigating tension

Operating Style

Highly organized, fast-paced environment, strong ownership mindset, balances urgency in a high-pressure, short-term horizon.

Dexian is a leading provider of staffing, IT, and workforce solutions with over 12,000 employees and 70 locations worldwide.

Dexian's brands include Dexian DISYS, Dexian Signature Consultants, Dexian Government Solutions, Dexian Talent Development and Dexian IT Solutions. Visit https://dexian.com/ to learn more.

Dexian is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.