Demand Planner

SGL Carbon; Saint Marys (Elk County); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

SGL Carbon in the United States is seeking a Demand Planning Specialist to manage the graphite-based materials demand within the Americas. You will coordinate 350 SKUs and collaborate with Sales and Supply Planning to ensure service targets while optimizing inventory and costs.

The role requires experience in MPS/MRP environments, SAP R3 (PP, SD, MM), and strong Excel/PowerPoint skills, with up to 10% travel. Bachelor's degree and 3+ years of planning experience are preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university, or equivalent.
• Three years' work experience in a computer-based MPS/MRP production-planning environment.
• Must be able to communicate well, both verbally and in a written format.
• MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint software proficiency; knowledge of SAP R3 modules such as SD, MM and PP.
• Willingness to travel up to 10%.

Responsibilities

• Establishes robust demand forecasts by utilizing relevant statistical tools and using market and sales information including historical consumption data, planned sales orders, contract data, intercompany orders, promotions, seasonality, and portfolio changes.
• Organize and lead the NA monthly demand reviews with Sales and represent NA demand planning at SOP consensus meetings.
• Ensure demand plans are created, reviewed, agreed upon, updated and communicated to Supply Planning on a rolling 12-month horizon.
• Establishes and monitors demand planning metrics such as accuracy and material availability; drives continuous improvement.
• Translates the quarterly sales forecast into feeder stock requirements and supports MRP processes in collaboration with Product Management and Supply Planning.

Job description

Summary of job content: Plans and manages allocated supply chain resources and demand processes to ensure the business meets agreed customer service targets at minimum operating cost and optimum stock levels.

Volume: Responsible for planning of roughly 350 SKUs to support a regional sales volume of $70m. Responsible placing on average 30 purchase orders per month worth > $1m.

Complexity: Position requires use of Smart Business Client application for management of sales opportunities and demand planning. SAP R3 modules and a mastery of functional module PP. In addition, the ability to use key MS Office programs for effective communication and presentation is essential. Finally, complex inventory and fulfillment strategies must be understood and employed, including relevant statistical tools for demand analysis.

Product diversity: Position requires knowledge of SGL grades, typical properties, customer/industry requirements and up to date knowledge non-standard stocks sitting in the region. This information is needed in order to find the best solutions for given demand.

Area of responsibility: This position is responsible for demand planning of graphite-based materials to service sales in the Americas region. This includes the following product lines/press technologies: ISO, FM, MSO.

Preferred Knowledge / Skills / Experience

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year college or university, or equivalent qualification gained through professional training and experience during career
• Three years' work experience in a computer based MPS / MRP production-planning environment. Experienced in the implementation of detailed production planning procedures and the execution of planning programs.
• Must be able to communicate well, both verbally and in a written format. Must be able to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers and customers.
• Must be able to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference, and fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Ability to apply concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of MS Excel, Word and Power Point software, and relevant SAP R3 modules, such as SD, MM and PP.
• Able to supervise others to ensure quality and timeliness of planning information.
• Must be able to travel up to 10% of the time.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear and sit. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, reach, stoop, kneel or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

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

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently in an office environment. The employee is occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions and risk of electrical shock. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee will occasionally travel to customer sites and to offsite meetings.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES / ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Establishes robust demand forecasts by utilizing relevant statistical tools and using market and sales information including historical consumption data, planned sales orders, customer contracts, intercompany orders, promotional activity, seasonality, brand and/or portfolio changes, etc.
• Organize and lead the NA monthly demand reviews together with Sales, and represents the NA demand planning activity at the monthly SOP consensus meetings
• Ensure demand plans are created, reviewed, agreed upon and updated and communicated to Supply Planning at least monthly for a rolling 12-month planning horizon
• Establishes and monitors and reports appropriate demand planning metrics such as demand planning accuracy and material availability
• Takes actions to continuously improve demand planning metrics
• Regulates and adjusts NA FFS inventory levels, with a view toward customer satisfaction and business objectives.
• Translates the quarterly sales forecast (including OMP) into feeder stock requirements. Update and communicate feeder stock demand plans accordingly.
• Supports development, implementation, measurement, and maintenance of the Material Requirements Planning (MRP) process. Integrates best practice procedures and drives for continuous improvement.
• Collaborates with Product Management and Supply Planning to properly plan for new items and items to be transitioned or discontinued.
• Provides information as needed to develop accurate inventory forecasts.
• Supports the BU OTD goal.
• Manage and execute the implementation of process improvements.
• Supports the site’s safety goals.
• Performs other duties as required that are in support of the department’s goals.
• Responsible for import compliance for orders placed outside of the United States