Forecasting Manager (211837)

Aquent; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 97,354 - 108,169; Full time

Job summary

Aquent seeks a Global Retail Demand Planning & Forecasting Manager to own forecasting across retail channels for a major technology client. You will drive daily, monthly, and annual forecasts, modeling promotions and baselines, and provide strategic input to channel leaders.

The role blends data, strategy, and execution, leveraging advanced Excel to analyze performance, manage inventory, and standardize methods across marketplaces.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years in demand planning and forecasting.
• Experience in promotional impact modeling.
• Background in B2C, Consumer Electronics, or Retail.
• Advanced Excel for modeling and scenario planning.
• Ability to advise retail sales leaders.

Responsibilities

• Own daily forecasts and lead monthly, quarterly, and annual cycles.
• Model promotions and elasticities with product-level detail.
• Create promotional forecasts and scenario analyses.
• Analyze product performance and track year-over-year changes.
• Provide weekly forecast updates to channel owners.
• Manage forecast systems and documentation of assumptions.
• Lead forecast reviews with channel owners.
• Standardize forecasting methodologies across marketplaces.
• Present forecast narratives to stakeholders.
• Lead Global Retail Demand Reviews with recommendations.

Skills

Demand forecasting

Cross-functional PM

Analytical modeling

Advanced Excel

Job description

Job Title: Global Retail Forecast Demand Planner

Client Location: Onsite: Seattle, WA or San Francisco, CA

Pay Comments: W2

Minimum Pay (per hour): 70.67

Maximum Pay (per hour): 78.52

Hours: Full-time

Duration: Approx. 12 Month Assignment

Job Description:

Aquent, a leading talent solutions partner, is excited to connect top-tier talent with an innovative technology client at the forefront of developing smart home solutions. This client is renowned for its commitment to customer obsession and delivering cutting-edge technology that enhances daily life. As a key contributor, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the strategic direction and success of their retail operations by ensuring robust demand planning and forecasting.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a dynamic and highly analytical Retail Demand Planning & Forecasting Manager to make a significant impact. You will be instrumental in guiding critical business decisions, optimizing product availability, and driving revenue growth across retail channels. Your expertise will directly influence product strategy and market performance, working at the intersection of data, strategy, and execution to deliver tangible results.

What You'll Do

In this highly visible role, you will own the day-to-day forecasts of the business and lead the monthly, quarterly, and annual forecasting processes across retail teams. You will serve as both a strategic advisor to channel leaders and a quantitative modeler, building daily, product-level forecasts that inform crucial business decisions.

• Own and manage all forecast inputs, including sales curves, baselines, and promotional lifts, building forward-looking forecasts based on historical data and channel-driven adjustments.
• Lead promotional strategy modeling, calculating lifts and elasticities to evaluate various promotional approaches (e.g., modeling volume impacts at different discount levels) with daily, product-level specificity.
• Create comprehensive promotional forecasting, including scenario models, to support strategic decisions for channel owners.
• Oversee and conduct deep-dive analyses on product performance, including year-over-year comparisons, attainment tracking, and mix shifts.
• Provide day-to-day and week-to-week forecasting and sales reporting support to retail sales channel owners.
• Create net-short analysis and manage inventory allocation during end-of-sale planning to limit overhang risk.
• Manage and update all forecast systems to ensure accuracy and reliability.
• Create and manage workback schedules for every forecasting cycle, ensuring accountability and timely execution of inputs from channel owners.
• Meet with channel owners to review baselines, gather feedback, and incorporate changes, meticulously documenting assumptions for bridging and tracking purposes.
• Lead recurring forecast inspection meetings with channel owners to review performance against forecast and align on required actions.
• Ensure standardization of assumptions and forecasting methodologies across all marketplaces, influencing channel owners to adhere to these processes for both emerging and existing businesses.
• Own the forecast narrative and final documents, bridging changes between forecasting cycles and providing clear explanations for variances.
• Lead Global Retail Demand Reviews, presenting insights and recommendations to stakeholders.

Must-Have Qualifications

• 5-7 years of relevant experience in demand planning, quantitative forecasting, and cross-functional program management, with a strong blend of approximately 60% Demand Planning/Forecasting and 40% Program Management.
• Proven experience in promotional impact modeling, calculating price elasticity, and forecasting promotional lifts for complex product portfolios.
• Background in B2C, Consumer Electronics, Traditional Retail, or Finance industries.
• Advanced Excel skills for complex data modeling, scenario planning, and quantitative analysis.
• Strong ability to connect operational modeling directly to business strategy and serve as an analytical advisor to retail sales leaders.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

About Aquent:

Aquent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands.

Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!

Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.