Demand Planning Manager, US Ag & B2B

UPL; Cooks Crossing (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

UPL in Cooks Crossing, NC is seeking a Demand Planning Manager to oversee demand planning and forecasting processes. This role is critical in aligning sales, marketing, supply chain, and finance efforts. The ideal candidate will have 8+ years of experience in demand planning, excellent analytical skills, and a strong ability to collaborate across departments.

The position requires facilitating S&OP meetings, implementing new tools, and supporting commercial strategies. Travel is limited to less than 10%.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in demand planning, commercial operations, or sales analytics.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with a proactive, solution-oriented mindset.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end demand planning process for USAg and B2B units.
• Facilitate and lead monthly Pre-S&OP and S&OP meetings.
• Lead the project to implement a new APS tool in North America.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Proficiency in Excel

S&OP processes

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Statistics, or a related field

Tools

SAP or similar ERP systems

Job description

UPL (NSE: UPL & BSE: 512070, LSE: UPLL) is focused on emerging as a premier global provider of total crop solutions designed to secure the world’s long‑term food supply. Winning farmers hearts across the globe, while leading the way with innovative products and services that make agriculture sustainable, UPL is the fastest growth company in the industry. Our successes in the field add up to powerful financials. UPL delivers results from protecting crops that translate into attractive investor value. Based on the recognition that humankind is one community, UPL’s overarching commitment is to improve areas of its presence, workplace and customer engagement.

(EOE) Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

UPL provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants irrespective of their race, colour, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law requirements, in every location in which the company has facilities, UPL complies with applicable state and local laws governing non‑discrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training. UPL also reinforces EEO through its Corporate Business Principles and Code of Business Conduct.

Job Summary

The Demand Planning Manager is responsible for overseeing the demand planning and forecasting processes in UPL NA’s key commercial units, US Ag and B2B. This role is critical in driving the consensus demand plans across sales, marketing, supply chain, finance and regulatory through cross‑functional leadership. The role will manage unconstrained and constrained forecasts, ensure aligned inventory levels with working capital goals, and support cross‑functional sales execution. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in demand planning, excellent analytical skills, and the ability to collaborate across departments to ensure demand planning efficiency and customer satisfaction.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead Demand Planning & Forecasting: Own the end‑to‑end demand planning process for USAg and B2B units, ensuring forecasts are accurate, data‑driven, and aligned with commercial strategy and financial targets.
• S&OP Leadership: Facilitate and lead monthly Pre‑S&OP and S&OP meetings for USAg and B2B, driving alignment across Commercial, Supply Chain, and Marketing teams to reach consensus on demand, supply, and inventory plans.
• APS Tool Implementation: Lead the project to implement a new APS tool in North America.
• Ensure that the North America requirements are met across the F2S project either through a strong tool and process redesign.
• Commercial Partnership: Collaborate closely with Country Heads, KAMs, and RSMs to analyze sales trends, customer insights, and market dynamics to inform demand forecasts and strategic decisions.
• Strategic Analysis: Provide actionable insights through sales analytics, business trend analysis, and ad hoc reporting to support Commercial Leadership and FP&A teams.
• Cross‑Functional Communication: Act as a key liaison between Commercial, Supply Chain, and Marketing teams to ensure transparency, coordination, and proactive issue resolution.
• Customer & Channel Support: Support the development of distributor tools and communication materials that align with key business objectives and channel strategies.
• Allocation & Initiative Planning: Partner with Commercial and Marketing teams to guide decisions on product allocations, quarterly initiatives, and production/packaging priorities.
• Process Improvement: Build and mature regional demand planning processes, including systemic supply/capacity reviews and executive‑level planning meetings.
• Sales Planning Support: Assist in annual sales planning, budgeting, and quarterly target setting to ensure alignment with long‑range plans and customer strategies.
• Forecasting Execution: Implement and maintain forecasting processes with Commercial teams, updating monthly/quarterly as needed by division, segment, or geography.

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Statistics, or a related field.
• 8+ years of experience in demand planning, commercial operations, or sales analytics.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with a proactive, solution‑oriented mindset.
• Experience leading or participating in S&OP processes.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence cross‑functional teams.
• Proficiency in Excel and forecasting tools; experience with SAP or similar ERP systems preferred.
• Ability to thrive in a fast‑paced, dynamic environment with shifting priorities.

UPL Competencies

• Adaptability & Resilience: Recognizes and is open to changing circumstances and alters behaviour and scales up as necessary; increases personal awareness and appreciation of individual and cultural differences to create an open, inclusive, and accepting workplace.
• Entrepreneurial Mindset: Has a creative mindset and ability to think holistically, takes calculated risks and maximizes opportunities.
• Results Orientation: Takes action, pursues goals with persistence and achieves results; communicates goals and vision to the team to drive enthusiasm and ambition.
• Execution Excellence: Enhances the speed of execution and builds efficiency in processes, systems and people; has sharp focus on quality‑orientation.
• Strategic Orientation: Demonstrates knowledge of the social, economic, and environmental factors and how they impact business. Identifies key issues that could impact the business and develops strategy through an analytical lens/design thinking.
• Building Teams and Talent: Empowers colleagues through knowledge sharing and delegation, quickly establishing rapport; provides recognition for achievements and accomplishments.
• Customer Centricity: Understands the customer needs and pain points, fulfills the needs and expectations by focusing on creating value for customers.

Travel

<10% travel required.