Senior Demand Planner

Sun Chemical; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision benefits

401(k) with company match

Paid holidays and PTO

Job summary

Sun Chemical, a Sun Chemical Group company, is seeking a Regional Demand Planner for North America packaging and graphics. You will lead monthly forecasts, develop a rolling 12-month plan, and partner with Sales, Product Management, and Supply Chain to optimize inventory and working capital.

The role requires 7+ years in planning, strong analytics, advanced Excel skills, and the ability to influence across functions in a fast-paced environment. On-site location near Northlake, IL preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in a related field.
• 7+ years in demand planning, forecasting, or related fields.
• Strong analytics and ability to interpret large data sets.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities regionally.

Responsibilities

• Lead monthly demand forecasting and consensus planning meetings.
• Develop a rolling 12-month forecast using models and market data.
• Analyze forecast performance and trends to improve accuracy.
• Collaborate with procurement and production to align supply plans.
• Support inventory optimization and working capital objectives.
• Lead process improvements and data quality initiatives.
• Provide guidance to junior team members.
• Represent demand planning in cross-functional meetings.
• Communicate risks and opportunities to stakeholders.
• Drive S&OP related improvements.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Attention to detail

Communication skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Data Science, Business, or related field

Tools

SAP

APO

Kinaxis

Job description

About The Organization

Sun Chemical, a member of the DIC Group, is a leading producer of packaging and graphic solutions, color and display technologies, functional products, electronic materials, and products for the automotive and healthcare industries. Together with DIC, Sun Chemical is continuously working to promote and develop sustainable solutions to exceed customer expectations and better the world around us. With combined annual sales of more than $8.5 billion and 22,000+ employees worldwide, the DIC Group companies support a diverse collection of global customers.

Pay Ranges

$115,000 - $125,000

Company Overview

Sun Chemical Corporation is a subsidiary of Sun Chemical Group Coöperatief U.A., the Netherlands, and is headquartered in Parsippany, New Jersey, U.S.A. For more information, please visit our website at www.sunchemical.com or connect with us on LinkedIn or Twitter.

Preferred Location

Preferred candidate will be located near Northlake, Illinois, or Cincinnati, Ohio.

Regional Demand Planner Position

Sun Chemical is seeking a Regional Demand Planner to lead demand planning and forecasting activities for our North America Packaging & Graphics business. This role is responsible for developing and managing accurate demand forecasts across a large and complex product portfolio while supporting the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process.

The Regional Demand Planner partners closely with Product Management, Sales, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Production teams to improve forecast accuracy, optimize inventory levels, support customer requirements, and enhance overall supply chain performance. This position plays a critical role in achieving inventory and working capital objectives while ensuring business continuity and customer satisfaction.

This is a highly visible role requiring strong analytical skills, cross-functional collaboration, and the ability to solve complex business challenges in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead monthly demand forecasting and consensus planning meetings with Sales and Product Management teams as part of the S&OP process.
• Develop and maintain a rolling 12-month demand forecast using statistical models, commercial insights, and market intelligence.
• Analyze forecast performance, sales trends, customer demand patterns, budgets, and business assumptions to improve forecast accuracy.
• Identify risks and opportunities impacting customer demand and communicate impacts to commercial and supply chain stakeholders.
• Collaborate with procurement, manufacturing, and supply planning teams to align supply plans with forecasted demand.
• Support inventory optimization and working capital objectives through effective demand planning practices.
• Provide input and analysis during constrained supply situations to support business prioritization and maximize profitability.
• Represent Demand Planning in cross-functional meetings and customer discussions to improve forecast collaboration and customer insights.
• Lead process improvement initiatives and support enhancements to demand planning tools, processes, and data quality.
• Provide guidance, training, and subject matter expertise to less experienced team members and project teams as needed.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Data Science, Business, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, supply chain, or related disciplines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities with experience interpreting large data sets and business trends.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities across a regional organization.

Preferred

• APICS, CPIM, CSCP, or other supply chain certifications.
• Experience with SAP, APO, Kinaxis, or other supply chain planning systems.
• Experience leading process improvement or cross-functional projects.
• Knowledge of S&OP and integrated business planning processes.
• Change management and leadership experience.

Benefits

• We offer a range of market-competitive total rewards that include merit increases, paid holidays, Paid Time Off, medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability benefits, 401(k)+match and life insurance. Eligibility of benefit timing may vary.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

It is Sun’s policy that applicants for employment are recruited, selected, and hired on the basis of individual merit and ability with respect to the position being filled. Sun prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law.

Employment agencies are an important component of our talent acquisition strategy, and we value the partnerships we have built with our preferred vendors. We will not accept unsolicited resumes from employment agencies for any employment opportunity. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Sun Chemical or directly to hiring managers in any form without a signed contract on file, and search engagement for that position, will be deemed unsolicited in nature, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired as a result of the referral or through other means. Additionally, any resume submitted without a contract in place will be considered property of Sun Chemical and no fees will be paid to the agency if the candidate is hired.

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