Senior Demand Planner - Merrell

WOLVERINE WORLDWIDE INC; Rockford (MI); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. in Rockford, Michigan seeks a Senior Demand Planner to lead demand forecasting across product categories and distribution channels.

You will own material-level forecasts, align with Brand targets, and partner with Sales, Marketing, Finance and Supply Chain to drive IBP processes. You will develop forecasts across horizons, monitor accuracy, and drive improvements in forecasting tools and governance, with a hybrid work schedule (3 days in office, 2 days remote) based in

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a quantitative field as listed.
• 2–4 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or advanced analytics.
• Strong understanding of statistical forecasting methods, incl. time-series and regression.
• Advanced Excel skills for large datasets, modeling, and validation.
• Experience using demand planning platforms such as SAP IBP, Blue Yonder/JDA, Oracle Demantra or Kinaxis.
• Ability to analyze forecast performance, diagnose issues, and improve results.

Responsibilities

• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain to align on demand assumptions and forecast outcomes.
• Support S&OP/IBP processes by clearly communicating forecast changes, risks, and drivers.
• Present demand insights and recommendations in a clear, data-driven manner.
• Develop and maintain demand forecasts across multiple time horizons using historical sales data.
• Design, test, and refine forecasting approaches including baseline models, seasonality, and trend adjustments.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and bias; investigate root causes and implement corrective actions.
• Build, maintain, and enhance forecasting models within planning systems.
• Translate model outputs into operational forecasts aligned with planning and supply processes.
• Incorporate promotions, pricing actions, market dynamics, and lifecycle events into forecasts.
• Drive continuous improvements in forecast accuracy and governance; mentor other planners.

Skills

Statistical forecasting methods

Time-series analysis

Regression analysis

Advanced Excel

SAP IBP

Blue Yonder/JDA

Oracle Demantra

Kinaxis

Forecast performance analysis

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Research, Statistics, Economics, Data Science, Engineering, or related field

Tools

SAP IBP

Blue Yonder/JDA

Oracle Demantra

Kinaxis

Job description

Merrell exists to share the simple power of being outside with everyone. We believe the 'outdoors' is a much broader space than just the mountain summit; it’s any space beyond your front door. Our mission is to help our community rethink the outdoors by building gear that works everywhere, from technical alpine ridges to urban city streets. We don't just follow the trail; we help define where it goes next.

We are a team that lives at the intersection of elite performance and modern style. Our history on the trail and commitment to innovation has made us the most awarded brand in the outdoor space. Recently, our MTL SpeedARC Peak won the prestigious ISPO Award for its breakthrough trail-racing tech, while the SpeedARC Surge BOA was named one of TIME’s Best Inventions for its modern, futuristic design and energy return. Whether it’s the Moab 3 being named “Best Hiking Shoe” by CNN Underscored and Popular Mechanics, or the Jungle Moc being recognized by HuffPicks as the gold standard for comfort, we are consistently recognized for building the most reliable, and most innovative, gear in the world.

The Senior Demand Planner plays a critical role within the Integrated Business Planning cycle, leading the development and execution of demand forecasts across product categories and distribution channels. This role owns material-level forecasting and drives alignment between demand plans and Brand financial targets.

Partnering closely with cross-functional teams, the Senior Demand Planner leads the forecasting process, ensuring assumptions are aligned, insights are actionable, and outcomes support both operational execution and business performance.

Primary Duties:

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, and Operations to align on demand assumptions and forecast outcomes
• Support planning and S&OP / IBP processes by clearly communicating forecast changes, risks, and drivers
• Present demand insights and recommendations in a clear, structured, and data-driven manner

Forecasting & Demand Analytics

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts across multiple time horizons using statistical forecasting methods , market inputs, historical sales data and order book analysis
• Design, test, and refine forecasting approaches, including baseline demand modeling, seasonality analysis, and trend adjustment
• Monitor forecast accuracy and bias, investigate root causes of forecast error, and implement corrective actions
• Apply appropriate forecasting methodologies by product, customer, channel, or segment based on demand behavior

Model Building & Deployment

• Build, maintain, and enhance forecasting models within demand planning systems and analytical tools
• Translate statistical model outputs into operational forecasts aligned with planning and supply processes
• Define and document assumptions, methodologies, and limitations to ensure forecast transparency and repeatability
• Partner with technology and planning teams to improve forecasting tools, system parameters, and automation

Market & Business Integration

• Incorporate qualitative inputs such as promotions, pricing actions, market dynamics, and product lifecycle events into forecasts
• Evaluate the impact of demand drivers and external signals on forecast performance and planning risk
• Provide scenario analysis and sensitivity views to support decision-making under uncertainty

Continuous Improvement

• Drive improvements in forecast accuracy, model robustness, and planning efficiency through ongoing analysis and learning
• Identify opportunities to standardize best practices, improve forecast governance, and reduce manual effort
• Serve as a technical thought partner and mentor to other planners and analysts

• Perform duties consistent with the Company’s AAP/EEO goals and policies.
• Perform other duties as required/assigned by manager.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Research, Statistics, Economics, Data Science, Engineering, or a related quantitative field
• 2–4 years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or advanced supply chain analytics roles
• Strong understanding of statistical forecasting methods, including time-series analysis and regression-based approaches
• Advanced Excel skills for large datasets, modeling, and validation
• Experience using demand planning or forecasting platforms (e.g., SAP IBP, Blue Yonder/JDA, Oracle Demantra, Kinaxis, or similar)
• Demonstrated ability to analyze forecast performance, diagnose issues, and improve results over time

Working Conditions:

Normal office environment. Some travel may be required.

Wolverine Worldwide has a flexible, hybrid work schedule, with three days in office and two days remote.

#LI-MM1

Wolverine World Wide, Inc. (NYSE: WWW) is a global footwear and apparel company driven by a vision to Make. Every Day. Better. Founded in 1883, the Company builds and grows iconic brands including Merrell, Saucony, Wolverine, Sweaty Betty, Chaco, Hush Puppies, Stride Rite, HYTEST, and Bates, along with footwear licenses for Cat and Harley-Davidson. Headquartered in Rockford, Michigan, the Company’s products are sold in approximately 170 countries and territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.wolverineworldwide.com.

In 2025, the Company was recognized by Footwear News as Company of the Year, by Forbes as one of America’s Dream Employers, America’s Best Employers for Women, and America’s Best Employers for Company Culture, and by Inspiring Workplaces as one of the Most Inspiring Workplaces Globally.

Wolverine Worldwide is a Certified Great Place To Work.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills which may be required.

Wolverine Worldwide, Inc. is committed to creating a company that is as diverse as our consumers. We value the differences in one another and believe our differences make us stronger. Our diverse and inclusive corporate culture starts with the recruitment process. We are committed to being an equal opportunity employer. We aim to create equal opportunities for our associates, customers, and suppliers regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected characteristic.