Senior Demand Planning Analyst

Coatesgroup; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

Coates Group in Chicago seeks a Demand Planning Analyst to develop and improve the NAM demand forecast across North America, enabling accurate demand planning and revenue predictability in a project-based hardware and SaaS environment.

You will translate sales signals and historical trends into actionable demand plans and support the monthly S&OP cycle while partnering with Sales, Finance, Supply Chain and Customer Success to align forecast assumptions and opportunities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Economics, or related field.
• 3–6+ years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, or analytics.
• Experience in tech hardware, SaaS, or hybrid business models is preferred.
• Familiarity with S&OP/IBP processes and cross-functional planning.
• Experience with forecasting tools (Adaptive Planning, SAP IBP, Anaplan, Oracle) mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain statistically driven NAM forecasts for hardware and SaaS.
• Translate sales signals and historical trends into actionable demand plans.
• Support monthly S&OP cycles with cross-functional alignment.
• Improve forecasting tools, data quality, and documentation.
• Analyze forecast performance and provide insights on trends and risks.

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Economics, or related field

Tools

Forecasting tools such as Adaptive Planning / SAP IBP / Anaplan / Oracle

Excel and BI tools (Tableau/Power BI)

SQL

Job description

Demand Planning Analyst

The Demand Planning Analyst is responsible for developing, maintaining, and continuously improving the demand forecast across North America. This role plays a critical part in enabling accurate demand & supply planning, inventory optimization, and revenue predictability in a complex environment characterized by project-based hardware deployments, seasonality, and enterprise QSR customer dynamics. Reporting to the Senior S&OP Manager, NAM, this role serves as a key contributor to the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, ensuring alignment between Account Management, Finance, Supply Chain, and Customer Success. The analyst translates sales signals (leads & opportunities), pipeline intelligence, and historical trends into actionable demand plans that support strategic decision-making and operational execution.

Demand Forecasting & Planning

• Develop and maintain statistically driven and consensus-based hardware forecasts across NAM.
• Incorporate multiple inputs including sales pipeline and deal probabilities, customer rollout schedules (e.g., enterprise QSR deployments), historical sales trends and seasonality patterns.
• Manage separate forecasting methodologies for project-based hardware deployments (lumpy, milestone-driven demand) and recurring SaaS subscriptions (ramp curves, attach rates).

S&OP Process Ownership

• Support and actively contribute to the monthly S&OP cycle including demand review preparation, facilitation and alignment with Sales, Finance, and Supply teams.
• Ensure forecast assumptions, risks, and opportunities are clearly documented and communicated.
• Drive continuous improvement in forecast accuracy and process maturity.

Process & Tool Enhancement

• Drive improvements in demand planning tools, systems, and data quality.
• Standardize forecasting methodologies and documentation.
• Support implementation of advanced planning systems or automation initiatives.

Data Analysis & Insights

• Analyze forecast performance (e.g., forecast accuracy, bias) and identify root causes of variances.
• Provide actionable insights on demand trends and risks, seasonality impacts (e.g., QSR peak periods, holiday cycles), and customer-specific demand patterns.
• Build dashboards and reporting tools to enhance visibility and decision‑making.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Sales (pipeline validation, deal timing, customer insights), Finance (revenue alignment, budget vs. forecast reconciliation), Supply Chain (capacity planning, inventory positioning), and Customer Success / Implementation teams (deployment schedules).
• Act as the central point of truth for demand signals across NAM.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• 3–6+ years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, supply chain analytics, or related roles.
• Experience in a technology, hardware, SaaS, or hybrid business model preferred.
• Exposure to project-based or rollout-driven demand environments strongly preferred.
• Experience working with enterprise customers or in industries with seasonality (e.g., QSR, retail) is a plus.
• Familiarity with S&OP / IBP processes and cross‑functional planning environments.
• Experience with forecasting and planning tools (e.g., Adaptive Planning, SAP IBP, Anaplan, Oracle, or similar) mandatory.

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Strong quantitative and analytical skills, ability to translate data into insights. Proficiency in Excel and data tools (e.g., SQL, BI platforms like Tableau/Power BI). Understanding of forecasting techniques (statistical models, regression, time series, etc.).
• Strong understanding of revenue drivers in both hardware (project‑based) and SaaS (recurring) models, ability to interpret sales pipelines and customer rollout strategies.
• Comfortable operating in ambiguity and evolving business environments, proactive, solutions‑oriented approach to addressing forecasting challenges.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to present complex data clearly to non‑technical stakeholders, confidence in challenging assumptions and influencing cross‑functional partners.

Benefits

The benefits include an annual market‑competitive bonus program and our “Thrive Program” which offers flexible work options, dedicated health and wellness time, a global wellness paid day off, and a “Give Back Day” for community impact.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Coates Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, gender, religion, disability, age, political affiliation or belief, disabled veteran, veteran of the Vietnam Era, or citizenship status (except in those special circumstances permitted or mandated by law).