Associate Demand Planner

About the Role

Join Smithfield Foods, a leading consumer packaged goods company, as an Associate Demand Planner. This role is critical in shaping our supply chain by driving accurate demand forecasts to ensure our products are readily available to customers and consumers. We foster a culture of learning, collaboration, and innovation, offering challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow and make a real impact.

Key Responsibilities

• Creates statistical forecasts: Drive the development and continuous improvement of data-driven demand forecasts by collecting, validating, and analyzing historical and market data, leveraging advanced statistical modeling tools, and applying error analysis techniques to enhance forecast precision.
• Reviews sales plans, business development updates and demand drivers: Collaborate with Sales and Business Development to evaluate forecast data, gather feedback, and recommend strategic adjustments. Review promotional plans and track inputs from new business, lost accounts, and sales initiatives. Identify root causes of forecast variances and report performance against targets.
• Forecast Optimization & Business Insights: Prepare analytical materials to support collaborative research discussions, coordinate cross-functional efforts to reconcile forecast variances, and integrate updated assumptions from Sales and Business Development. Drive SKU rationalization and analyze shipment trends and category dynamics.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Consensus Building: Orchestrate demand planning meetings with Sales and Business Development to foster alignment, build consensus on forecast assumptions, and integrate cross-functional insights into the demand planning and S&OP process.
• Forecast Accuracy & Data Integrity: Optimize forecast accuracy at the SKU and location level by monitoring weekly performance, analyzing error trends, and implementing corrective actions. Leverage tools such as Anaplan, SAP, and Business Intelligence platforms to maintain high data integrity and incorporate competitive and market insights.

Requirements & Tech Stack

• Analytical & Technical Proficiency: Strong foundation in analytical thinking, problem-solving, and mathematical aptitude.
• Communication & Relationship Building: Strong oral, written, and verbal communication skills; foster a respectful, approachable, and team-oriented presence.
• Organization & Customer Focus: Highly organized, detail-oriented, and committed to delivering excellent customer service.
• Collaboration & Adaptability: Thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; demonstrate flexibility, teamwork, and a proactive mindset.
• Tools: Experience with Logility, SAP, and BI platforms is required.
• Familiarity with SAP, Business Intelligence (BI) platforms, and Anaplan is a plus.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university; or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision and depth perception.
• Capable of sitting for extended periods of time.
• Able to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs.
• Frequently required to sit; stand; walk; reach with hands and arms.
• Able to travel as needed.