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About the Job
We are partnered with a leading global supplier of rigid packaging on the search for a Senior Demand Planner. This role supports the demand review process within the company's broader Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, with responsibility for improving processes and mentoring others.
This person will act as the integration point between Sales, Supply Chain, and Production Planning, owning item-level forecasts and working directly with customers, Sales, and Account Management to translate demand signals into actionable plans.
The company serves virtually every major end market—automotive, beverage, food, home care, industrial chemical, pet care, personal health and beauty, and wine and spirits, among others—and this role will be central to how demand planning scales alongside that growth.
The Mandate
This organization is clear about what it is—and is not—seeking.
They are not looking for someone who simply inputs numbers into a forecasting system.
They are seeking a demand planning expert and mentor: someone who can own forecasts end-to-end, build trust directly with customers and Sales, root-cause forecast variance, and help develop the planning skills of others on the team.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and maintain monthly item-level forecasts, including new products, across assigned customers and markets
- Lead regional and local demand reviews with Sales and Account Management, driving alignment on assumptions, risks, opportunities, and the unconstrained demand plan
- Serve as a customer-facing demand planning expert, building customer confidence in forecasting and business management capabilities
- Partner directly with customers, Sales, and Account Management to translate demand drivers and changes in customer behavior into actionable forecasts
- Analyze historical trends, orders, inventory, market intelligence, and other demand signals to develop and continuously improve forecasts
- Monitor forecast accuracy and bias, identify significant variances, and lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions
- Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Supply Planning, Operations, and other stakeholders to align demand and supply plans
- Drive continuous improvement through demand segmentation, exception management, and improved planning processes
- Ensure planning tools (e.g., Kinaxis) are used effectively and consistently across the team
- Proactively communicate material demand changes, customer issues, and business risks to regional and central Supply Planning
- Develop and maintain reporting and insights that support business decisions and the S&OP process
- Mentor team members on demand planning and S&OP skills, including statistical forecasting and advanced planning tool functionality
Ideal Profile
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Planning or equivalent
- 5+ years of experience in demand planning or a related role
- Working knowledge of demand planning systems such as Kinaxis, Logility, or Blue Yonder
- APICS CPIM certification preferred
- Strong understanding of supply chain functions including demand, replenishment, and sourcing
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a systems/process orientation
- Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation skills, with the ability to influence at all levels
- Experience developing or leading others
- Comfortable navigating complexity and competing priorities in a collaborative environment
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong time management skills
Location & Work Model
- Ontario, CA — onsite at the company's Sales and Distribution Center office
- Not eligible for immigration sponsorship
Compensation
- Base salary: $95,000 - $115,000
- Role is also eligible for the company's full benefits package, including profit sharing, 401(k) match, and tuition/health club reimbursement
Interested?
This search is being conducted with a high degree of discretion.
If this role aligns with your background—or you know a demand planning leader you deeply respect who fits this profile—we welcome a confidential conversation.
Base Compensation Range$95,000—$115,000 USDEqual Opportunity & Non-Discrimination Statement
Signal and Strand is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We—and our clients—do not discriminate in employment or contracting on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, registered domestic partner status, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local laws.
We comply fully with the provisions of the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA). All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We are committed to providing a workplace that is inclusive, respectful, and free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.