Demand Planner
Renaissance
Summary
The Demand Planner is responsible for developing the demand plan to satisfy customer demand while carrying minimum effective inventory. The qualified individual will be responsible for providing the plant with a monthly Unconstrained and Constrained production plan and risk consistent with the plant capacity, material constraints and sales forecast.
Job description
Overall Requirements
The Demand Planner is responsible for developing the demand plan to satisfy customer demand while carrying minimum effective inventory. The qualified individual will be responsible for providing the plant with a monthly Unconstrained and Constrained production plan and risk consistent with the plant capacity, material constraints and sales forecast.
The planner is responsible for all demand change impacts, determining the desired inventory levels for finished goods down to the pack size including safety stock levels & Customer and internal impact statements. The sales forecasts, new business opportunities, customer expectations, and internal supply constraints will be used to develop production plans, by month, for a rolling three month period. Strong collaboration with the Business Managers, Operations, Sales, Customer Service and Management will be critical to meeting business goals.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain a rolling 3-month Master Production Plan (MPP) and Consensus Demand Plan based on forecasted customer demand, operational capacity, and material availability
- Lead and facilitate the company-wide Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, ensuring alignment across demand, capacity, inventory, and revenue objectives
- Own and manage company-wide demand intake and customer commit processes
- Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to develop and maintain accurate forecasts based on customer demand, historical activity, contract requirements, market intelligence, operational trends, and new business opportunities
- Generate unconstrained and constrained demand and production plans while identifying risks related to capacity, material availability, and operational lead times
- Conduct monthly revenue forecasting activities and facilitate weekly risk review meetings with key stakeholders
- Perform quarterly supply and demand analysis, identifying inventory, capacity, material, and service risks over a rolling 12-month horizon
- Make delivery commitments for customer orders and programs by evaluating capacity, material availability, operational constraints, and customer requirements
- Establish inventory targets and safety stock levels for components, repair materials, and customer-specific requirements while balancing service levels, inventory investment, and business objectives
- Monitor inventory performance and recommend actions to mitigate excess, obsolete, shortage, and customer service risks
- Collaborate with Operations to ensure execution of the Master Production Plan on a weekly and monthly basis
- Monitor actual performance versus plan and drive corrective actions when deviations occur
- Review forecast assumptions with key stakeholders on a regular basis and recommend adjustments based on demand trends, historical activity, customer commitments, and business priorities
- Develop and present customer and internal impact assessments related to supply constraints, changing demand requirements, inventory risks, and capacity limitations
- Support and continuously improve the organization's Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement initiatives
- Develop planning metrics and dashboards to monitor forecast accuracy, inventory performance, service levels, capacity utilization, production adherence, and revenue attainment
Education & Experience
- BA or College Diploma in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or relevant field or
- 1-3 years planning or related experience
- Demonstrated Lean Manufacturing experience including Continuous Improvement, Kaizen, Kata, Gemba, Heijunka, Jidoka, Gemba, 8 Wastes, 6S, etc.
- APICS CPIM, CSCP or Lean Six Sigma certification is considered an asset
Additional Qualifications
- Strong business acumen and decision-making skills
- Excellent analytical, planning, and problem-solving abilities
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
- Ability to listen and communicate with peers at all levels within the organization
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Highly detail-oriented with a proactive and continuous improvement mindset
- Autonomous self-starter; can anticipate what needs to be done before being asked
- Health and Safety conscious
Requirements
- BA or College Diploma in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management or relevant field
- 1-3 years planning or related experience
- Demonstrated Lean Manufacturing experience including Continuous Improvement, Kaizen, Kata, Gemba, Heijunka, Jidoka, 8 Wastes, 6S
- APICS CPIM, CSCP or Lean Six Sigma certification is considered an asset
- Strong business acumen and decision-making skills
- Excellent analytical, planning, and problem-solving abilities
- Demonstrated ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment
- Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
- Ability to listen and communicate with peers at all levels within the organization
- Strong written and oral communication skills
- Highly detail-oriented with a proactive and continuous improvement mindset
- Autonomous self-starter
- Health and Safety conscious
Benefits
- Competitive compensation package
- Performance-rewarding culture
Company overview
Renaissance, formerly known as Renaissance Learning, is a leading educational technology company that provides assessment, data analytics, and personalized learning solutions for K-12 education. Founded in 1986, the company has established itself as a pioneer in computer-adaptive assessment with its flagship product, STAR Assessments, which measure student achievement in reading and mathematics. Renaissance's comprehensive platform includes Accelerated Reader, a widely-used reading practice program that helps students develop literacy skills through personalized book recommendations and comprehension quizzes. The company's solutions are used by millions of students and educators worldwide to track progress, identify learning gaps, and inform instructional decisions. Renaissance focuses on data-driven education, offering tools that help teachers personalize instruction and improve student outcomes through actionable insights. The company continues to innovate in educational technology, expanding its offerings to include early literacy assessment, math practice, and professional development resources for educators.