Demand Planner

Role description:

The Demand Planner is responsible for demand planning function. The demand planner will create, maintain, and analyze statistical forecasts as well as all activities related to forecasting.  Improving forecast accuracy and bias, optimizing service, costs, inventory levels and administrative efficiency are the main objectives of this role. Combining high technical skills in understanding technical forecasting techniques with commercial understanding of market developments and risks. Creating a link between commercial and planning to ensure consensus through the whole organization. Leadership and credibility as the thought leader on demand scenarios that enable constructive conversations both to the Ardagh commercial leadership team as well as to customers.

Responsibilities:

• Support the IBP/S&OP and S&OE process.
• Create monthly statistical baseline demand plan: zero to thirty-six months, periodically to five years
• Understand changes, insights, and assumptions in the demand plan
• Perform gap closing measures in the plan in consideration of volume
• Engage with account manager and customer account coordinator commercial developments
• Capture key insights and trends from all segments/markets on a monthly basis
• Agree on variation from baseline demand plan to maximize forecast accuracy.
• Ensure the demand plan is a best view of future demand at all levels in the business
• Work with Demand Planning Manager to drive transformation by leveraging technology to be best in class
• Analyze customer & sales forecast vs base line statistical forecast and recoincile to one consensus forecast
• Facilitate forecast reviews and alignment with sales VPs and directors
• Provide support to the Sales Teams on customer collaboration projects
• Review and update long-term and short-term planning continuous improvement initiatives
• Accountable for short-term planning quality, validity checks, and effectiveness score

Minimum skills / qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, economics, supply chain management, or a related field or equivalent experience.
• Demostrate ability to perform and lead in a cross-functional team environment.
• Strong analytical skills with proven ability to identify and solve problems.
• Knowledge of forecasting approaches, measurement systems, and risk evaluation
• Three years of strategic experience in a leading commercial or demand planning role involving deep immersion in customer businesses and supply side operations (planning, manufacturing, logistics)
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite
• Ability to travel up to 20%

Preferred skills / qualifications:

• Advanced proficiency with MS Excel (Formulas, Pivots, VLOOKUPS)
• Prior experience with Integrated Business Planning (IBP)
• Prior experience with Blue Yonder
• Knowledge of forecasting processes, forecasting systems and statistical models and analysis.

About Ardagh Group

Ardagh Group is a global leader in metal and glass packaging solutions, producing packaging for the world’s leading brands. We trace our roots all the way back to the Irish Glass Bottle Company, founded in 1932. Since then we have grown rapidly to a team of more than 16,000 people with revenues of almost $7 billion.
Today we have a presence across Europe and the Americas.

•    Did you know that Ardagh produce many of the beverage cans and bottles you drink your favorite beverages from?
•    Did you know we produce metal and glass packaging which are permanent materials, meaning they can be infinitely recycled without any loss of quality?
•    Did you know we produce more than 160 million containers per day?

Ardagh is passionate about sustainability and have a reputation for innovation. We push the boundaries of what’s possible, pioneering new production methods, new design techniques and new ways to recycle and save energy. 

Our aim is to reduce any negative environmental impact while remaining economically sustainable and socially responsible.
We believe that the success of our business depends on the success of our people. 

We strive to create working environments where our employees feel valued, can work to their full potential, and where their achievements are celebrated.

Here at Ardagh, we offer exciting and rewarding opportunities for talented and creative people. If you have ambition and want to make an impact with your career, come and join our team, you’ll enjoy the journey!

Ardagh Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)/Affirmative Action Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, protected veteran status, disability or any other legally protected status.