Overview

Job Description Job Description Description: Demand Planning & Inventory Analyst Department: Marketing, Demand Planning & InventoryReports To: Director of Marketing ServicesLocation: Insert Location Employment Type: Full-Time Position Summary The Demand Planning & Inventory Analyst will support the company's demand planning, forecasting, inventory management, and excess inventory initiatives. This position will analyze sales trends, customer demand, inventory levels, production requirements, and historical data to help ensure the company maintains appropriate inventory levels while minimizing excess, obsolete, and aged inventory. The Analyst will work closely with Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Operations, Production, Purchasing, Finance, and Supply Chain to develop accurate forecasts, identify inventory risks, and support informed business decisions. This position will also play an important role in the company's transition to SAP, helping establish accurate data, processes, reporting, and inventory planning practices within the new system. Key Responsibilities Demand Planning & ForecastingDevelop and maintain customer, product, and channel-level demand forecasts.Analyze historical sales, customer orders, trends, seasonality, promotions, new product launches, and discontinued items.Monitor forecast accuracy and identify opportunities for improvement.Partner with Sales and Marketing to incorporate customer knowledge and market activity into forecasts.Identify significant changes in demand and communicate potential impacts to management and operations.Maintain forecasting files, reports, and planning tools to support monthly and weekly planning activities.Assist with establishing standardized forecasting processes and reporting. Inventory ManagementMonitor finished goods inventory levels and identify excess, slow-moving, aged, and at-risk inventory.Track inventory against forecasted demand and customer requirements.Identify potential inventory shortages or overages before they become significant issues.Support inventory reduction strategies and recommend actions to minimize write-offs and obsolete inventory.Maintain visibility to inventory that may require special sales programs, promotions, closeout opportunities, or alternative channels.Assist with developing inventory action plans and tracking results.Work with Operations and Production to understand inventory availability, production schedules, and capacity constraints. Excess & Closeout InventoryMaintain accurate reporting of excess, aged, and discontinued finished goods.Identify products that are approaching shelf-life, becoming obsolete, or exceeding forecasted demand.Work with Sales and Marketing to identify opportunities to sell excess inventory through existing or alternative channels.Support the development of closeout programs, including available quantities, timing, pricing recommendations, and customer opportunities.Track movement of closeout inventory and provide regular status updates to management.Analyze the financial impact of excess inventory and potential inventory recovery opportunities. Marketing SupportProvide inventory and demand insights to support Marketing initiatives and promotional programs.Assist in identifying products appropriate for promotions, closeout programs, customer-specific opportunities, and new sales initiatives.Support marketing calendars by aligning planned activities with available inventory and production capabilities.Help develop reporting and presentations that communicate inventory opportunities and risks.Collaborate with Marketing to ensure promotional activity is aligned with inventory objectives. SAP Implementation & Data ManagementParticipate in the company's transition to SAP and support the development of demand planning and inventory processes within the system.Assist with data validation, item setup, forecasting parameters, inventory data, and reporting requirements.Help identify and correct data inconsistencies tha