Demand Planner
Waukegan, Illinois
$75,000.00/year
Industrial & Manufacturing
Job ID: 57688264
Job Description
Job Title: Demand Planner
Pay: $75,000 - $85,000 (+ more for higher experience)
Location: Waukegan, IL
Reports To: Planning Manager
Pay: $75,000 - $85,000 (+ more for higher experience)
Location: Waukegan, IL
Reports To: Planning Manager
Position Summary
The Demand Planning Coordinator supports demand planning and forecasting activities to ensure accurate demand signals, efficient production planning, and effective inventory management. This role partners closely with Production Planning, Purchasing, Operations, Customer Service, and other cross-functional teams to maintain forecast accuracy, monitor production schedules, identify supply risks, and support continuous improvement initiatives throughout the planning process.
Direct Reports
- None
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or a related field preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience
- 3–5 years of experience in demand planning, supply chain coordination, production planning, purchasing, inventory planning, or a related manufacturing environment preferred.
- Experience supporting forecasting processes, production campaigns, or demand planning activities within manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or distribution environments.
- Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong decision-making skills within established guidelines.
- Experience identifying supply risks through shortage reporting and inventory analysis.
- Excellent analytical skills with strong attention to detail and data accuracy.
- Working knowledge of purchase orders, shortage reports, inventory planning, and production scheduling.
Technical Skills
- Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel.
- Intermediate to advanced ERP and database experience.
- Working knowledge of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems.
- Understanding of inventory control, procurement workflows, logistics, and supply chain operations.
- Experience developing reports, dashboards, and planning metrics preferred.
Communication Skills
- Excellent listening, written, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all organizational levels.
- Strong organizational, problem-solving, and follow-up skills.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to work extensively on a computer.
- Ability to remain seated for extended periods while performing office duties.
- Occasionally required to walk through manufacturing or warehouse environments.
- Ability to read computer screens and printed materials for extended periods.
- Must be able to work in both office and production environments where noise levels may vary.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities
The following duties are representative of the position and are not intended to be an all-inclusive list. Additional responsibilities may be assigned as business needs require.
Demand Planning & Forecast Support
- Coordinate with Demand Planners to ensure forecasts are completed accurately and on schedule.
- Manage approval workflows and communications for products within the four-week planning lock period.
- Maintain visibility into upcoming campaigns and business priorities through a rolling six-week planning outlook.
- Provide day-to-day planning support by assisting with planning questions, issue resolution, and prioritization.
- Support forecast maintenance and planning accuracy across assigned product lines.
Production Planning & Order Monitoring
- Monitor out-of-resource (OOR) items, production order creation, and key planning milestones.
- Track production order execution and proactively identify potential delays or supply risks.
- Escalate planning issues to appropriate stakeholders before service interruptions occur.
- Support planning-related initiatives for product launches, promotional campaigns, and other high-priority business activities.
Reporting & Data Analysis
- Develop, maintain, and analyze reports that support forecasting, planning, and operational decision-making.
- Create additional reporting tools to improve forecast visibility, including forecast accuracy, actual sales versus forecast, trend analysis, and inventory performance.
- Analyze planning data to identify risks, opportunities, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support planning metrics and KPI reporting.
Process Improvement & Documentation
- Develop, update, and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) related to demand planning activities.
- Assist with process standardization to improve consistency, efficiency, and audit readiness.
- Participate in continuous improvement initiatives that enhance planning performance and cross-functional collaboration.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Forecast Completion
- Ensure assigned demand forecasts are completed accurately and on schedule.
- Target: 98% or greater on-time forecast completion.
Planning Lock Compliance
- Maintain approval workflows that support compliance with the four-week planning lock period.
- Target: 95% or greater compliance.
Six-Week Planning Visibility
- Maintain an accurate rolling six-week planning outlook for campaigns, production priorities, and business demand.
Reporting Accuracy
- Deliver accurate, timely planning reports that support operational decision-making and forecasting improvements.
Travel & Other Requirements
- Minimal to no travel required.
- Reliable transportation to and from assigned work location.
- Ability to work additional hours as business needs require.
Benefits
A comprehensive benefits package may include:
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
- 401(k) Retirement Plan with Company Match
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
- Dependent Care Benefits
- Tuition Assistance and Professional Development Programs
- Employee Wellness Programs
- Mental Health Resources
- Employee Discount Programs
- Pet Insurance
- Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
ABOUT ACCURATE PERSONNEL
Do you need your next job fast? Accurate Personnel is here to help! As an industry-leading full-service staffing agency, we have all the tools you need to start earning that next paycheck soon. Send us your application and our team will instantly get to work on finding you the right placement to fit your needs. Accurate Personnel has been a provider of temporary job services and direct hire search for 45 years. Our expertise has allowed us to grow from a regional Chicagoland office into a nationwide search firm that services over 500 clients while never losing sight of personalized service. Let Accurate work for you. Apply with us today!
—--
Accurate Personnel provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.
Job ID: 57688264
Share This Job
Apply Now
The Latest Jobs
