Demand Planner at Stir Foods – Fullerton, California

Position Summary

The Demand Planner is responsible for developing, managing, and continuously improving demand forecasts to support Stir Foods’ retail and foodservice & industrial business. This role partners closely with Sales, Operations, Procurement, and Finance to translate customer demand into accurate production and inventory plans. The Demand Planner plays a key role in improving forecast accuracy, service levels, and inventory turns while supporting Stir Foods’ growth and operational excellence initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Demand Forecasting & Planning

Develop and maintain SKU-level demand forecasts across retail and food service channels.Incorporate sales input, promotional plans, customer forecasts, seasonality, and historical trends.Lead monthly demand review meetings as part of S&OP / S&OE processes.Collaborate with Sales and Commercial teams to align forecast assumptions.Cross-Functional Collaboration

Partner with Sales and Production Planning to translate demand into feasible supply plans.Coordinate with Customer Service to manage order fulfillment priorities and service levels.Support Finance with revenue and inventory projections.Performance & Continuous Improvement

Track forecast accuracy (MAPE / APE), bias, and service performance metrics.Identify root causes of forecast variances and implement corrective actions.Support inventory optimization initiatives to improve turns and reduce working capital.Contribute to process improvement and planning tool enhancement initiatives.Systems & Data Management

Maintain demand planning data in ERP and planning tools.Ensure master data integrity (SKU, customer, lead times, MOQ, etc.).Build and manage reporting dashboards for forecast and service metrics.Business Support

Support new product introductions and customer launches with forecast development.Assist in scenario planning for capacity, promotions, and growth opportunities.Provide ad-hoc analysis to support leadership decision-making.Qualifications & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, or related field.3–6 years of demand planning or forecasting experience, preferably in food manufacturing or CPG.Experience working in S&OP / S&OE environments.Strong analytical and Excel skills; experience with ERP and demand planning toolsAbility to manage multiple SKUs and customers in a fast-paced environment.Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.Preferred Experience

Experience in food manufacturing with short-time retail and foodservice customers.Knowledge of production scheduling and capacity constraints.Familiarity with Deacom ERP, Power BI or similar systems.Understanding of inventory optimization and service-level tradeoffs.Key Performance Indicators

Forecast accuracy (MAPE / Bias)Customer service levels / fill ratesInventory turns and working capital improvementReduction in expedite costs and production disruptionsSuccessful execution of S&OP cycles

Core Competencies

Analytical problem-solvingBusiness partneringProcess improvement mindsetSense of urgency and ownershipClear communication with technical and commercial teams