Senior Demand Planning Lead in Itasca, Illinois at Fellowes Brands

Description

Our most important asset is our people. Who we are, what we do, how we do it and why we are passionate are all centerpieces of why we succeed.

We are proud to be recognized:

• Among America's Best Midsize Employers by Forbes in 2021, 2022 and 2024
• As a Chicago Tribune Top Workplace for four consecutive years (2021-2025)

We currently operate in-office Monday-Thursday, with an optional remote day on Friday.

This position is not eligible for visa-based employment-based sponsorship.

Role Summary

As the Senior Demand Planning Lead, reporting to the Senior Manager, Finance, you will own demand forecasting and the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process across Contract Furnishings, Air Quality Management, and Architectural Solutions. You will develop, maintain, and continuously improve the statistical demand forecast across thousands of SKU-location combinations, then partner with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, Finance, Customer Experience, Operations, and Supply Chain to build an intelligent consensus forecast that supports business decisions.

As the process owner for the Interiors S&OP cycle, you will facilitate monthly demand reviews, supply reviews, and executive S&OP meetings so the organization operates from one aligned plan. Your work will directly influence inventory investment, working capital, customer service, supplier planning, product portfolio decisions, and revenue attainment.

This position is best suited for an individual who combines advanced analytics with cross-functional leadership and is energized by the intersection of data science, business strategy, and operational execution.

In This Role, You Will…

Demand Forecast Ownership

• Develop and maintain statistical demand forecasts using historical demand, trends, seasonality, market intelligence, and predictive analytics.
• Create baseline forecasts at the SKU, product family, channel, business unit, and total portfolio levels.
• Separate baseline demand from project-driven demand, promotions, new product introductions, and one-time events.
• Apply appropriate forecasting methods to improve forecast accuracy and reduce bias; monitor performance and refine models and assumptions.
• Lead monthly forecast reviews with Sales, Marketing, Product Management, and Customer Experience.

Consensus Demand Planning

• Partner with commercial leaders to incorporate pipeline activity, promotions, market intelligence, competitive dynamics, and strategic initiatives into the demand plan.
• Facilitate constructive challenge of assumptions and align stakeholders around a realistic, executable forecast.
• Translate commercial insights into actionable demand signals and create scenarios that highlight risks and opportunities.
• Identify emerging trends, product shifts, and demand anomalies before they materially affect operations.

S&OP Process Leadership

• Own and facilitate the complete monthly S&OP process across all three Interiors businesses.
• Establish a disciplined cadence for demand review, supply review, and executive S&OP meetings.
• Align demand, supply, inventory, and financial plans; surface constraints and trade-offs for timely leadership decisions.
• Drive accountability for forecast inputs, assumptions, and commitments, and document decisions, action items, and risks.
• Develop concise, decision-ready materials for executive leadership.

Business Analytics & Inventory Optimization

• Evaluate forecast impacts on inventory investment, service levels, supplier requirements, and cash flow.
• Partner with Finance to improve working capital performance and inventory productivity.
• Analyze inventory turns, backorders, stockouts, forecast bias, demand variability, service levels, and inventory health.
• Identify slow-moving, excess, obsolete, and underperforming items, and recommend actions that improve inventory efficiency without sacrificing customer service.
• Highlight portfolio risks and opportunities through data-driven analysis.

Forecast Performance Management

• Establish and maintain KPIs for forecast accuracy (MAPE), forecast bias, service levels, inventory turns, backorders, inventory health, and S&OP adherence.
• Conduct root-cause analysis of forecast misses and drive corrective action and continuous improvement.
• Build executive dashboards and reporting tools that strengthen visibility and accountability.

Data Science & Continuous Improvement

• Use advanced analytics, forecasting software, Power BI, Excel, SQL, Python, or similar tools to improve planning effectiveness.
• Develop predictive models and automate manual forecasting and reporting processes where practical.
• Support future technology implementations and lead initiatives that elevate forecasting, S&OP, and inventory management maturity.

What You Bring to the Team

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Statistics, Data Science, Engineering, Finance, Business Analytics, Operations, Mathematics, Economics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in demand planning, forecasting, supply chain analytics, inventory planning, S&OP, or a similar analytical role.
• Strong knowledge of statistical forecasting and demand planning methodologies, with advanced Excel capability.
• Experience with ERP systems and planning tools.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct authority.
• Exceptional presentation, facilitation, communication, project management, and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading an S&OP or Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process.
• Data science, analytics, or predictive modeling experience.
• Experience with Power BI, SQL, Python, R, Tableau, SAP, Oracle, NetSuite, Kinaxis, Blue Yonder, or similar platforms.
• CPIM, CSCP, CPF, IBF certification, or equivalent professional credential.
• MBA or advanced degree in business analytics, operations, supply chain, or a related discipline.

The hiring range for this position in Itasca, Illinois is $110,000 to $120,000 per year. The base pay actually offered will take into account internal equity and also may vary depending on the candidate's geographic region, job-related knowledge, skills and experience, among other factors. An annual incentive may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial and/or other benefits, dependent on the level and position offered. An overview of our benefits offering is available here: Fellowes Benefits Overview.

Fellowes Brands - A Family Business Since 1917
For over a century, Fellowes has been committed to positively impacting people through our culture, relationships and solutions. We have evolved toward relevance with each decade and generation, responding to a constantly changing world. Today, we are on an ambitious journey to grow our influence and impact in enhancing and maximizing work experiences worldwide. We are a “Brand on the Move” and remain committed to finding new ways to help people work better and feel better.

Visit our Careers Site: www.fellowesbrands.com/us/en/careers/Pages/overview.aspx

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

Fellowes, Inc. does not accept unsolicited resumes from any agencies that have not signed a mutual service agreement. All unsolicited resumes will be considered Fellowes' property, and Fellowes will not be obligated to pay a referral fee. This includes resumes submitted directly to hiring managers without contacting the Talent Acquisition Department.