Demand Planning Manager

About SNDL

SNDL is the largest private-sector liquor and cannabis retailer in Canada with retail banners that include Ace Liquor, Wine and Beyond, Liquor Depot, Value Buds, Spiritleaf, and Firesale Cannabis.

Additionally, the Company operates as a licensed cannabis producer and stands as one of Canada's premier vertically integrated cannabis enterprises, focusing on premium indoor cultivation, cutting-edge product development, and cost-effective manufacturing.

Overview

The role of the Demand Planning Manager is to own the rolling 12 month demand plan as well as to lead a team that generates accurate and unbiased demand plans through a combination of statistical forecasting methods and a series of routine collaborative processes.

The role will work in close partnership with key cross-functional team members to ensure the delivery of robust sales and operations plans and support the management of demand opportunities and risks that will guide SNDL to the achievement of key business objectives.

Reporting Relationships and Contacts :

Reports to : Vice President, Integrated Planning

Directs : Demand Planner(s)

Internal Relationships : Commercial, Marketing, Supply Planning, Customer Service, Logistics, Finance

External Relationships : Retail and Board Customers where needed

Scope of Role :

• Lead the demand planning team responsible for generating baseline SKU level forecasts using a variety of inputs including but not limited to : statistical forecasting models, industry forecasts, commercial intelligence, competitive benchmarks, product lifecycle plans, supply constraints, and in-market customer data (inventory, board customer depletions, retail POS data)
• Lead the development and execution of cross-functional demand planning processes to improve demand plan accuracy by applying driver-based overrides to baseline demand plans (e.

g. distribution changes, product portfolio changes, retail activation, revenue management initiatives, etc.)

• Generate routine reports on forecast accuracy, bias, order tracking, and forecast evolution
• Determine root causes of forecast error and bias and implement action plans to drive improvement
• Lead the monthly demand review process within the broader sales and operations planning process
• Lead the demand workstream of the AOP (annual operating planning) process
• Partner closely with cross functional teams contributing to the sales and operations planning process to identify and quantify specific opportunities and risks to demand plans in addition to supporting action plans required to convert opportunities and mitigate risks
• Highlight and escalate demand plan variances to the AOP and support executive stakeholders on the conversion of opportunities and risk mitigation required to ensure delivery of AOP
• Support integrated planning and executive leadership team with ad-hoc reporting, projects, and initiatives as required
• Support supply planning team with management of slow moving and obsolete inventory
• Implement solutions to constrain demand as optimally as possible in the event of supply constraints

Knowledge and Experience :

• Undergraduate degree in business, economics, supply chain, math, or statistics
• 5-8 years experience demand planning or sales and operations planning roles, preferably in the FMCG industry
• 2-3 years experience managing and leading teams
• Strong business acumen and general understanding of S&OP processes
• Knowledge of demand planning and S&OP best practices an asset
• Experience using relational databases and reporting tools, SQL and Power BI an asset
• Advanced MS Office (Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) skills

Required Competencies

• Attention to detail and ability to follow through
• Understanding and capability of how to build sustainable processes
• Ability to thrive in a highly ambiguous and rapidly changing environment
• Strong influencing and negotiation skills to work cross functionally to drive desired outcomes
• Ability to multitask and balance competing time-sensitive priorities
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely both verbally and in writing to all levels of the organization

As a valued member of the SNDL team, you will enjoy :

• Competitive total compensation and incentives
• A top-notch extended benefits package including medical, vision and dental
• An entrepreneurial and innovative environment that fosters growth and continuous learning

We are grateful for the interest in this role from all candidates, however, we will be contacting only those that are selected for next steps in the hiring process.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion :

SNDL is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to building a welcoming, inclusive, diverse and safe workplace where all of our team members have equal opportunity to succeed.

We know this begins with recruitment. To honor our commitment, SNDL encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, sexual orientation, gender identity, ancestry, ages and abilities.