Demand Planner

Demand Planner
HYBRID Position

SUMMARY:

The Demand Planner is responsible for combining data analytics with the ability to plan, manage, and oversee materials from warehouse receipt through delivery to the customer. This role is critical in converting complex business and operational data into clear, actionable directions, driving the organization to achieve necessary results. While the role is data-driven, it also requires keen insight and decision-making to apply the data effectively.

The Demand Planner will organize and plan material assembly from component subassembly through final packaging, set production schedules, and drive material requirement planning in collaboration with manufacturing and supply chain teams. This position requires minimal supervision, operating under broad corporate and departmental objectives, while ensuring operational data is processed, transacted, and reported efficiently and accurately. A strong understanding of ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning), MRP (Material Resource Planning), and manufacturing processes is essential, with a focus on compliance with industry regulations (e.g., EU – MDD & MDR, cGMP) and country-specific standards.

This hands-on role demands attention to detail, a focus on process documentation, and a continuous improvement mindset across demand planning, purchasing, inventory management, and data accuracy. The Demand Planner ensures that ERP system and inventory data is maintained to the highest standards, in line with organizational goals and contribution margin expectations. The role also requires strong computer, analytical, and reporting skills to enable data-driven decision-making across all levels of the organization.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Compliance with Regulatory Standards:

• Perform all work in alignment with relevant medical device industry standards, including ISO, FDA, and European MDR requirements.

Planning:

• Aggregate commercial and internal product demand to set system demand forecasts for supply chain and manufacturing work orders.
• Prepare hypothesis scenarios comparing demand vs. inventory.
• Identify aging work orders, production issues, and manage excess, obsolete, or aging materials.
• Oversee production and service activity scheduling, providing enhanced visibility.
• Assess organizational maturity and introduce capacity planning tools to optimize manufacturing and financial controls.

Inventory Management:

• Own and ensure inventory accuracy at all build levels and locations, collaborating with Finance, Commercial Operations, Warehouse, Quality, and Manufacturing teams to maintain inventory with >98% physical vs. ERP system accuracy.
• Manage excess, obsolete, and scrap materials, reporting accordingly.
• Develop and execute a warehouse strategy that aligns with key business objectives.
• Create and manage inventory locations and ERP part master data, including part numbers, customer types, and other relevant information.
• Manage sterilized and expiration-limited product inventory.
• Ensure product history records are kept current in the ERP system.

ERP System Expertise:

• Serve as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the ERP system.
• Provide system training, resolve inventory or data discrepancies, and manage customer additions in the ERP system.
• Oversee the expansion of ERP usage, qualifying and documenting additional functionality.
• Support finance and regulatory audits by preparing the necessary ERP data.
• Perform ERP transactions related to inventory, manufacturing, service orders, receiving, and sales orders.
• Refine and document operational processes in collaboration with the Finance team.

Analysis & Reporting:

• Capture data to enable effective metrics analysis.
• Prepare, optimize, and present reports that translate data into actionable insights for decision-making, including:
  • Commercial demand vs. production output
  • Forecasting for expiring, excess, and obsolete materials
  • Slow-moving materials and inventory turns
  • Open and aged work orders
  • Inventory dollar value and part count
  • Order fulfillment queue
  • Forecasting for overages and shortages

Continuous Improvement:

• Introduce and coach lean best practices, tailored to organizational maturity.
• Identify and manage operations-focused continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support the team in identifying inefficiencies and implementing solutions.

ADDITIONAL DUTIES:

• Perform additional duties as assigned by management as needed.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Minimum of 6 years of hands-on ERP and MRP system administration experience in the medical device or pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
• Bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, or a technical field, with direct ERP and MRP system experience, or equivalent.

REQUIRED SKILLS:

• Knowledge of and ability to comply with Regulation (EU – MDD & MDR), cGMP, and other country-specific regulations.
• Collaborative mindset, prioritizing team success and helping to grow team members.
• Strong mathematical and analytical skills to process complex data and calculations.
• Ability to work effectively with various personalities, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
• Positive, "can-do" attitude with a sense of urgency to meet objectives.
• Quick to absorb and retain information; highly motivated and self-directed.
• Strong attention to detail and problem-solving capabilities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Project, Word, Excel, Visio, and PowerPoint.
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation communication skills.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES:

• Performance Orientation: Driven by personal performance and achievement of departmental goals.
• Impact Orientation: Focused on making a meaningful impact on company objectives and improving patient outcomes.
• Competitive Spirit: Dedicated to fostering a competitive mindset that supports the company's leadership in the industry.
• Sense of Urgency: Agile and committed to achieving the company's goals with speed and efficiency.
• Ability to Handle Pressure and Ambiguity: Maintains composure and focus under pressure or uncertainty.
• Confidence: Displays confidence in skills, pursuing tasks energetically and overcoming setbacks.
• Multitasking: Capable of managing multiple tasks simultaneously and executing them effectively.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

• Regularly required to talk or hear; frequently required to sit.
• Occasional need to stand, walk, and use hands to handle or feel objects, with frequent transitions between sitting and standing.
• Specific vision abilities may include close, distance, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.
• May occasionally lift or move up to 25 pounds.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• General office environment, with potential for remote work or outside standard hours to support international colleagues, manufacturing schedules, audits, and other operational needs.
• Daily exposure to PCs and networks.
• Moderate noise level in the work environment.
• Travel may be required.