Sales Planning Analyst:  This position is responsible for all forecasting activities associated with assigned customers and products.Support the Sales team by preparing customer forecasts and analyzing data to meet current sales goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Initiate the forecast planning process working directly with each sales manager
• Review and revise sales forecasts and monitor forecast accuracy

• Develop metrics, analysis and recommendations to support strategic decisions related to sales, products, and monthly forecasts

• Evaluate POS and customer trends for market and product opportunities 
• Using data from the Insights team, review trends based on channel or customer group and make recommendations

• Recommends changes to current sales techniques, procedures or promotional efforts based on information from the Insights team
• Create a tactical execution plan for marketing and customer special projects (allocation, NFD, excess)
• Develop and maintain standardized reports to track performance against KPI’s, scorecards, budgets, and forecasts
• Evaluate business trends and communicate actionable recommendations for improvement; promotional calendar and seasonal trends
• Present data and insights directly to customers during Sales calls and support the Sales team with follow-ups as needed
• Review customer scorecards and fill rate; make recommendations on substitute items
• Develop and maintain a standardized selling template updated with annual objectives, key insights, and trend analysis
• Weekly customer communication on POS, available to buy, and out of stock
• IBP communication as related to forecast to update Sales team
• Continuously evaluate what is important to the customer and develop solutions that align with business objectives
• Anticipates business opportunities and challenges; drive long-term strategy while maintaining a focus on short-term objectives
• Works collaboratively and effectively with key stakeholders throughout the organization

Competencies: To perform the job successfully, the candidate must:

• Possess strong written and oral communication
• Intermediate Excel skill set with working experience using V/X Lookup formulas
• Demonstrate initiative and problem-solving skills
• Ability to manage a project from start to finish, owning deadlines, being resourceful and working cross functionally. 
• Have a Customer Focused approach to problem solving
• Be flexible to change and learn new processes quickly 
• Ability to work on a variety of tasks simultaneously. Strong time management skills
• Have strong analytical skills and detail oriented
• Be resourceful and have a positive work ethic
• Must be able to collaborate and contribute in an in-office team environment 
• Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one and small group situations and other employees of the organization

Education and/or Experience: BA/BS required and minimum of 1-3 years related experience and/or training: or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Physical Demands: Ability to sit for long periods of time in front of a computer screen in an office environment. The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and pack out small parcel packages. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision and ability to adjust focus.