Demand Planner

Company
thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America, Inc. is a world class manufacturer of suspension solutions headquartered in Hamilton, Ohio USA. thyssenkrupp Bilstein of America supplies products to a wide range of Original Equipment Automotive Manufacturers as well as Aftermarket and Motorsports customers. Our Aftermarket operations are based out of Poway, CA and our Motorsports operations are based out of Mooresville, NC.
For decades, the name BILSTEIN has been synonymous with high tech in suspension design, driving comfort, and safety. In order to expand this position BILSTEIN became a division of thyssenkrupp Technologies AG in 1988, and a wholly owned subsidiary in 2005. This partnership has enabled us to continue the BILSTEIN tradition of excellence.
Your responsibilities
Summary
The Demand Planner will be responsible for forecasting short- and long-range customer demand, monitoring deviations to budget, and is fully integrated with a team of customer account managers to ensure visibility to customer trends within the USMCA region. This role is crucial for balancing supply and demand, minimizing inventory costs, optimizing operational efficiencies, and supporting overall business goals.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Demand Forecasting and Analysis:
Collect all sales-relevant information to inform both short-term and long-term forecasting.
Develop and maintain accurate demand forecasts using SAP and other forecasting tools.
Lead implementation of new tools and processes.
Create forecast proposals and present them to management and relevant stakeholders.
Analyze Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) call-offs to refine forecasts and ensure alignment with actual demand.
Data Management and System Oversight:
Check and validate data in the planning system, applying the unconstrained demand plan principle with the four eyes approach.
Ensure data integrity and validation in all forecasting and planning activities.
Manage master data related to demand planning and inventory control.
Collaboration and Communication:
Handover the finalized forecast to the responsible employee in the distribution logistics team.
Work closely with sales, marketing, production, and supply chain teams to align demand planning activities with business objectives.
Engage in the demand sign off meeting to finalize and validate demand forecasts.
Participate in cross-functional meetings and provide weekly/monthly reports on demand forecasts, inventory levels, and key performance indicators (KPIs).
Strategic Planning:
Contribute to annual business planning and support the Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process.
Adjust and react to market trends and changes in demand, ensuring forecasts are updated as needed.
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance forecasting accuracy and inventory management.
Global and Supply Chain Perspective:
Maintain a global mindset and consider international market trends and conditions in demand planning.
Collaborate with global teams and stakeholders to ensure alignment with overall supply chain management goals.
Your profile
Qualifications & Experience
Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Engineering, or a related field. A Masters degree or relevant certification (e.g., CPIM, APICS) is a plus.
Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in demand planning, supply chain management, or a related role, preferably within the automotive or manufacturing industry.
Proficiency in SAP and other demand planning software and ERP systems.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex data and generate actionable insights.
Experience with short-term and long-term forecasting, S&OP, and annual business planning.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for effective collaboration with cross-