Demand Planning Specialist

About the role

Job Description The Demand Planning Specialist is responsible for developing and maintaining accurate, reliable demand forecasts that support the business strategy. This role is a key partner to Commercial teams, ensuring the right growth building blocks are reflected in the forecast and enabling top-line results. The position also drives the Kraft Heinz ITP/IBP cycle in the CARICAM region , balancing demand, supply, and financial plans to protect service levels, optimize inventory, and reduce supply chain losses. 🔁 What you will lead: ITP & IBP ITP (short-term execution): Orchestrate weekly/daily short-term planning routines with strong discipline and full alignment to the IBP framework Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Customer Logistics, and Finance to balance plans and mitigate shortage/excess risk Safeguard product availability and improve inventory outcomes in response to market dynamics IBP (mid/long-term planning & decisions): Govern the "one-number forecast" aligned to financial plan and strategy Facilitate cross-functional consensus, assumptions, trade-offs, and formal plan closure Prepare executive-ready materials to enable IBP decisions Measure performance and drive continuous improvement through KPIs and loss analysis ✅ Key accountabilities (what success looks like) Demand Forecast Cycle ownership: Lead the demand forecasting cycle and define the monthly forecast for short term (13 weeks) and long term (24 months) using statistical analysis and growth building blocks Demand Planning strategy execution: Implement demand planning strategies and standards, executing ITP and IBP according to KHC Management System Log.Os requirements Collaborative forecasting: Partner with Commercial teams and customers to build forecasts using sell-in, sell-out, days on hand , and agreed planning routines Performance monitoring: Define and track KPIs with the Planning Manager; identify gaps and drive corrective actions Risk management: Identify supply chain risks and build mitigation/contingency plans Waste / loss management: Identify risks impacting Supply Chain Losses and define actions to reduce losses driven by forecast vs. actual variance KHC Management System implementation (Log.Os): Support pillars including Demand Planning, Waste Management, Continuous Improvement, and Standardization Forecast sharing: Share the demand forecast at least monthly with all finished goods sources for the region (e.g., CR, US, Mexico, Griffith co-packer, UK) 📊 Main KPIs / metrics Forecast Accuracy & BIAS (NSV) Service Level (NSV) Supply Chain Losses (SCL) Inventory / DIO Log.Os implementation Team Engagement (IGPs) 🤝 Key relationships Internal: Logistics teams, Supply Planning, Commercial teams (CAM and D&E), Marketing & Category, Finance (Sales Finance, Working Capital, Treasury), US Exports, Global Demand Planning, WEEM Logistics External: Customers and external finished goods sources 🧩 Requirements & qualifications Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations , or related field Fluent English and Spanish 7+ years of overall experience; 5+ years in demand/supply/sales planning or related roles 2+ years leading teams Strong knowledge of IBP / ITP / S&OP processes and demand statistical models Advanced skills in Excel , Power BI , forecasting software ( o9 desirable ), and ERP systems Supply Chain certification (desirable) 🧠 Key competencies Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; high data literacy Excellent communication and stakeholder management across functions and customers Strong organization and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines Strategic + tactical mindset; ability to escalate with data-driven recommendations Leadership capabilities to motivate and guide the demand planning team Solid understanding of short/long-term planning and inventory management Location(s) Alajuela, Costa Rica Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes .

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