Demand Planning Specialist

**Company**: IRCA Group is a leading international B2B provider of semi-finished ingredients for the bakery, pastry, and gelato markets. Our products cater to independent producers as well as large food manufacturers. We produce chocolate, decorations, creams, inclusions, pastry mixes, gelato ingredients, and other bakery/pastry essentials. Headquartered in Italy, IRCA Group boasts a strong track record of growth over the past decade, with 22 manufacturing facilities all over the world, 2000+ employee and €1 billion of revenues.

**What we offer**:IRCA fosters a dynamic environment, embracing diversity and valuing diverse perspectives and international experiences, offering a stimulating context. We promote professional growth by providing tailor-made development programs and career advancement opportunities locally and internationally. With locations worldwide, we offer the chance to work on international projects, collaborate across cultures, and gain a global perspective. Joining our team means becoming part of a global community of passionate professionals dedicated to making a difference. If you are looking for stimulating challenges and the chance to contribute your ideas for process improvement in an ever-growing company, IRCA is the right place.

**Purpose of Position**:We are looking for a Demand Planner who, collaborating with the Demand Planner Coordinator and the team, will be responsible for improving the accuracy and reliability of the consolidated demand plan within a growing business context, managing exceptions in collaboration with Central Planning to best meet market demand.

Actively involved in the SOP process with a focus on Forecast Review meetings, consolidating and sharing optimal demand insights with commercial teams, and focusing on key critical channels and categories.

**Location**: Gallarate (VA), with willingness to travel approximately 20% of the time to the site near Verona.

**Description of Main Activities/Responsibilities**:

- Analyze historical data and statistical forecasts, identifying opportunities in fast-growing markets.
- Build and maintain monthly SKU-level Demand Plans for assigned markets, channels, and categories, covering both short-term (4-month rolling) and long-term (18-month rolling) horizons.
- Monitor actual sales vs forecast vs budget on a weekly/daily basis.
- Collaborate with the Production Planner to ensure production capacity and optimal customer service levels.
- Support New Product Introductions and item switches.
- Lead Forecast Review meetings with Sales
- Support the development and enhancement of the Demand Planning process, focusing on ownership and stakeholder engagement.

**Requirements**:

- ** Education**: Degree in Economics or Management Engineering or Data Science or Statistics
- ** Experience**: 2-3 years in demand planning roles (any supply planning position experience is a plus)
- ** Professional Skills: strong**ability to process and analyze sales data; knowledge of the planning process, both demand and supply planning**;**knowledge of KPIs related to the forecasting process (FA; Bias)
- ** Language Skills**:Italian & English language knowledge is mandatory. French language knowledge will be considered as a plus.
- **Computer Skills**: Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, VBA and PowerBI). Experience with Demand Planning systems (like SAP APO or Blue Yonder or Infor DMP). IBP tool experience is a plus.
- **Behavioral Requirements**:Strong analytical mindset, proactive problem-solving, adaptability in fast-changing environments, positive & inspiring team collaboration.
- _