Demand Planner

Aquent is seeking a highly analytical and strategic professional to join a leading consumer products company as a vital contributor to their planning organization. This is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact by shaping future demand forecasts, optimizing inventory, and translating complex data into actionable business strategies that directly influence product availability and market success.

About the Opportunity

You will step into a dynamic planning organization supporting a high-profile consumer products business. In this role, you will be instrumental in shaping future demand forecasts by analyzing marketplace performance, inventory health, and product plans to support strong business outcomes. You will collaborate closely with merchandising, product, analytics, and other cross-functional partners to develop robust demand plans, identify critical opportunities and risks, and transform data into strategic recommendations that drive business growth.

What You'll Do

• Develop, review, and reconcile periodic demand and forecast plans across product assortments, flow, launches, and inventory.
• Analyze sales, inventory, demand, and marketplace data to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
• Monitor forecast variances, inventory targets, delivery performance, and key planning KPIs.
• Support inventory management decisions designed to maximize revenue while minimizing excess and closeout inventory.
• Communicate purchase position, forecast changes, inventory risks, and category-specific issues to key stakeholders.
• Partner cross-functionally with merchandising, product, analytics, and planning teams to align on business priorities.
• Build clear, compelling stories from data to communicate marketplace and category performance.
• Help evaluate current plans and contribute to future forecasting strategies.
• Identify process improvements and opportunities to drive operational excellence within planning activities.

What You'll Bring

• 3-5+ years of experience in demand planning, merchandise planning, supply chain planning, marketplace planning, sales planning, or a related field.
• Strong understanding of retail and supply chain fundamentals.
• Knowledge of retail math, inventory management, forecasting, and demand planning concepts.
• Strong business acumen and ability to connect planning decisions to business performance.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and experience analyzing data to support business decisions.
• Familiarity with a business intelligence/data visualization platform.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to identify insights within complex datasets.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work effectively across multiple functions.
• Ability to operate independently, adapt to changing priorities, and thrive in an ambiguous environment.
• Bachelor's degree preferred, but equivalent experience will be considered.

Bonus Points If You Have

• Experience in retail, buying, merchandising, or sales planning.
• Experience working with consumer products such as specialized lifestyle products.
• Background in lifestyle brands.
• Experience supporting performance-focused product categories.
• Familiarity with assortment planning, product launches, allocations, SKU productivity, or product flow.
• Experience using data to assess category or marketplace health.
• Prior experience with large-scale planning, forecasting, inventory, or enterprise supply chain systems.

Who You Are

The ideal candidate is a curious, analytical planner who enjoys transforming data into impactful business insights. You are comfortable navigating ambiguity, take initiative without needing extensive direction, and can effectively balance detailed analysis with the broader business picture. You bring a collaborative mindset and are excited by the opportunity to influence how products are planned, positioned, and delivered to consumers.

About Aquent Talent

Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world's biggest brands. Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits! Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We're about creating an inclusive environment-one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.