IND Lead Demand Planner

About Lowe’s

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. (NYSE: LOW) is a FORTUNE® 50 home improvement company serving approximately 16 million customer transactions a week in the United States. With total fiscal year 2023 sales of more than $86 billion, Lowe’s operates over 1,700 home improvement stores and employs approximately 300,000 associates. Based in Bengaluru, Lowe’s India develops innovative technology products and solutions and delivers business capabilities to provide the best omnichannel experience for Lowe’s customers. Lowe’s India employs over 4,200 associates across technology, analytics, merchandising, supply chain, marketing, finance and accounting, product management and shared services. Lowe’s India actively supports the communities it serves through programs focused on skill-building, sustainability and safe homes. For more information, visit, www.lowes.co.in.

About the Team

The Inventory Replenishment & Planning team ensures the right product, in the right quantity, in the right location, at the right timing. It all starts with an accurate sales forecasting. The Demand Planning team provides this forecast by analyzing trends and market intelligence, which guides inventory ordering and replenishment. The Inventory Replenishment team places orders based on the demand forecast adjusted for factors like safety stock, lead time, and current inventory. The Inventory Analytics team provides crucial data and insights to enhance inventory management, reduce costs, and boost profitability. They develop reports & dashboards and provide data driven recommendations that drive strategic decisions and foster innovation.

Core Responsibilities:

Operations:

• Own the forecast for the business areas assigned to them and collaborate with the global business teams to get alignment on the forecast based on business strategies.
• Maintain accurate demand forecasts, incorporating market trends, seasonality, product life cycle execution, performance review and promotional activities.
• Analyze performance data, clear forecast exceptions, in collaborate with Merchandising/IRP teams.
• Foster strong relationships with stakeholders to align demand planning goals and priorities

Planning:

• Lead forecast review meetings and align with strategic plans and receipts.
• Drive initiatives to improve forecasting processes and methodologies for enhanced accuracy and efficiency.
• Lead development of framework, process and implementation of product life cycle, seasonal plan strategies of a product/category; ensure to collaborate with extended teams and furnish value addition
• Define Collaboration and communication framework and share it with rest of the team as best practice
• Understand Promotion, store and brand strategy for business area/divisions aligned and share it the team; ensure smooth execution it in system

System Support:

• Implement best-in-class forecasting methodologies collaborating with technology team and drive improvements.
• Lead demand planning system changes, ensuring successful adoption.
• Mentor/Train associates on Demand Planning fundamentals and document SOPs/training materials.

Years of Experience:

Overall 8+ years of Experience

• 8 years of experience in Demand Planning / Supply chain Management or Inventory Management
• 5+ years’ experience demand planning
• 4+ years’ in retail organization

Education Qualification & Certifications (optional)

Required Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Research or Related Field
• MBA or Master degree in Supply Chain or operations management

Skill Set Required

Primary Skills (must have)

• Experience in Data mining and visualization tool such as PowerBI, SQL, MS Access and Excel
• Experienced in any of the planning tools such as SAP APO, o9, JDA, Oracle Demantra etc.
• Experience to understand analytical models, proficient in Mathematical and Statistical analysis
• Working Knowledge of Demand Planning, Financial Forecasting with use of modeling and simulation tools
• Excellent writing and communication skills, including the ability to develop analytical documents for presentation to management
• Excellent problem-solving and design thinking abilities
• Good with PowerPoint and Story telling with data
• Understanding of inventory planning process and impact of demand planning of downstream activities

Secondary Skills (desired)

• Experienced in Python/R/SQL
• Experience with JDA/BY Fulfillment and Allocation; or any other replenishment and allocation system

Lowe's is an equal opportunity employer and administers all personnel practices without regard to race, color, religious creed, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law.