Demand & Supply Planner

Position Overview

The Supply & Demand Planner plays a critical role in leading the global S&OP/IBP process for Ketjen’s Refining Catalysts business. This position drives synchronization across Commercial, Manufacturing, Technology, Procurement and Supply Chain to enable reliable planning, optimal asset utilization, and profitable volume growth. The role significantly influences bottom-line performance through excellence in planning, decision-making, and balancing global demand and supply.

Key Impact & Scope

• Supports end-to-end planning for a global $500MM revenue portfolio.
• S&OP performance drives $10–20MM EBITDA swing between excellent vs. poorly run processes.
• Accountable for $80MM in Net Working Capital across raw materials, intermediates, and finished goods.
• Impact is driven by operational excellence and decision quality rather than a fixed budget.

Purpose of the Role

You will lead the global S&OP / IBP process to ensure alignment between commercial plans, business strategies, manufacturing capabilities, and supply chain operations. The role is directly accountable for an excellently executed S&OP cycle and is essential to the GBU’s financial forecasts, operational continuity, asset utilization, and communication with leadership stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Global S&OP / IBP Leadership

• Own the global S&OP process and related subprocesses; define business rules and ensure system integrity.
• Partner closely with senior leadership (including VP-level) to shape and execute strategic GBU objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement in the global S&OP process in partnership with corporate S&OP experts.

Demand & Supply Planning

• Deliver balanced demand and supply plans, including strategic scenarios and trade-off recommendations.
• Facilitate decision-making on campaign prioritization.
• Align global volume and mix with capacity and capability across internal assets, joint ventures, subcontractors, and 3rd-party suppliers.
• Maintain high and balanced global asset utilization and prevent stockouts at plants and within distribution networks.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with Commercial Management, Manufacturing, Technology, and Supply Chain teams.
• Coordinate with Customer Service, Purchasing, Planning, Logistics, and Manufacturing to address supply constraints and ensure alignment between forecasts and sales goals.
• Plan and coordinate 3rd-party procurement when internal capacity or inventory is insufficient.

Financial Integration & Analysis

• Integrate financial and operational plans with strategic objectives to improve business results.
• Develop reports and monitor KPIs related to shipments, forecast accuracy, inventory, and supply risks.
• Drive accountability for global inventory via analysis of forecast changes and resulting risks/opportunities (dollars, turns, days on hand, reductions).

Continuous Improvement & Benchmarking

• Stay aligned with shifting commercial priorities, internal and external benchmarks, process improvements, and system integrations.

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline.
• 3+ years of experience in accounting, internal auditing, or relevant business functions.
• Business knowledge or experience in Supply Chain or related fields.
• Strong analytical and statistical skills with an inquisitive mindset.
• Strong understanding of sales, demand, and supply planning.
• Solid communication abilities, capable of engaging with stakeholders from analysts to executives.
• Excellent interpersonal, collaborative, and negotiation skills, including comfort with constructive conflict.

Preferred

• APICS S&OP or CSCP certification.
• Experience with Power BI.
• Knowledge of Supply Chain and DRP principles; strong inventory analysis skills.
• Experience with SAP or other MRP/planning/financial systems.
• Understanding of financial planning concepts.