About OWC

Other World Computing, Inc. (OWC) is a prominent innovator in computing solutions, providing businesses, creative professionals, and tech enthusiasts with high-performance storage, memory, and connectivity products. Since 1988, we have been committed to quality, reliability, and sustainability, offering cutting-edge upgrades and accessories that maximize technology investments and enhance productivity. With a focus on customer satisfaction and eco-friendly initiatives, OWC empowers users to push the boundaries of creativity and performance, delivering the tools they need to achieve more.

Global Demand Planner Manager

Location: Austin, Texas or Woodstock, IL

Other World Computing, Inc. (OWC) is a prominent innovator in computing solutions, providing businesses, creative professionals, and tech enthusiasts with high-performance storage, memory, and connectivity products. Since 1988, we have been committed to quality, reliability, and sustainability, offering cutting-edge upgrades and accessories that maximize technology investments and enhance productivity. With a focus on customer satisfaction and eco-friendly initiatives, OWC empowers users to push the boundaries of creativity and performance, delivering the tools they need to achieve more.

We are seeking to add a Global Category Demand Planning Manager to play an integral role in our Demand Planning Organization.

The Global Demand Planning Manager is the overall owner of the Demand Planning / Forecasting process for their category. The goal of the Demand Planning Manager is to drive forecast reconciliation process from Global Business Unit lead teams through to region, continuously improving service levels through accurate forecasting. This is accomplished by leveraging OWC’s Microsoft Dynamics solution in concert with BI to create baseline forecasts through analytical and statistical forecasting methods, and through working with GPL’s & market-based planners to create & enrich baseline, resulting in a consensus forecast. They will be a brand/category expert knowing key trends, risk and opportunities through close partnership with GPL & market teams. Furthermore, this role will support range alignment and support to elevate planning accuracy & reduction in bias.

Are you ready to help organizations solve their hardest challenges through the power of OWC?

If so, we’d love to hear from you!

What Will You be Doing?

·       Maintain forecasting models to support the creation of a rolling 2-year baseline forecast for all products within the portfolio of the assigned category, forecasting both units and revenue.

·       Manage product data effectively to support categorization of the portfolio by lifecycle/stage, brand, category, and other product characteristics to determine appropriate forecasting models by portfolio segment/ category.

·       Coordinate with Business Units and Product team to effectively manage forecasts for product introductions and discontinuations in line with strategic commercial plans, ensuring alignment, data flows between systems.

·       Review and adjust demand history to support creation of a category baseline forecast free of data anomalies, promotions, shortages, and other events that would skew generation of an accurate statistical baseline forecast.

·       Own set up, monitoring, and adjustment of forecasting parameters within the Dynamics solution or Excel that drive algorithmic details which determine how forecasts are calculated.

·       Be a partner to local market/regional planners ensuring brand strategy is incorporated in local demand forecasts, partnering as they incorporate planned commercial activities such as promotions, deals, and media campaigns, as well as market intelligence such as competitive activity and retailer priorities to build upon the baseline and create an aligned consensus forecast.

·       Coordinate as required Demand Management Review (DMR) input for global DMR/ GPL reviews.

·       Other duties as assigned by management.

What You Bring with You?

·       7 years Demand Planning and Forecasting experience is required.

·       Degree or equivalent in Supply Chain Management.

·       Has worked in international matrix environment

·       Strong technical and analytical skills, with demonstrated experience utilizing advanced supply chain planning solutions.

·       High level of attention to detail, able to analyze large quantities of data, identify issues and implications, and create a prioritized plan to address.

·       Demonstrate a bias for action, operating with a high sense of urgency.

·       Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to be effective in building positive relationships, working effectively across functions and geographies, and influencing business decisions.

·       Able to handle confidential information with a high level of trust and integrity.

·       Project and task management skills to break down business and project needs into an executable plan, identify and coordinate resources to complete the component tasks, and communicate progress.

·       Proficient with computer applications, including experience with Microsoft Office and advanced capabilities in Microsoft Excel.

·       Strategic thinker can understand overall company direction and build relevant functional strategies to support this.

·       Sound commercial and financial acumen, can interpret and explain complex statistical information.

·       Thinks and operates in a global context.

·       Good understanding of product, brand building, internal process and market / customer environment.

·       Strong decision making by making facts-based decisions and following through to completion, analyses and uses data to achieve company goals, drives execution, initiates action and follow ups.

·       Ability to effectively utilize tools to monitor performance and effectiveness.

·       Continuous improvement & process optimization mindset.

·       Strong communication and influencing skills.

·       Team player and thinker in terms of solutions derived from sound analysis.

·       Demonstrate ability to evaluate and balance team and individual workloads through effective time management, prisonization and organizational skills.

·       Flexible, self-starter with a high degree of independence.

·       Excellent ability to work and communicate in multi-functional teams with multiple stakeholders.

Compensation Structure for the Position         

The compensation package for this role includes a base salary of $85,000-$115,000 USD per year. The amount of compensation will be determined based on your experience, skills, and performance.

Our People Are the Most Important Asset

A career with OWC is out of this world and will provide you with all the opportunities and benefits that can only come from working with a proven industry leader that is committed to innovation and delivering the finest computing solutions.

•    Competitive pay, that is based on the work that you do here at OWC and not based on a previous role.

•     A generous number of vacation/sick/personal days every year, including birthday time off!

•     Comprehensive health, vision, dental and wellness benefits.

o   401K

o   Life Insurance

o   Disability Insurance

o   Accident Insurance

o   Critical Illness Insurance

o   Tuition and Loan Assistance

•     Join a company that is a leader in sustainability and offers the flexibility of onsite, remote or hybrid roles.

•     At OWC there are ongoing opportunities to learn, develop new skills and support your personal growth.

Different people approach challenges differently. The most successful teams are the most diverse teams, and we pride ourselves on providing a culture that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

We look forward to hearing from you, learning more about your successes and sharing more on the ‘Other Worldly’ innovation here at OWC.

Candidate Acknowledgment Statement:
I acknowledge that as a candidate applying for a position at Other World Computing, I agree to participate in an assessment as part of the hiring process. These assessments are designed to evaluate my skills, abilities, and fit for the role I am applying for. I understand that the information gathered through these assessments will be kept confidential and used solely for making hiring decisions. I agree to participate in the assessment program administered by Other World Computing.

Candidate Acknowledgment and Consent Statement: By applying to this role, you expressly consent to interviews being recorded and transcribed by OWC for notetaking and evaluation purposes. All recordings and transcripts will be securely stored, treated confidentially, and used solely for internal evaluation related to your candidacy.

If you prefer not to have your interview recorded, this will not disqualify you from consideration. Should you receive an invitation for an interview, please inform your interviewer in advance if you wish to opt-out of recording.