Demand Planning Specialist

Job Description

The Demand Planning Specialist is responsible for developing and maintaining accurate, reliable demand forecasts that support the business strategy. This role is a key partner to Commercial teams, ensuring the right growth building blocks are reflected in the forecast and enabling top-line results. The position also drives the Kraft Heinz ITP/IBP cycle in the CARICAM region , balancing demand, supply, and financial plans to protect service levels, optimize inventory, and reduce supply chain losses.

What you will lead: ITP & IBP

ITP (short-term execution):

• Orchestrate weekly/daily short-term planning routines with strong discipline and full alignment to the IBP framework

• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Operations, Customer Logistics, and Finance to balance plans and mitigate shortage/excess risk

• Safeguard product availability and improve inventory outcomes in response to market dynamics

IBP (mid/long-term planning & decisions):

• Govern the “one-number forecast” aligned to financial plan and strategy

• Facilitate cross-functional consensus, assumptions, trade-offs, and formal plan closure

• Prepare executive-ready materials to enable IBP decisions

• Measure performance and drive continuous improvement through KPIs and loss analysis

Key accountabilities (what success looks like)

• Demand Forecast Cycle ownership: Lead the demand forecasting cycle and define the monthly forecast for short term (13 weeks) and long term (24 months) using statistical analysis and growth building blocks

• Demand Planning strategy execution: Implement demand planning strategies and standards, executing ITP and IBP according to KHC Management System Log.Os requirements

• Collaborative forecasting: Partner with Commercial teams and customers to build forecasts using sell-in, sell-out, days on hand , and agreed planning routines

• Performance monitoring: Define and track KPIs with the Planning Manager; identify gaps and drive corrective actions

• Risk management: Identify supply chain risks and build mitigation/contingency plans

• Waste / loss management: Identify risks impacting Supply Chain Losses and define actions to reduce losses driven by forecast vs. actual variance

• KHC Management System implementation (Log.Os): Support pillars including Demand Planning, Waste Management, Continuous Improvement, and Standardization

• Forecast sharing: Share the demand forecast at least monthly with all finished goods sources for the region (e.g., CR, US, Mexico, Griffith co-packer, UK)

Main KPIs / metrics

• Forecast Accuracy & BIAS (NSV)

• Service Level (NSV)

• Supply Chain Losses (SCL)

• Inventory / DIO

• Log.Os implementation

• Team Engagement (IGPs)

Key relationships

Internal: Logistics teams, Supply Planning, Commercial teams (CAM and D&E), Marketing & Category, Finance (Sales Finance, Working Capital, Treasury), US Exports, Global Demand Planning, WEEM Logistics

External: Customers and external finished goods sources

Requirements & qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations , or related field

• Fluent English and Spanish

• 7+ years of overall experience; 5+ years in demand/supply/sales planning or related roles

• 2+ years leading teams

• Strong knowledge of IBP / ITP / S&OP processes and demand statistical models

• Advanced skills in Excel , Power BI , forecasting software ( o9 desirable ), and ERP systems

• Supply Chain certification (desirable)

Key competencies

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; high data literacy

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management across functions and customers

• Strong organization and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines

• Strategic + tactical mindset; ability to escalate with data-driven recommendations

• Leadership capabilities to motivate and guide the demand planning team

• Solid understanding of short/long-term planning and inventory management

Location(s)

Alajuela, Costa Rica

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes .