Oberalp North America (ONA) is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Oberalp Group––a design & innovation focused outdoor sport company headquartered in the Dolomites in Bolzano, Italy, with global operations. ONA handles the sales, marketing, operations, distribution, and customer service functions in the U.S. and Canada for four premier mountain sports brands within the Oberalp Group––SALEWA, DYNAFIT, WILD COUNTRY, and POMOCA. ONA also handles the sales, operations, distribution, and customer service functions for the EVOLV climbing brand.
Oberalp North America and the Oberalp Group operate in a dynamic market environment, and we seek to work with people who share our hands-on, collaborative, solutions-oriented approach to business.
And, of course, we look for team members who share in our boundless enthusiasm for mountain sports and a stewardship ethic to protect the places we love to play.
The Demand Planning Analyst is responsible for demand planning, forecasting, purchasing, inventory reporting, and pricing activities in support of the company’s goals. The Analyst will conduct these activities for the defined Oberalp brands and categories, including Dynafit, Salewa, Wild Country, and Pomoca. This position will maintain and update our product forecasting and pricing models, enter and maintain the accuracy of all purchase orders, and be responsible for inventory accuracy and reporting. The Demand Planning Analyst will work closely with the Supply Chain and Operations Manager, management, and sales in this capacity.The purpose of this role is to work collaboratively with the Sales and Operations team to purchase the right product at the right time – with a constant focus on maximizing sales potential while managing inventory risk. A quantitative data-driven approach is critical. This position will be integral to the structure and organization of the demand planning process from our seasonal forecasting calendar through to final delivery in the US and Canada. This position will maintain the accuracy of our ERP system and proactively communicate relevant updates to the team. This role will be encouraged to challenge and improve our current operational paradigm and bring a higher level of attention and expertise to our forecasting, purchasing, and inventory management processes.
Engage in demand planning and forecasting activities for the defined brands and categories, including:
• Coordinate with Operations and Sales management to ensure that the product assortment being purchased is fully accurate through the regular seasonal changes due to additions and cancellations
• Support a cross-functional process to obtain and ensure that current and accurate information is used for demand forecasts
• Work with the Operations and Supply Chain Manager to create and update weekly and monthly reports that track sales, inventory trends, and operational KPI’s
• Build and update complex Excel forecasting models to analyze demand data and inventory levels to plan production purchases for predetermined product categories for multiple rounds of forecasting for spring and fall seasons
• Participate in and contribute to regular forecasting meetings with management, Sales, and Operations
• Develop forecasts and purchases to ensure on-time delivery and the proper inventory quantity and mix down to the sku level. Work with the Operations team to determine sku-level purchase order quantities
• Analyze and determine purchase quantities against production requirements and changes (such as dropped styles, minimum purchase quantities, future excess/obsolete inventory, and factory purchase order changes) to achieve maximum sales while balancing inventory risk
• Generate future stock on hand estimates for all categories for each round of forecasting
• Enter and update purchase orders promptly and accurately
• Generate and distribute weekly availability reports
• Update and distribute excess and obsolete inventory reports on a regular basis
• Support with seasonal product pricing analysis. Maintain and update pricing models
• Curate all open purchase orders and buy plans to ensure that delivery timing and open-to-buy opportunities are accurate within the ERP system
• Review inventory adjustments from US and Canadian 3PL warehouses for accuracy, sales impact, and quality control
• Assist the Supply Chain and Operations Manager in creating monthly and seasonal inbound and outbound forecasts to provide our 3PL partners
• Maintain up to date shipping cost estimates by brand and category to inform margin calculations
• Support Sales and Customer Service by answering inventory-related questions quickly, accurately, and with the appropriate level of detail
• Develop a proficiency with the company’s systems, including ERP and business intelligence software
• Identify and implement continuous process improvements for greater accuracy, more efficiency, and cost savings
• Support periodic Demand Planning or Operations projects and analysis requests
• Keep sales order dating accurate to expected product arrival within the ERP
• Maintain up to date shipping cost estimates by brand and category to inform margin calculations
• Execute ad-hoc projects as assigned
• Employee is encouraged to use, enjoy, and better understand our products outside of work
College degree in Business, Economics, or related field
• Three to five years of Forecasting or Demand Planning experience, preferably in the consumer products (CPG), ski or outdoor industries
• Strong organizational and computer skills with a high level of proficiency in Microsoft Office. Experience in Microsoft Excel is essential, with a strong competence with Pivot Tables, VLOOKUPs, formulas, and other advanced functions.
• ERP experience is required; Microsoft Navision experience is ideal
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills and strong analytical skills with a mindset and passion to solve problems
• Time management skills, including the ability to work efficiently, prioritize projects, and be self-motivated, are expected. Taking initiative and making independent decisions when appropriate is essential
• A passion for success, a positive and friendly attitude, and a strong work ethic are all a must
• Flexibility and willingness to help in any way possible are needed in our team environment
• Love of the outdoors. A specific passion for mountain sports such a backcountry skiing, climbing, and mountaineering is a plus
The company offers competitive compensation for the outdoor industry. In addition to a base salary, the candidate is eligible to participate in a comprehensive benefits program including healthcare, dental, vision, 401K retirement plan with a company contribution match, company-paid life and disability insurance, and generous gear discounts. The company offers paid vacation, holiday, parental leave, and sick time. The company also offers a number of unique perks such as paid + unpaid volunteer time and group outings including an annual company hut trip that reflect our approach to maintaining a high performance business environment while leading an active outdoor lifestyle.
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