Supply Chain Planning Analyst

Come be an Employee-Owner of one of the nation’s largest producers of metal roofing and siding!  We sell, manufacture, build, and distribute metal building components and packages. Since 1988 we’ve grown to over 13 locations nationwide. We make raving fans of our customers with our “right, on time, every time” commitment.
So, who are we looking for?  

People who “Own It” – Commitment to the customer, the company, and each other:
You are customer-focused with an eye for detail.
You are reliable.

People who “Can Do” – Our Attitude:
You are an innovative thinker pursuing continuous improvement.
You embrace teamwork.
You want to positively make an impact and open to change.

People who “Act in Love” – Treats others with humility, respect, kindness, honesty, patience, and self-control.
You enjoy giving back to your community.  We take great pride in the communities we live in, so we give back with our time and talents. Each year you can take paid time off to support a cause close to your heart.

And what will you do?

Summary:   
The Planning Analyst serves as a key contributor to Central States' Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process by providing the data, analytics, and decision support needed to optimize inventory, improve forecast accuracy, and align demand with supply capabilities. This role partners across Sales, Operations, Purchasing, Logistics, and Finance to translate business inputs into actionable plans that improve customer service, reduce working capital, and support profitable growth. The position is responsible for developing planning models, monitoring inventory performance, identifying risks and opportunities, and supporting data-driven decision making across the enterprise.

Core Functions:

• Analyze historical demand, customer forecasts, seasonality, market inputs, product changes, and business assumptions to develop and maintain forecasts at the appropriate product, category, and location levels.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and bias, investigate material variances, document root causes, and recommend corrective actions to improve planning performance.
• Analyze inventory investment, turns, aging, excess and obsolete inventory, and service-level performance to identify opportunities for inventory reduction and improved working capital efficiency.
• Develop and maintain inventory segmentation strategies including ABC classifications, safety stock methodologies, lead-time assumptions, and stocking policies.
• Monitor inventory health metrics and recommend actions to reduce slow-moving, excess, and obsolete inventory while maintaining customer service objectives.
• Coordinate planning analyses across multiple manufacturing and distribution locations to ensure inventory is positioned appropriately throughout the network.
• Translate approved forecasts and inventory strategies into purchase, replenishment, transfer, or production recommendations for review and execution by the responsible teams.
• Facilitate key components of the Integrated Business Planning process by preparing demand, supply, inventory, capacity, and financial analyses; identifying risks and opportunities; and supporting executive decision making
• Create and maintain planning dashboards, reports, and analytical models using Microsoft Excel, Power BI, SQL, ERP data, and other available tools.
• Validate planning data and system parameters, troubleshoot data issues, and work with business and technical teams to improve data quality and process reliability.
• Document planning assumptions, data definitions, standard work, and decision rules. Provide training and support to users of planning tools and reports.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives related to forecasting, purchasing, inventory, warehousing, logistics, and cross-functional planning.

Performs other duties and activities related to the department as necessary to support overall operations and responsibilities, even if not specifically listed above.

Key Measures of Success:   

• Forecast accuracy and bias are measured, communicated, and improved at the levels needed to support business decisions.
• Planning recommendations are timely, data-driven, clearly documented, and actionable.
• Planning reports, models, and master data are accurate, reliable, and consistently maintained.
• Risks, assumptions, exceptions, and required decisions are communicated proactively to stakeholders. 
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills with close attention to detail.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment.
• Consistently exhibits and displays the company’s values of “Own It. Can Do. Act in Love.”

• • Own It – Commitment to customer, company, and each other.
  • Can Do – Team Player, Open to Change, & Pursuing continuous improvement.
  • Act in Love – Treating others with humility, respectfulness, kindness, honesty, patience, and self-control.

Education & Experience:

Minimum Required:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, business, finance, analytics, operations, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience. 
• Two or more years of experience in demand planning, supply planning, inventory planning, procurement analytics, operations analysis, or a related analytical role.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, pivot tables, data analysis, and model development.
• Experience analyzing large data sets and translating findings into business recommendations.
• Working knowledge of forecasting, inventory management, replenishment, lead times, safety stock, and service-level concepts.
• Understanding of inventory carrying costs, working capital management, and the financial impact of planning decisions.
• Experience working with ERP, planning, or business intelligence systems.
• Ability to communicate complex information clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred:

• Experience in a manufacturing, distribution, or multi-site operating environment. 
• Experience with Power BI, Power Query, SQL, and data visualization.
• Experience supporting Integrated Business Planning, Sales and Operations Planning, or a formal demand review process.
• Experience with Epicor or a comparable ERP system. 
• APICS or ASCM certification, such as CPIM or CSCP

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

Work is performed in an office environment. This role will routinely utilize standard office equipment to perform the core functions listed in this job description. This position requires the ability to occasionally lift office products and supplies as well as communicate verbally and electronically. The work is primarily sedentary and requires extensive reading to perform the core functions listed in this job description.

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform core functions.

Travel

Some travel is required.

Benefits Offered:
At Central States, we are an ESOP. That means each one of our employees is an owner of the company and receives an allocation of stock every year. This allows all our employees to share in the wealth and success of the company. We also offer:

• 401K 
• Education assistance available – Up to $5,250 each year
• Profit-Sharing bonus or own it bonus
• Medical – 100% employer-paid coverage available
• Dental
• Vision
• Holiday pay
• Paid Time Off
• Employee Assistance Program providing Confidential Emotional Support, Work and Lifestyle
• Support, Legal Guidance, Financial Resources and Digital Support
• Care Guides to help employees navigate the complex healthcare system\
• Life insurance – 1.5x annual salary – 100% employer paid
• Wellness Program – earn up to $1,200 annually when enrolling in a medical plan!
• Health Savings Accounts
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Short-Term Disability
• Long-Term Disability – 100% employer paid
• Performance based merit increases
• SHINE program – Employee Financial Assistance and Dependent Scholarships!

Central States Manufacturing, Inc. provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.