Demand Planner-1

Job Id: R0000441043

About us:
Target is an iconic brand, a Fortune 50 company and one of America’s leading retailers.
As a Fortune 50 company with more than 400,000 team members worldwide, Target is an iconic brand and one of America's leading retailers. At Target, we have a timeless purpose and a proven strategy and that hasn’t happened by accident. Some of the best minds from diverse backgrounds come together at Target to redefine retail in an inclusive learning environment that values people and delivers world-class outcomes. That winning formula is especially apparent in Bengaluru, where Target in India operates as a fully integrated part of Target’s global team and has more than 4,000 team members supporting the company’s global strategy and operations.

Joining Target means promoting a culture of mutual care and respect and striving to make the most meaningful and positive impact. Becoming a Target team member means joining a community that values diverse backgrounds. We believe your unique perspective is important, and you'll build relationships by being authentic and respectful. At Target, inclusion is part of the core value. We aim to create equitable experiences for all, regardless of their dimensions of difference. As an equal opportunity employer, Target provides diverse opportunities for everyone to grow and win.

Target Merchandising is evolving at an incredible pace. We are constantly reimagining how this $100 billion retailer offers the innovative, guest-inspiring items that Target is known and loved for. Our goal is to deliver exceptional value, quality and style to elevate Target as the premier retailer in a competitive global marketplace. Through intelligent and progressive business strategies that make the most of Target’s resources and partnerships worldwide, merchandising works across product categories to create a localized shopping experience online and in our 1900 stores. Are you a creative problem solver who loves to see your work translate into real results? Can you collaborate effectively, execute a plan efficiently and positively influence how Target chooses and presents the right product in the right place at the right price? If so, you will have success on one of our dynamic teams.

A role in Planning means being in charge of unit forecasting for one of Target’s businesses. Here, you will conduct demand planning, forecasting and management of assigned business units to maximize sales and drive forecast accuracy. Acting as the hub between Planning and Inventory, you will create a financial link between these two essential groups and have a voice in some of the most important decisions from a financial strategy standpoint.

As a Planner PIM, you will be responsible for forecasting guest demand by analyzing historical sales data, market trends and other relevant factors to create accurate demand forecasts.

Core responsibilities are described below. Job duties may change at any time due to business needs.

Demand Forecasting: Leverage our in-house machine learning tool and market intelligence to evaluate and approve short term and long-term demand forecasts.
Consensus Forecasting: Collaborate with Merch Planning to gather insights and incorporate relevant information into the forecasting process.
Integrated Business Planning: Participate in IBP meetings to present demand forecasts and discuss supply chain issues and align with Inventory teams on inventory planning and positioning.
Demand Sensing: Utilize advanced analytics and real-time data to sense changes in guest demand; Tune ML hyperparameters to reflect changes that will positively impact positioning of inventory to maximize sales.
Performance monitoring: Track and analyze forecast accuracy to identify areas of improvements and implement corrective actions.

You will play a pivotal role in helping our organization navigate and thrive in complex, uncertain, and ambiguous situations. You will be responsible for providing innovative solutions amidst uncertainty to make informed decisions and take decisive actions. Your exceptional problem-solving skills, adaptability, and ability to embrace uncertainty will be key to your success in this role. You will be responsible for driving results by collaborating with multiple stakeholders across the organization in US & Target in India HQ. You will play a critical role in fostering effective communication, building relationships, and aligning efforts to achieve common goals. Your exceptional interpersonal skills, strategic mindset, and ability to navigate complex relationships will be essential in delivering successful outcomes and maximizing organizational success. 

About you:

• Bachelors/ Masters in Operations/ Statistics/ Mathematics/ Economics and/or APICS – CSCP or IBF Certified Professional in Demand Planning.
• 5-7 years of relevant experience in forecasting and statistical analysis preferably in the retail industry or FMCG industry.
• Proficient in handling large datasets and a solid foundation in analytics, statistics and probability
• Experienced in handling ML/AI models for forecasting
• Experience in S&OP and interacting with various stakeholders.
• Good communication skills to collaborate across cross functional teams to develop accurate demand forecasts.
• Strong analytical skills to quantify market trends, guest behavior and product performance into market intelligence.
• Problem solving abilities to identify and address opportunities in demand planning & forecasting.
• Attention to details ensuring accurate demand forecasts.
• Proficiency in using open source tools for predictive and prescriptive analytics

Useful Links-
Life at Target- https://india.target.com/
Benefits- https://india.target.com/life-at-target/workplace/benefits
Culture- https://india.target.com/life-at-target/diversity-and-inclusion