Manager, Seasonal Demand Planning

Manager, Seasonal Demand Planning

The Seasonal Demand Planning Manager leads demand planning activities for Hershey's Seasonal portfolios, ensuring accurate, aligned, and actionable demand forecasts for major seasonal events. The role leads a team of Demand Planners and partners cross-functionally to translate commercial and customer strategies into a reliable demand signal supporting supply chain and business execution. This position plays a key role in Hershey's Integrated Business Management (IBM) process and supports fact-based decision-making across Sales, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Analytics.

Role Responsibilities:

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 2-3 Demand Planners, reinforcing clear expectations, accountability, and performance management.
• Build functional capability in demand planning, analytical thinking, and business partnering.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and collaboration.
• Own demand forecasts for assigned Seasonal portfolios, including event timing, promotional activity, innovation introductions, and exits.
• Ensure forecasts reflect customer programs, merchandising plans, and marketing inputs with appropriate risk assessment.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and bias, identify root causes of variance, and drive corrective actions.
• Partner effectively with Sales, Marketing, Supply Planning, Finance, and Analytics to align assumptions and execution plans.
• Lead and own the Seasonal Execution Team process bringing together supply chain and commercial functions to maximize seasonal OTIF, Modular Fill, Sell-Thru, Waste.
• Communicate forecast insights, risks, and trade-offs clearly to support decision-making.
• Represent Seasonal demand planning in monthly and ad-hoc business forums, including IBM processes.
• Ensure effective use of demand planning systems and data to support a rolling 104-week operational forecast.
• Maintain data integrity and adherence to planning standards and governance.
• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance forecast accuracy, decision quality, and ways of working.

Desired knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Leadership: Demonstrated ability to lead and develop others; provides clear direction, feedback, and coaching; models accountability and strong business judgment.
• Functional & Analytical Capability: Strong demand planning, forecasting, and analytical skills; ability to interpret complex data and translate insights into actions; understanding of supply chain and integrated planning concepts.
• Collaboration & Communication: Builds effective working relationships across functions; communicates clearly and concisely with diverse stakeholders; influences through facts, insight, and credibility.
• Change & Continuous Improvement: Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, dynamic environment; proactively identifies improvement opportunities and drives change; demonstrates learning agility and adaptability.

Minimum Education and Experience Requirements:

• Education – Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or related analytical field, or equivalent experience.
• Experience – At least 5 years of experience in Demand Planning, Replenishment, or related analytical roles. Experience supporting seasonal or highly promotional businesses preferred. Prior people leadership or team-lead experience preferred.

The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.