If you combine strong demand planning skill & forecasting ability with interpersonal and communication skills, and you’re ready to take your next career step, consider a few of the advantages of joining our award-winning medical device company. You will:

• Step up into a management role where you’ll lead the global Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, manage the demand planning group, create statistical forecasting models, and align cross-functionally with regional Sales, Product Management, Manufacturing, and Finance. 
• Make a significant impact as you leverage your demand planning expertise. You will ensure global inventory is optimized in regional distribution centers, and  replenished to meet customer requirements on time, without back orders. Quick question for you - click here
• Work with key stakeholders across the organization, putting you in a high visibility position with potential to grow as opportunities arise.
• Build your career in an awarded "Best Places to Work" environment. You will enjoy a family-oriented culture, fun events, work/life balance, outstanding benefits and more.

At Aspen Medical Products we pride ourselves on making the best products in the industry—products that change people's lives. We have won many industry awards for our medical devices, which are sold through hospitals, medical practices, chiropractors, and pain management clinics. We believe that enjoying your work and making valuable contributions to business are equally vital. To that end, Aspen has been designated one of the Best Places to Work in Orange County by the Orange County Register and the Orange County Business Journal eight years in a row.

To be a good fit for this Demand Planning Manager opportunity, you should have:

• A bachelor's degree, preferably in Supply Chain, Mathematics, Business or similar; we will also consider outstanding candidates with the equivalent combination of education and experience
• 5+ years of related work experience in Demand Planning, Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), Inventory Control, Supply Chain planning, and related experience Quick question for you - click here
• Demonstrated proficiency in statistics, forecasting and forecasting methods with an understanding of their financial and operational impacts, such as a strong understanding of actual / trending revenue vs plan
• Strong facilitation skills and interpersonal skills are required to effectively interact with all teams, areas and levels of the business affecting the Demand Planning/Forecasting processes
• Solid experience with software packages including Microsoft Office Suite, demand planning, inventory optimization, and ERP (IQMS experience is a plus); advanced Excel skills for complex models (i.e. heavy indexing, pivot tables, VLOOKUP, etc.) Quick question for you - click here
• Strong analytical, organizational, decision making, and presentation skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English
• Cultural understanding to work with international contacts/stakeholders

Preferred but not required:

• Experience in the medical device industry
• Forecasting or APICS certification
• Foreign language proficiency in Spanish, German, Dutch, and/or Mandarin
• International experience

You’ll typically work a standard day shift, and you’ll be telecommuting for now until the Irvine office reopens. However, you should be willing to flex on occasion to meet the demands of the role.

Pictured: The Vista® MultiPost Therapy Collar is designed to reduce the symptoms of forward head carriage, promoting improved posture and a more natural alignment.

Opportunity Snapshot
Reporting to the VP of Operations, you will be responsible for leading the S&OP process, aligning demand and supply throughout Aspen to ensure on-time fulfillment of customer requirements, achieve revenue forecasts, optimize finished goods inventory levels in all distribution centers, and lower finished goods logistics costs. You also will ensure all processes, tools, and resources are available to achieve best-in-class performance. This is a hands-on management role, where you will complete demand planning objectives globally, lead Key Reseller process in the U.S., and manage the Demand Planner who handles our international demand planning and replenishment activities globally.

Role Details
You will be responsible for managing the S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) process to develop an executable demand / production forecast, align inventory / supply on a monthly basis, and conduct the quarterly Executive S&OP review. This will include completing statistical trend analysis to collaboratively create a demand plan we can execute against. You’ll also manage key Reseller fulfillment, including forecasts, tracking purchase orders, and committed shipment schedules.

You will lead the Demand Planning department to provide direction, training, and mentoring. You will assign work to the Demand Planner and perform Demand Planning tasks as well to ensure all requirements are achieved on time. Measurements will include forecast accuracy, finished goods inventory levels, and on-time customer fulfillment. You will assess the systems and tools to effectively and efficiently manage the S&OP / Demand Planning processes.

A great deal of this role is influence-based, where you’ll collaborate with others to accomplish your goals.

Demand Planning
As Aspen grows, both organically and through acquisition, you will find plenty of ways to grow your skills and career with us. This is a key role that has a direct influence on many related processes, such as our annual Strategic & Business Planning with Sales, Operations, and Finance; and Order Fulfillment with Customer Service and Logistics. 

Some of your specific tasks will be to:

• Lead the S&OP process, conducting demand forecast and demand planning reviews by region each month, as well as conducting the Quarterly Executive S&OP review.
• Develop and publish monthly statistical demand forecast, subsequent demand/production plans, and key Reseller demand forecast.
• Work with Sales/Finance/Operations on annual strategic and business plans.
• Upload demand forecast into ERP system in weekly buckets, conduct weekly availability reviews, and make recommendations to purchasing/manufacturing for supply including the Contract Manufacturing purchasing forecast.
• Lead forecast and inventory planning meetings with marketing, sales, finance and operational managers, reviewing recommended sales forecasts and inventory goals and managing inventory targets (including safety stock levels) that are approved by management in Finished Goods distribution centers worldwide.
• Prepare and maintain relevant reports pertaining to demand planning process, and provide meeting minutes and demand decisions agreed upon at these meetings.
• Manage Reseller fulfillment process to ensure Aspen meets contractual requirements, commits to ship dates based on forecast consumption/supply availability, and achieves ship date commitments.
• Conduct monthly/quarterly business reviews with key Reseller partners, including performance against forecast and fulfillment commitments.
• Ensure inventory replenishment is executed timely to minimize backorder and reduce freight costs.
• Prepare, report, and communicate forecast and inventory measurements to management (forecast and volume accuracy, inventory plan vs. targets, expected S&OP revenue compared with Business Plan revenue, inventory projections, and supply coverage analysis, including excess analysis.
• Communicate, coordinate and reconcile inbound supply (containers, rail, truck, and cross-dock activity), including inventory levels, with Logistics in all FG Distribution Centers.
• Monitor SKU levels and recommend SKU rationalization and obsolescence initiatives.
• Maintain demand planning system and software which include analyzing and modifying data and ensure the correctness of product classification.
• Review, recommend Demand Planning tools to support best in class process with future ERP system.
• Manage the Demand Planning team to execute all responsibilities, prepare and manage budgets, prepare and conduct annual performance reviews and make recommendations for continuous improvement.

Note: this description is intended to give you a general overview of the position and is not an exhaustive listing of duties and responsibilities. Video: The Peak Scoliosis Bracing System™ is an unloader brace designed to relieve pain, thus enhancing the quality of life for adult scoliosis patients.

High visibility
In this key role, your goals will be to keep the company sales and operations plans aligned to ensure inventory is optimized, customers are happy, and financials are achieved, all while working hand-in-hand to help create strategic and business plans. Whether you're newer in your career (5 years of experience) or have a bit more experience under your belt, you’ll find plenty to learn at Aspen. And, with a strong mentor and plenty of room to grow the role, your abilities and wins will be noticed and appreciated.

Build a career home
At Aspen Medical Products, we take a proactive approach to professional development and succession planning. This includes investing in ways to enhance our culture and promote the development of both technical and leadership skills. You'll have the opportunity to grow in the role and can also advance on the team to a senior position or beyond. 

Award-winning products enhance the quality of people's lives
Backed by over 25 years of R&D, Aspen Medical Products help patients cope with chronic conditions, manage pain, and heal faster (see testimonials in the video on The Role tab). Our innovative approach and strong business model have earned us distinctions. In addition to the workplace excellence awards mentioned above, we have won:

• Several Spine Technology Awards from Orthopedics This Week.
• The American Technology Award, in the medical device category, from TechAmerica Foundation.
• Awards for delivering exceptional service as a vendor, from Hanger/SPS, a leading distributor of orthotic and prosthetic patient care and therapeutic products, services and solutions.
• And others.

Exemplary culture
You will find a close-knit culture that values mutual respect at Aspen. The numerous "Best Places to Work" awards we've won represent high levels of employee satisfaction (as reported by employees) as well as excellence in benefits, pay, work/life balance and culture.

Competitive benefits package
The health, satisfaction and security of you and your family are important to your well-being and important to us. We offer a competitive salary with bonus potential; medical, dental and vision benefits for you and your family; life insurance; paid vacation; and a 401(k) plan with company match.

Pictured: Just a couple of the many awards we have received.

Our ideal candidate is a team player, but also a strong enough leader to influence the decisions of people at all levels of the organization to meet your goals. It will take great communication skills, strong customer service abilities (with internal and external customers), and the ability to be flexible and to balance.

Though you will leverage the breadth of your knowledge coming in the door, this is also a complex role where you can continually learn and evolve your skills. To be successful, you should be driven to learn and develop your professional skills. You can expect to stretch as you:

• Work on problems of diverse scope where analysis of data requires an evaluation of identifiable factors.
• Work on complex issues where analysis of situations or data requires an in-depth evaluation of variable factors.
• Work on significant and unique issues where analysis of situation or data requires an evaluation of intangibles.
• Apply professional concepts, gained through broad and/or unique experience, to develop a resolution to critical issues.
• Act independently to determine methods and procedures for new or special assignments.
• Influence others who do not report directly to you to ensure your metrics are reached.

You'll know you're hitting the mark when:

1. Your analyses/demand plan has resulted in achieving revenue targets, optimal inventory levels, no back orders, and managed fulfillment levels with our Key Resellers.
2. The wider team sees you as a collaborative, cross-functional partner.
3. Your analytical skills remain strong and accurate, even as the role evolves and the responsibilities become more complex.

Pictured: Aspen Medical Products has been involved with the Challenged Athletes Foundation since 2000. Through donations, fundraising and volunteering, Aspen employees unite to support the CAF in numerous ways. Since 2009, Aspen has held the privilege of being the title sponsor of the Aspen Medical Products San Diego Triathlon Challenge.