Job Description

JOB SUMMARY

The Manager, Forecasting plays a critical role in developing and maintaining accurate customer-level forecasts that support Jack Link’s Sales, Supply Chain, and Finance teams. This role focuses on integrating sales inputs, promotional plans, historical trends, and category insights to help build a reliable demand plan. The ideal candidate is highly analytical, detail-oriented, and skilled at turning complex data into clear planning assumptions. This role partners closely with Demand Planning, Sales, Marketing, RGM, and Category to ensure alignment across all elements of the forecasting process.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Forecasting & Demand Inputs

• Work with Sales to co-own the customer-level sales forecast inputs used within the demand planning system.
• Build and maintain weekly, monthly, and annual sales forecasts for assigned customers/channels.
• Integrate trade promotions, distribution changes, new item launches, and pricing changes into forecast models.
• Analyze historical trends, consumption data, and shipment patterns to identify forecast risks and opportunities.
• Ensure the Sales forecast aligns with broader S&OP timelines and commercial planning cycles.

Sales & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sales teams to gather forecast assumptions, validate planning inputs, and reconcile differences.
• Work with Demand Planning to provide clear, documented assumptions for supply planning.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Innovation to incorporate launch forecasts, activation plans, and pipeline expectations.
• Partner with Category Management and RGM to incorporate category trends, elasticity, price pack mix, and promo expectations into forecasts.

Analytics & Insights

• Provide weekly/monthly forecast variance analysis and identify root causes of inaccuracies.
• Monitor key metrics such as forecast accuracy, bias, service levels, and customer performance trends.
• Deliver insights on volume drivers including promotions, distribution, seasonality, and mix changes.
• Support scenario planning and sensitivity analyses for major promotions, retailer resets, and new item launches.

Tools, Systems & Data Integrity

• Maintain accurate data inputs in forecasting and planning.
• Ensure that forecast assumptions are documented and updated consistently across all systems and reports.
• Partner with Sales & IT on enhancements to forecasting dashboards, tools, and templates.
• Support training and capability-building for Sales teams to improve forecasting consistency and data quality.

Process Optimization

• Contribute to continuous improvement efforts across the sales planning and forecasting workflow.
• Help streamline processes, eliminate manual reporting, and standardize recurring planning cycles.
• Support the Director in refining forecast governance, calendars, and communication routines.
• Identify opportunities to improve accuracy, reduce bias, and simplify inputs from cross-functional teams.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Team Member encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. The work environment is a plant/office setting with varying degrees of temperatures and noise levels. Exposure to manufacturing equipment movement and wet/slippery floors. However, the vast amount of work is conducted in a climate-controlled office. Travel may be required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job the Team Member is regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel and talk or hear. The Team Member is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The Team Member must occasionally lift and/or more up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Finance, Analytics, or related field.
• 3–6+ years of experience in CPG forecasting, sales planning, demand planning, analytics, or business operations.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in Excel, forecasting platforms, and data visualization tools.
• Experience working with syndicated data (Nielsen/IRI/Circana), POS, shipment history, or demand signals.
• Strong communication skills, with ability to explain assumptions and influence cross-functional partners.
• Detail-oriented, organized, and capable of managing multiple inputs on tight timelines.

Preferred

• Experience with SAP, APO, Anaplan, or similar enterprise planning systems.
• Exposure to S&OP or IBP processes.
• Experience in snacks, beverages, or high-velocity CPG categories.

Key Competencies

• Analytical Capability: Comfortable with data, variance analysis, and forecasting logic.
• Collaboration: Works effectively with Sales, Demand Planning, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance.
• Attention to Detail: Ensures accuracy and reliability of forecast inputs.
• Process Discipline: Brings structure and rigor to planning cycles.
• Communication: Clearly articulates assumptions, risks, and drivers.
• Problem Solving: Identifies root causes and proposes actionable solutions.

Additional Information

The salary range for this role is $130 ,000 – $150,000 (Annually). Actual salaries will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Jack Link’s Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Jack Link’s provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
Jack Link’s provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state or local law.

E-VERIFY:
Jack Link’s is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For information about the E-Verify program, please visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.