Demand Manager

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Demand Manager serves as the regional Subject Matter Expert in Demand Planning, responsible for developing, maintaining, and continuously improving the Consensus Demand Plan (3-24 month horizon) for Performance Coatings (PCG) North America / Latin America, and Lubrizol Life Sciences (LLS) Latin America. This role translates commercial insights, customer intelligence, market trends, historical demand patterns, and business strategy into an accurate demand plan that supports business growth, financial objectives, and informed decision-making.

The Demand Manager leads the monthly Demand Review process within the Integrated Business Planning (IBP) framework and serves as a key business partner to Sales, Product Management, Finance, and Supply Chain teams. Success in this role requires strong analytical capability, business acumen, and influencing skills to align stakeholders around a single demand signal, identify risks and opportunities, challenge assumptions, and drive fact-based business decisions.  This position reports to the Global Demand Planning Director for Lubrizol Surface Sciences (LSS) and partners closely with regional business leaders, Product Managers, Account Managers, Finance, Supply Planning/Execution, and other key stakeholders. The role is expected to build strong commercial relationships, synthesize diverse inputs into actionable demand insights highlighting forecasts, assumptions, and demand changes requiring business review, validation, or leadership decisions.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:  Duties and responsibilities are functions of the job and should not reflect the special talents or performance of an employee. 

• Develop and maintain Consensus Demand Plans (CDP) for PCG North America, PCG Latin America, and LLS Latin America using historical demand patterns, market intelligence, commercial insights, customer trends/forecasts, and business strategy.
• Serve as the regional Demand Planning Subject Matter Expert and provide guidance on forecasting best practices, demand planning standards, and process improvements.
• Lead monthly Demand Review meetings to align Commercial, Product Management, Finance, and Supply Chain stakeholders on the latest demand outlook, key assumptions, risks, opportunities, and gaps versus AOP and prior forecasts.
• Partner directly with Sales, Product Management, and regional business leaders to understand demand drivers, customer developments, market trends, and commercial opportunities, while challenging assumptions and improving forecast quality.
• Identify demand risks and growth opportunities through trend analysis, customer engagement, market intelligence, and business performance reviews, providing recommendations that support commercial and operational decision making.
• Engage directly with customers, distributors, and commercial teams through customer visits, business reviews, and market interactions to strengthen demand insights, validate forecast assumptions, and support identification of emerging opportunities and risks.
• Lead scenario planning and what-if analyses to evaluate customer wins/losses, market shifts, competitive actions, economic conditions, product transitions, and commercial initiatives, translating findings into actionable business recommendations.
• Analyze forecast accuracy, forecast bias, forecast value add, and demand trends to identify improvement opportunities, conduct root cause analysis, and drive corrective actions that improve forecast reliability.
• Drive a manage-by-exception forecasting approach, highlighting forecasts, assumptions, and demand changes requiring business review, validation, or leadership decisions.
• Collaborate with Supply Planning/Execution to communicate material demand changes, business assumptions, and emerging risks that may impact inventory, service, or operational performance.
• Collaborate with Product Management on New Product Introductions (NPI), product transitions, and End of Life (EOL) activities to ensure impacts are accurately reflected within the demand plan.
• Support Annual Operating Plan (AOP), Strategic Planning (STRAP), and other business planning processes by providing demand assumptions, market insights, volume projections, and risk assessments.
• Communicate demand insights and recommendations to business leadership, translating complex data into clear business implications, strategic choices, and actionable decisions.

EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering, or a related field. ​
• Minimum of 7 years proven experience as a Demand Planner or in a similar role (chemicals / non-chemicals)​
• At least 3 years demonstrated experience with supply chain planning software, Kinaxis is preferred. Other examples include: OMP, O9, etc.​
• Proficiency with ERP Systems, SAP S/4Hana is a plus. Other examples include: SAP ECC, Microsoft Dynamics Business Control.​
• Strong analytical skills with expertise in demand forecasting, statistical modeling, and data analysis​
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional planning processes and influencing business decisions across Commercial, Finance, Operations, and Supply Planning organizations.
• Experience managing regional or multi-business demand planning responsibilities within a complex global environment.

HIRING GUIDELINES: (To perform job successfully, individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and/or ability required/preferred).

• Business Partnership: Builds trusted relationships with business leaders and serves as a strategic advisor on demand-related risks, opportunities, and growth initiatives.
• Analytical Storytelling: Translates complex data into actionable insights, business implications, and clear recommendations.
• Leadership Without Authority: Influences cross-functional stakeholders and drives alignment across regions, functions, and business groups.
• Decision Quality: Uses data, analytics, market intelligence, and business judgment to support fact-based decision making.
• Commercial Acumen: Understands customer behavior, market dynamics, competitive activity, and commercial strategies that influence demand.

Lubrizol: Imagined for Life. Enabled by Science. ™ Delivered by You. For nearly 100 years, The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, has been at the forefront of innovation to enhance everyday life, advance mobility, and make the modern world work better. Our specialty chemistry solutions—from engine oils, performance coatings, and skincare to medical devices and plumbing systems —are powered by the expertise, passion, and commitment of people like you. We tackle the world’s toughest challenges with science-based solutions, deeply understanding our customers to deliver innovative chemistry and differentiated value. Our inclusive culture, dedication to safety, and incredible global talent drive our success. Our solutions meet the evolving needs of the modern world—brought to life by science and, most importantly, delivered by you. Whether you're in the lab, on the production floor, or in the office, you'll be part of a team around the world that empowers you to think boldly, drive results, and contribute to solutions that shape a better, more sustainable future.  We win because of you. Let’s build the future together.