Demand Planning Leader, North America

A strategic demand leader with strong analytical depth and a passion for the outdoors

SUMMARY

The Demand Planning Leader, North America is accountable for translating commercial strategy, product lifecycle plans, and market insights into high‑quality demand plans across short‑, mid‑, and long‑range horizons for the North American region.

This role leads the North America demand planning team and owns forecast quality, analytics, and execution within the regional S&OP cadence. The position plays a critical role in enabling informed decision‑making, improving forecast accuracy and bias, and strengthening demand planning capability and maturity in alignment with global standards.

The role partners closely with Sales, Finance, Supply Chain, Product, and Category teams to ensure demand plans support revenue, margin, and inventory health, while serving as a key regional contributor to the broader S&OP / IBP process.

CONTEXT

The Planning organization is responsible for the development, execution and governance of a consensus demand forecast and aligned supply plan. As the North America Demand Planning Leader, you are accountable for:

• Translating commercial strategy, product lifecycle plans, and market insights into a high‑quality North America demand plan across short‑, mid‑, and long‑range horizons
• Ensuring supply plan creation and execution supports targeted service and inventory levels
• Driving alignment across markets, categories and stakeholders
• Developing talent and strengthening planning capabilities across the team
• Compensation: $84,919 to $147,758 

This role requires a broad, enterprise level view across Supply Chain, Sales, Finance and Category initiatives, with a strong emphasis on collaboration, structure and continuous improvement.

HOW YOU’LL MAKE A DIFFERENCE

1. Demand Planning Leadership & Execution

• Own the development and delivery of a consensus demand plan for North America across all planning horizons.
• Lead the North America Demand Review and regional S&OP cadence, ensuring disciplined execution, clear assumptions, and timely escalation of risks and opportunities.
• Translate marketplace signals, promotional plans, customer dynamics, and product lifecycle inputs (NPI through EOL) into actionable demand and inventory plans.
• Ensure demand plans are delivered in the format, granularity, and timing required by downstream supply chain and commercial partners.

2. Forecast Quality, Analytics & Insights

• Own forecast accuracy, bias, and inventory KPIs for North America.
• Leverage data, analytics, and structured root‑cause analysis to continuously improve forecast quality and planning outcomes.
• Provide clear demand‑led insights, scenarios, and risks into regional and global S&OP / ES&OP forums.
• Partner with Finance to ensure demand plans are aligned with revenue, margin, and financial outlooks.

3. Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of demand planners, building strong engagement, accountability, and planning excellence.
• Actively raise planning capability and maturity, strengthening analytical skills, business acumen, and decision support effectiveness.
• Establish clear expectations, development plans, and succession pipelines for the North America demand planning team.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, learning, and cross‑functional collaboration.

4. Business Partnership & Cross‑Functional Alignment

• Serve as the primary demand planning partner to Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, and Category leadership in North America.
• Influence and challenge assumptions to ensure demand plans reflect realistic, unbiased views of the market.
• Advocate for North America demand priorities in allocation, availability, and supply decision forums.
• Ensure strong alignment between demand plans, purchase plans, and commercial strategy.

5. Process, Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Ensure adherence to global demand planning standards, methodologies, and governance, while tailoring execution appropriately for North America.
• Own regional process improvements that enhance forecast quality, efficiency, and transparency.
• Actively contribute feedback and insights to the evolution of global demand planning practices, playbooks, and tools.
• Support the integration of improved analytics, templates, and planning processes over time.

WHAT YOU NEED TO WIN

Core Skills & Experience

• Deep understanding of demand planning, forecasting, inventory management and S&OP
• Strong analytical capability with experience working with large, complex data sets
• Expert level proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with planning and BI tools
• Strong communication skills with the ability to influence senior stakeholders
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguity and a fast-paced environment

Leadership Capabilities

• Experience leading, coaching and developing high performing teams
• Strong prioritization, decision making and organizational skills
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with hands on execution

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain/Logistics, Finance, or related field
• +5 years of experience in a Supply Chain function that includes demand, supply and/or inventory planning
• Experience leveraging AI supported tools to gain insights and efficiencies.

About Specialized:

First and foremost, we are riders. We share the core belief that bikes help make the world a better place. From product development and operations, to finance and marketing - every role at Specialized contributes to a culture of sustainable, global growth and innovation. Around the world, we work to recruit candidates who are passionate and curious with the belief that everyone has the potential to be a leader.

BENEFITS

As a full-time, regular teammate, you are eligible for the following benefits, beginning the first of the month following your start date.

Benefits include:

• Competitive pay with annual performance-based reviews for continued growth and recognition
• Comprehensive healthcare plan options, including PPO, EPO, HDHP, and HMO (acupuncture and physical therapy included)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer HSA contributions when enrolled in the High-Deductible Healthcare Plan (HDHP) 
• Dental and Vision plans
• 401(k) Company Matching up to $5,000 annually with immediate 100% vesting and administrative fees paid for by the company
• Company-paid Life, AD&D, Short-Term Disability, and Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program that provides access to individualized mental well-being care
• Generous Vacation, Sick, Paid Holidays, and Volunteer Time Off
• 14 weeks of 100% paid leave for birthing parents and 8 weeks of 100% paid leave for non-birthing parents, plus a Specialized bike for your new baby
• Up to $9,000 annually in Career Development & Degree Assistance
• Up to $250 annually in Fitness & Wellness Reimbursement
• Industry Pro-Deal Discounts and Perks

For additional information on benefits and perks, please visit: https://benefits.specialized.com.