Program Manager, Demand Planning & Forecasting

Job Summary:
Develop and maintain accurate bulk demand forecasts for ASU, CO2, and LH2 customers across the United States and Canada.

Use forecasting tools, data analytics, market trends, and cross-functional input to improve forecast quality across multiple levels of aggregation and time horizons.

Support annual budgeting and business planning for Sales, Product Management, and Finance by providing demand forecasts, sensitivities, and analysis to inform volume, revenue, and supply-planning assumptions.

Enable aligned commercial and supply-chain decision-making by translating demand signals, customer insights, and market intelligence into a single planning view.

Why Messer?

Messer is the world’s largest privately held industrial gases company and what we do matters because it is woven into every part of life, from the medical gases that patients rely on to the essential elements needed to safely and sustainably produce the goods our communities depend on.

The true strength of Messer is our people—at every level and in every role.

Join us and take pride in the impact you will make by providing solutions essential to our world and lives. Reach your highest potential at our stable, inclusive company with diverse opportunities in a growing industry, supported by people who care.

Messer stands apart because we put what matters first, and you matter.

Principal Responsibilities:

Demand Forecasting, Planning and Analysis

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts across multiple levels of aggregation and time horizons by analyzing historical sales, market trends, customer volume changes, and new or lost business.

• Use and maintain demand planning software to support forecast accuracy, repeatability, and transparency.

• Leverage data analytics, Databricks, AI tools, and automation to improve forecasting processes, reporting, and decision-making.

• Monitor forecast accuracy using metrics such as MAPE, bias, and forecast value-add; investigate forecast misses; identify root causes; and implement corrective actions.

• Identify, assess, and escalate demand exceptions, including spikes, drops, outliers, and material changes that may affect supply, plant loading, service levels, pricing, or cost.

• Identify pricing opportunities based on demand versus take-or-pay or volume collar triggers.

S&OP Support and Cross-functional Alignment

• Prepare rolling 12-month demand history and forecast materials by product, highlighting impactful changes and key drivers.

• Maintain projected plant and product loading views to support supply planning, budgeting, sensitivity analysis, and plant utilization impact assessments.

• Incorporate Salesforce funnel inputs, customer intelligence, commercial insights, and market trends into forecast assumptions and adjustments.

• Lead or facilitate the demand review portion of the S&OP/IBP cycle, documenting assumptions, risks, decisions, and changes required to support a single consensus demand plan.

• Facilitate regular cross-functional reviews to refine assumptions and align stakeholders on forecast drivers.

Budgeting and Plant Loading Analysis

• Provide demand forecasts and forecast assumptions to support the annual budgeting process.

• Deliver forecast reporting and sensitivity analysis to support business planning and decision-making.

• Partner with Product Management to assess plant utilization impacts related to customer volume changes, new/lost customers, and new/lost product sources.

Required Skills:

Technical and Analytical Skills

• Strong forecasting, statistical modeling, and analytical skills, with the ability to apply quantitative methods to demand planning decisions.

• Ability to analyze sales history, customer demand drivers, market indicators, and large datasets to identify trends, risks, and forecast implications.

• Advanced Excel, database, and reporting skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear, actionable insights.

Systems and Tools

• Proficiency with demand planning, ERP, and forecasting tools such as SAP or Arkieva.

• Experience leveraging data analytics platforms, Databricks, AI tools, and automation to improve processes, reporting, and decision-making.

• Ability to use planning systems and reporting tools to support forecast accuracy, repeatability, and transparency.

Communication and Collaboration Skills

• Communicate forecast assumptions, risks, recommendations, and business impacts clearly through strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.

• Partner with and influence cross-functional stakeholders across Sales, Marketing, Finance, Product Management, and Supply Chain to gather inputs, challenge assumptions, resolve forecast gaps, and align on demand planning decisions.

• Demonstrate strong organization, attention to detail, accountability, and problem-solving judgment in a fast-paced, data-driven planning environment.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, statistics, engineering, analytics, or a related discipline.

• Minimum 5 years of experience in demand planning, supply chain planning, data analytics, sales operations, product management, or a related commercial planning role.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in industrial gases, energy, chemicals, manufacturing, or another process industry preferred.

• Experience with ERP, demand planning, forecasting, BI/reporting, or data analytics platforms preferred.

• Exposure to forecasting methods, optimization techniques, and S&OP/IBP processes preferred.

• Experience applying advanced analytics, automation, or AI-enabled tools to improve planning processes and business decision-making preferred.

• S.C.P., M.B.A., Six Sigma, or related certification preferred.

The salary range for this position is $110,000 - $146,000. Messer provides medical, dental, vision, short term disability, life insurance and paid time off as well as other voluntary benefits, such as, long term disability in accordance with the terms and conditions of these Plans. Employees are eligible to enroll in Messer’s 401(k) Plan. Employees may be eligible to participate in the company’s bonus program.

About Messer:

Messer’s safety culture, commitment to providing dependable supply and innovative gas technology solutions help customers unlock opportunities to be safer, more sustainable, more productive and more efficient, so their business thrives. We nurture lasting, meaningful relationships with customers, our communities, and with one another.

We offer comprehensive benefits and appreciable pay, with steady schedules and opportunities for ongoing training and career progression. We prioritize and invest in our people at every level of our organization – the dedication, knowledge, customer focus and entrepreneurial spirit of our employees is what make Messer refreshingly different.

If you need assistance with the application or would like to request accommodation, call (877) 243-1030.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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