Product Manager III/Demand Planner

Job Title: Product Manager III / Demand PlannerJob Description This role combines advanced demand planning and program management to build accurate, data-driven forecasts and guide strategic decisions for retail channels. You will own end-to-end forecast management, including promotional scenarios, and lead cross-functional partners through structured planning cycles. The position requires a balance of analytical rigor and business acumen, acting both as a strategic advisor and a hands-on modeler at a detailed product and daily level. Responsibilities Own and manage all forecast inputs, including sales curves, baselines, and promotional lifts, to build forward-looking forecasts based on historical trends and channel-specific adjustments. Create comprehensive promotional forecasts, including scenario models, to support channel owners in making strategic decisions on promotions and pricing. Oversee and conduct deep-dive analyses on product performance, including year-over-year comparisons, attainment tracking, and mix shift assessments. Provide day-to-day and week-to-week forecasting and sales reporting support to retail sales channel owners, ensuring they have timely and accurate insights. Develop and maintain net-short analyses and manage inventory allocation during end-of-sale planning to limit overhang risk and optimize sell-through. Manage and update all forecasting systems to ensure data accuracy, integrity, and alignment with business needs. Create and manage detailed workback schedules for each forecasting cycle, holding channel owners accountable for delivering inputs and meeting deadlines. Meet regularly with channel owners to review baselines, gather feedback, and incorporate changes, while documenting assumptions for bridging and assumption tracking. Lead recurring forecast inspection meetings with channel owners to review performance against forecast, identify variances, and align on corrective actions. Standardize assumptions and forecasting methodologies across marketplaces, influencing channel owners to adopt consistent processes for both emerging and established businesses. Own the forecast narrative and final documentation, clearly explaining changes between forecast cycles and articulating drivers of variances. Lead global retail demand reviews, synthesizing complex portfolio insights into clear recommendations for stakeholders. Act as both a strategic advisor and a hands-on modeler by helping channel leaders evaluate different promotional approaches and translating historical data into future forecasts at daily, product-level specificity. Essential Skills 5–7 years of relevant experience working with complex product or portfolio environments, with a minimum of 5 years required. Proven experience in demand planning and forecasting, including responsibility for forecast inputs and accuracy. Demonstrated ability to forecast promotional impacts, including calculating lifts and understanding price elasticities. Background in B2C, finance, or traditional retail industries with the ability to connect forecasting work directly to business strategy. Strong Excel skills, including building and maintaining complex models and performing detailed data analysis. Experience balancing responsibilities across demand planning (approximately 60%) and program management (approximately 40%). Ability to design and interpret scenario models for different promotional strategies (such as varying discount levels) and translate these into actionable forecasts. Strong analytical skills with the ability to work at a granular level, including daily and product-level forecasting. Ability to clearly communicate forecast narratives, explain variances, and influence stakeholders to adopt standardized methodologies. Self-motivated and able to work under strict deadlines while managing multiple forecasting cycles and stakeholder expectations. Additional Skills & Qualifications Experience in B2C, finance, and traditional retail environments is highly desirable. Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage complex timelines and multiple stakeholders. Experience working effectively in a global, cross-collaborative team environment. Motivated, proactive, and comfortable operating in both advisory and hands-on analytical capacities. Familiarity with Anaplan or similar planning tools is a plus. A 4-year college degree is preferred but not required. Interest in or experience with cross-functional collaboration, including sales, finance, and strategy teams. Ability to translate data-driven insights into clear, business-oriented recommendations. Work Environment This is an onsite role based in either Seattle, WA or San Francisco, CA. The standard schedule is Monday through Friday, approximately 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You will work in a highly cross-collaborative environment that values self-motivation, structured planning, and clear communication. The role involves regular interaction with global teams and retail channel owners, as well as frequent use of Excel and forecasting systems to support data-driven decision-making. Job Type & Location This is a Contract position based out of Seattle, WA. Pay and Benefits The pay range for this position is $65.00 - $69.00/hr. Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave) Workplace Type This is a fully onsite position in Seattle,WA. Application Deadline This position is anticipated to close on Jul 29, 2026. About Aston Carter Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service. The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law. If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email astoncarteraccommodation@astoncarter.com for other accommodation options. San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.