Demand Planning Manager Jobs

RTR Vehicles

Job Description: Demand Planning & Purchasing Manager

September 17, 2026

In support of RTR Vehicles’ expanded parts warehousing and distribution program, we are looking for a Demand Planning & Purchasing Manager who will own the full plan-to-purchase cycle for the parts business: forecasting demand, buying against that forecast from domestic and international suppliers, and managing the resulting inventory so that parts of the right kind and in the right quantities are available at the right time, at the right cost, as the business evolves.

This position reports to the Operations Director, RTR Vehicles. The position controls approximately $10–$12 million in annual inventory purchasing and is responsible for the health of $4–$5 million in recurring on-hand inventory across a catalog of 500++ active SKUs spanning multiple product families, vehicle platforms, and supplier geographies. The manager is measured on forecast accuracy, inventory turns, fill rate, working capital tied up in stock, and landed cost.

This is a new multidimensional and critical function within the company, which requires new processes and the leverage of business tools not previously utilized. The manager builds the demand forecast from projected sales, sales orders, purchase orders, historical data, and inventory on hand; converts that forecast into a purchasing plan constrained by supplier lead times, minimum order quantities, safety stock targets, vendor performance, freight and duty, and cashflow; and then executes the buy. The role holds close working relationships with colleagues in Sales, Operations, Warehouse, Accounting, Finance, and Management, and directly owns the supplier relationships that keep the parts business supplied. This provides the manager with a unique overall view of the business, which is essential to the position.

As RTR’s new warehouse operation for the expanded parts business is being set up, the Demand Planning & Purchasing Manager, in close coordination with the Warehouse Manager and Controller, will be responsible for the development, implementation, and management of the internal processes required for efficient demand planning, purchasing, and inventory management, thereby fully leveraging the capabilities and functionality of the company’s NetSuite ERP system.

Basic Functions

· Own the end-to-end plan-to-purchase process for the parts business: demand forecast, purchase plan, purchase order execution, supplier follow-up, and inventory performance.

· Develop demand forecasts (operational forecasts) at multiple levels of aggregation for multiple time horizons, and translate them into time-phased purchasing requirements by SKU and supplier.

· Manage an annual inventory purchasing budget of approximately $10–$12 million across domestic and international suppliers, within cashflow constraints set with Finance.

· Own the health of $4–$5 million in recurring on-hand inventory: stocking levels, safety stock, reorder points, aging, excess and obsolete exposure, and inventory accuracy in NetSuite.

· Manage supplier relationships and performance, including sourcing, pricing and terms negotiation, lead time management, on-time delivery, quality escalation, and supplier scorecards.

· Manage direct purchasing from overseas factories and suppliers, including inbound logistics with freight forwarders and customs brokers, landed cost, duties and tariffs, Incoterms, and shipment tracking.

· Set and enforce inventory strategy for existing items, new product introductions, and product phase-outs, in coordination with Sales, Marketing, and Product.

· Use and maintain NetSuite (Demand Planning, Purchasing, and WMS modules) as the system of record for forecasting, purchasing, and inventory control.

· Report monthly on forecast accuracy, inventory turns, fill rate, open purchase commitments, supplier performance, and excess/obsolete inventory to Management and Finance.

Job Functions

· Demand planning and forecasting:

o Gather, analyze, and validate sales, order, and inventory data; build and maintain statistical forecast models by SKU and product family

o Review historical trends, seasonality, promotional plans, new vehicle platform launches, and dealer/channel demand drivers with Sales and Marketing

o Apply error analysis to improve forecast accuracy; monitor and report forecast bias and error by category

o Facilitate a monthly consensus forecast review with Sales, Marketing, and Finance and secure agreement on the operating forecast

· Purchasing and supplier management:

o Convert the consensus forecast into a purchasing plan; create, release, and manage purchase orders in NetSuite

o Source, qualify, and onboard domestic and overseas suppliers, dealing directly with factories; negotiate pricing, MOQs, payment terms, and lead times

o Manage open purchase orders, expedite or defer as demand changes, and resolve supplier delivery, quality, and invoicing discrepancies with Accounting

o Maintain supplier scorecards (on-time delivery, quality, cost variance, responsiveness) and conduct periodic supplier reviews

o Manage international shipments with freight forwarders and customs brokers; track landed cost and ensure accurate costing in NetSuite

· Inventory management:

o Set and maintain stocking policies, safety stock, and reorder points for 500–1,000+ SKUs based on demand variability, lead time, and item criticality

o Manage inventory investment against working capital targets set with Finance; balance service level against turns and cash

o Identify and drive disposition of slow-moving, excess, and obsolete inventory

o Coordinate with the Warehouse Manager on cycle counts, receiving accuracy, and inventory record integrity

o Manage new product introduction and phase-out inventory plans to avoid stock-outs on launch and write-offs at end of life

· Systems, process, and reporting:

o Build and document the demand planning, purchasing, and inventory control processes for the new warehouse operation

o Configure and maintain NetSuite item master data, product hierarchy, supplier records, lead times, and planning parameters

o Prepare and maintain reporting on forecast accuracy, inventory KPIs, open commitments, and supplier performance

o Identify relevant market, supply, and competitive intelligence affecting demand or supply

Required Education and Experience

- BA/BS degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Engineering, or related field. MBA, CPIM, CSCP, or CPSM certification preferred.

- Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in demand planning, purchasing, or inventory management in a parts, aftermarket, distribution, or manufacturing environment. Automotive or powersports aftermarket experience strongly preferred.

- Demonstrated experience managing a purchasing spend of $10 million or more annually and a recurring inventory position of $4 million or more.

- Demonstrated experience managing a catalog of 500 to 1,000+ active SKUs with mixed demand profiles (fast movers, long-tail, and platform-specific items).

- Demonstrated experience purchasing directly from overseas factories and suppliers (not through importers or agents) as well as domestic suppliers, including negotiation of pricing and terms, management of overseas lead times, Incoterms, freight forwarding, customs clearance, duties/tariffs, and landed cost. Required; RTR buys direct from its overseas suppliers.

- Proficiency in statistics, forecasting, and forecasting methods with an understanding of their financial and operational impacts. Proficiency in NetSuite (Demand Planning, Purchasing, and WMS) or comparable ERP/MRP software required; NetSuite strongly preferred.

- Advanced Excel skills (pivot tables, lookups, forecast modeling) and experience with Microsoft Office. This position requires strong analytical, negotiation, organizational, decision-making, and presentation skills. Strong interpersonal skills are essential to effectively interact with suppliers and with all teams, areas, and levels of the business affecting the forecast and purchasing process. Good facilitation skills are required.

Compensation, Location, and Benefits

- Salary: $90,000 – $105,000 annually, based on experience.

- Location: Full-time, on-site at the RTR Vehicles office in Concord, North Carolina.

- Travel: No travel expectations.

- Reports to: Operations Director, RTR Vehicles. No direct reports.

- Benefits: 401(k); vision and dental insurance; short-term disability; life insurance available; health insurance or healthcare flexible spending account available; 80 hours of PTO in year one; paid holidays.

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Pay: $90,000.00 - $105,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person