How to hire a senior demand planner

How to hire a senior demand planner, step by step

Here's a step-by-step senior demand planner hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a senior demand planner job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new senior demand planner
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a senior demand planner do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The senior demand planner hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A senior demand planner's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, senior demand planners from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents senior demand planner salaries for various positions.

   Type of Senior Demand Planner	Description	Hourly rate
   Senior Demand Planner	Logisticians analyze and coordinate an organization’s supply chain—the system that moves a product from supplier to consumer. They manage the entire life cycle of a product, which includes how a product is acquired, distributed, allocated, and delivered.	$32-55
   Purchasing Agent	A purchasing agent's general task is keeping purchase records and making sure that there won't be any discrepancies with the handling of orders. The purchasing agent should be responsible for the order processing and payment collection... Show more	$17-34
   Logistics Internship	In a logistics internship, an intern's duties depend on the directives of a supervising staff or manager. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around processing documentation, producing progress reports, maintaining records, updating databases, answering calls and correspondence, disseminating information, and running errands... Show more	$13-23

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Demand Planning
   • Forecast Accuracy
   • Supply Chain Planning
   • Demand Forecasts
   • Logistics
   • POS
   • Statistical Models
   • Historical Sales Trends
   • ERP
   • KPIs
   • Cycle Management
   • Process Improvement
   • Inventory Management
   • JDA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage daily forecast adjustment process; coordinate updates into MRP.
   • Manage AMD's key multi-national customers MRP, demand & ship plan through weekly sales & customer meetings.
   • Manage communication among freight forwarders, trucking companies, and warehouse representatives.
   • Work closely with product management, marketing, commercial, finance and logistics.
   • Review customer s orders for proper shipping window and delivery appointment with logistics team.
   • Initiate and/or participate in a wide range of supply chain and ERP improvement projects.

   More senior demand planner duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your senior demand planner job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A senior demand planner salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, senior demand planners' average salary in illinois is 41% less than in district of columbia.
   • Seniority. Entry-level senior demand planners earn 41% less than senior-level senior demand planners.
   • Certifications. A senior demand planner with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a senior demand planner's salary.

   Average senior demand planner salary

   $89,229yearly

   $42.90 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level senior demand planner salary

   $68,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average senior demand planner salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$118,518	$57
   2	Washington	$102,385	$49
   3	Michigan	$95,383	$46
   4	Massachusetts	$91,867	$44
   5	New York	$91,688	$44
   6	Oregon	$91,579	$44
   7	New Jersey	$90,422	$43
   8	Texas	$89,716	$43
   9	Connecticut	$89,463	$43
   10	Pennsylvania	$89,459	$43
   11	Arizona	$88,090	$42
   12	Utah	$86,655	$42
   13	Colorado	$81,224	$39
   14	Georgia	$80,096	$39
   15	Ohio	$79,719	$38
   16	Nevada	$79,465	$38
   17	Florida	$76,247	$37
   18	Arkansas	$75,995	$37
   19	Wisconsin	$74,993	$36
   20	Minnesota	$71,233	$34

   Average senior demand planner salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Microsoft	$126,664	$60.90	31
   2	AbbVie	$114,211	$54.91	13
   3	GoPro	$113,625	$54.63
   4	Nike	$113,172	$54.41	14
   5	JUUL	$107,809	$51.83
   6	Koch Industries	$103,562	$49.79
   7	Fortinet	$101,003	$48.56
   8	Rivian	$100,768	$48.45
   9	Intuitive Surgical	$100,389	$48.26	4
   10	Amazon	$96,994	$46.63	83
   11	BASF	$96,043	$46.17	4
   12	SABIC Innovative Plastics	$95,101	$45.72
   13	Chewy	$94,797	$45.58	2
   14	Philips	$94,565	$45.46	1
   15	Incipio	$94,550	$45.46
   16	Monster Products	$93,621	$45.01	2
   17	Tesla	$93,358	$44.88	5
   18	Mattel	$92,064	$44.26	3
   19	Halliburton	$92,006	$44.23	1
   20	Henkel	$91,184	$43.84	11

4. Writing a senior demand planner job description

   A senior demand planner job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. Below, you can find an example of a senior demand planner job description:

   Senior demand planner job description example

   in Music is a family of leading music technology and consumer electronic brands. We live and breathe music. We incorporate and build upon the latest engineering, design, and technology in the DJ, Music Production, Pro Audio, Musical Instrument, and Consumer Electronics industries. Some of our leading brands are: Akai Professional, Alesis, Alto Professional, Denon DJ, Denon Professional, ION Audio, Marantz Professional, M-Audio, MixMeister, Rane, Numark and Sonivox.
   
   If you want to join one of the most dynamic and creative industries and be part of a company committed to innovation with a shared sense of purpose of bringing music to people, then we want to speak with you.
   
   Reporting directly to the Director of Planning, the Senior Inventory & Demand Planner will be responsible for executing end-to-end inventory planning to support existing product as well as newly launched products. They will lead the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process for assigned product lines to effectively balance demand and supply and deliver optimal inventory performance.
   
   This role will be focused on a specific subset of the in Music business and will work closely with our RI-based product management and development teams, regional and global sales leadership and operations teams, our manufacturing liaison office in Taiwan, and contract manufacturers to manage finished goods flow and inventory levels for our businesses.
   
   The successful candidate will collaborate in the development of rolling 24-month demand forecasts and will be responsible for planning and managing the supply chain from placement of purchase orders to goods receipt.
   
   We are seeking an experienced and astute supply chain professional with strong planning, analytical, and Excel skills that understands and can help implement demand and supply planning best practices at in Music.
   Requirements BA/BS degree in supply chain management, business or other related field 7+ years applicable supply chain experience (Demand Planning/Supply Planning/Inventory Management/S&OP) preferably in a consumer goods industry. Solid grasp and clear understanding of basic financial and inventory measures: sales, margin, weeks of supply, safety stock, sell thru, inventory turns. Knowledge of S&OP principles and practices. Strong interpersonal and facilitation skills with the ability to work both cross-functionally and cross-culturally within a fast-paced environment. Excellent quantitative and analytical skills, with high attention to detail and accuracy Prior SAP ERP experience in an MRP planning environment Advanced experience in Microsoft Excel (pivot tables, v-look-ups, formulas, macros, etc.) and other Microsoft Office products. Power BI experience a plus Benefits in Music USA offers an excellent Total Rewards package that includes generous holiday and summer hours schedule, medical benefits available within your first 30 days, 401k plans with company match, and employee discounts on in Music products. in Music celebrates diversity. We are an equal opportunity employer, recognizing that future success in a highly competitive marketplace depends on our employees and their development. All applicants will receive equal consideration for employment at in Music and we encourage everyone to apply regardless of color, race, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital status, religion or belief or disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right senior demand planner for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with senior demand planners they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit senior demand planners who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your senior demand planner job on Zippia to find and recruit senior demand planner candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit senior demand planners, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new senior demand planner

   Once you've decided on a perfect senior demand planner candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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