Planning Analyst

Location: The Colony, TX Employment Type: Full-Time Work Style: Onsite Salary Range: $93,000 - $103,000 + potential annual bonus Position Overview A global manufacturing company is seeking a Senior Business Strategy & Operations Analyst to support business planning, forecasting, performance analysis, and strategic initiatives for its North American operations. This position works closely with Sales, Product Management, Finance, Supply Chain, and teams in Japan. The ideal candidate has experience in business planning, supply chain, forecasting, or operations analysis and is comfortable using data to support management decision-making. Business-level Japanese and English communication skills are required.

Key Responsibilities: Support annual business planning, forecasting, and performance management. Develop and monitor KPIs, sales forecasts, inventory levels, backlog, and business performance. Analyze business results and identify risks, opportunities, and areas for improvement. Prepare reports and analysis for management and executive-level discussions. Work cross-functionally with Sales, Finance, Product Management, Supply Chain, and other departments. Coordinate planning and reporting activities between the U.S. team and headquarters in Japan. Support SAP implementation and business process improvement initiatives. Assist with system testing, user training, process documentation, and workflow improvements. Conduct scenario analysis and provide recommendations to support business growth and operational efficiency.

Qualifications: Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field preferred. Approximately 58 years of experience in business planning, supply chain, operations analysis, or a similar role. Experience in a manufacturing environment is strongly preferred. Business-level Japanese and English proficiency required, including speaking, reading, and writing. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including PivotTables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, charts, and data analysis. SAP experience is highly preferred. Strong analytical, problem-solving, communication, and collaboration skills. Ability to work effectively with teams across different departments and cultures. Flexibility to attend meetings with Japan-based teams approximately twice per week due to time-zone differences.