Director of Planning
Location: Chicago, IL, United States
Job Function: Operations
Req Number: 933
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Description
We are a global leader in food & beverage ingredients. Pioneers at heart, we operate at the forefront of consumer trends to provide food & beverage manufacturers with products and ingredients that will delight their consumers. Making a positive impact on people and planet is all part of the delight. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable and transparent supply. Supplying products and ingredients at scale is just the start. We add value through our unique, complementary portfolio of natural, delicious and nutritious products. With our fresh thinking, we help our customers unleash the sensory and functional attributes of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices so they can create naturally good food & beverage products that meet consumer expectations. And whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.
Position Summary
The Director of Planning will lead the Planning team at Olde Thompson, and be responsible for Strategic Planning, Demand Planning/ Forecasting, Supply Planning, Network optimization, Product Portfolio management, IBP and Talent pipeline development. As a part of IBP initiative, this leadership position develops and leads project structure for stakeholders including timelines, reports, tasks, team responsibilities, across Sales, Marketing, Innovation, Operations and Finance.
The ideal candidate is the one who develops strong commercial understanding of the business, operations, customers, aligning the team and other stakeholders to drive industry leading service levels at lowest possible costs. Strong analytical and people skills are a must.
Position Responsibilities
- Strategic Planning:
- Develop and implement comprehensive business strategies to facilitate growth, focusing on long-term goals and profitability.
- Collaborate with senior leadership to define the organization’s strategic direction and ensure alignment with operational activities.
- Lead cross-functional projects from ideation through to implementation, ensuring timely delivery and alignment with organizational objectives.
- Monitor project progress, manage risks, and provide regular updates to stakeholders.
- Lead the implementation and roll out of Integrated Business Planning across departments to ensure cohesive planning
- Shape the future of planning by leveraging technological advancements in the space
- Demand Planning and Forecasting:
- Develop and implement accurate demand forecasting models utilizing the latest AI tools in the industry to enhance predictive accuracy.
- Analyze historical sales data and market trends to optimize inventory levels and ensure alignment with market needs.
- Supply Planning:
- Oversee supply chain operations to ensure timely procurement of raw materials and effective production scheduling.
- Implement Material Requirement Planning (MRP) systems to manage inventory levels efficiently, ensuring the right materials are available for production.
- Optimize inventory levels through strategic analysis, balancing carrying costs with service level requirements to minimize stockouts and excess inventory.
- Network Optimization:
- Assess and optimize the manufacturing network across all facilities for operational efficiency.
- Implement strategies to reduce costs while maintaining product quality and delivery timelines.
- Product Portfolio Management:
- Manage the product lifecycle from introduction to discontinuation, ensuring alignment with market demands.
- Evaluate product performance and make recommendations for improvements or new product development.
- Talent Pipeline Development:
- Identify skill gaps and develop training programs to enhance team capabilities.
- Mentor and groom potential leaders within the organization to ensure a robust talent pipeline.
Position Requirements
- Bachelor’s Degree is required, preferably in Business Administration, or related field
- MBA strongly preferred
- Minimum of 5 years of experience in commercial (pricing, procurement etc), ops strategy, consulting roles.
- Must possess meticulous attention to detail and be able to problem-solve on first principles basis
- Excellent organizational and leadership abilities
- Outstanding communication and people skills
- Keen interest and knowledge of latest developments in the AI space and how they can be used to shape the future of planning
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, effectively managing workload to meet deadlines, while ensuring a high standard of quality is required
- High proficiency and comfort with different ERP systems (SAP,Plex), Excel (advanced required), Outlook, Word and Powerpoint is required. Understanding of SQL is a plus
- Ability to travel up to 25% required
ofi provides employees with a comprehensive compensation package, including:
New Hire Base Salary Range in Chicago, IL 130-155k
Bonus: Eligible for a performance-based bonus as provided by the plan terms and governing documents.
Benefits: Employees (and their eligible dependents) covered through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future.
Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial wellbeing lifestyle for our employees and their families.
Note: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization.
ofi provides equality of opportunity for all persons with respect to hiring without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. All employment will be decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may contact us for support at: [email protected]
At ofi, we celebrate our diversity. Olam Americas Inc. is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.
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