Kinder's Premium Quality Seasonings & Sauces · 3 months ago
Demand Planning Manager
Walnut Creek, CA
Full-time
Onsite
Mid, Senior Level
$130K/yr - $160K/yr
5+ years expKinder's is a rapidly expanding company known for its flavor-obsessed culture and innovative approach to food products. They are seeking a dynamic Demand Planning Manager to lead demand forecasting and collaborate across teams to align demand plans with market expansion and product innovation. The role requires strong analytical skills and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment while driving process improvements.
Food and BeverageFood ProcessingManufacturingRestaurants
Responsibilities
Develop and maintain accurate, data-driven demand forecasts for the Grocery channel using historical shipment and POS data, market trends, and sales input
Continuously analyze Point of Sale (POS) data to identify growth drivers and optimize forecasts, ensuring alignment with marketing spend and promotional activities
Build strong, collaborative relationships across internal teams (Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain) and key external partners
Foster a culture of open communication, ensuring alignment on demand expectations, opportunities, and risks
Lead the S&OP process for your channels and categories, ensuring that demand plans align with company goals
Act as a change agent who brings diverse perspectives together to drive clear, actionable plans
Partner with Product Development, Marketing, and Sales teams to integrate new product launches into demand forecasts
Ensure smooth market entry by driving alignment across functions and forecasting channels
Leverage sales data, market trends, and other relevant insights to improve demand forecasting accuracy
Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance distribution efficiency and streamline operations
Develop and monitor KPIs that track the effectiveness of demand planning
Own the results, ensuring the right stock levels to minimize overstock or stockouts while maintaining high service levels
Take ownership of reporting and presenting key insights to senior leadership
Proactively identify and implement process improvements
Drive efficiency and embrace innovation by rethinking traditional demand planning methods, asking insightful questions, and exploring new approaches to achieve better outcomes
Act as a key player in bridging short-term tactical planning with long-term strategic growth
Demonstrate leadership by fostering collaboration, taking ownership of the demand planning function, and being a role model for integrity and results
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Economics, or a related field
5+ years of experience in demand planning, preferably within the food and beverage industry
Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, with a focus on innovation and process improvement
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience using demand forecasting tools (e.g., Anaplan, SAP IBP) and analyzing POS data (Nielsen, IRI, or similar)
Demonstrated track record of successfully leading demand planning initiatives that improve forecasting accuracy and drive business growth
Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders
Experience with S&OP processes, integrating commercial, marketing, and supply chain inputs into robust demand plans
Passion for continuous improvement, embodying a growth mindset that values learning agility and adaptability in a rapidly evolving environment
Strong attention to detail with a proactive, results-oriented approach to problem-solving and decision-making
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on continuous improvement
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and build strong partnerships
Proficiency in demand planning software and tools, with a focus on leveraging data for strategic decision-making
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and work effectively as part of a cross functional team
Strong organizational and time-management skills, with a passion for delivering results
Company
Kinder's Premium Quality Seasonings & Sauces
Kinder's Premium Quality Seasonings & Sauces produces sauces, seasoning, rub, and marinates.
51-200 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Jim H.
Co-CEO & Chief Brand Officer, Director
Joe Rainero
CEO
Company data provided by crunchbase