Senior Planner (Contract)

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior Planner (Contract) based in the United States.

As a Senior Planner, you will play a pivotal role in developing and implementing an integrated Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process within a rapidly growing direct-to-consumer business. You will take ownership of demand forecasting, supply planning, purchasing coordination, and inventory management to ensure products are available when customers need them. Working across a network of co-manufacturers and facilities, you will translate sales projections into actionable production and procurement plans. Collaborating closely with Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, Purchasing, Logistics, R&D, and Quality teams, you will establish a single, reliable forecast that supports business-wide decisions. You will also build reporting processes to monitor forecast accuracy, inventory performance, and potential supply risks. This remote contract opportunity offers significant autonomy and the chance to build and improve critical planning processes during an exciting period of business growth.

Accountabilities:

End-to-End S&OP Management: Own and lead the monthly Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) cycle, integrating demand forecasts with supply capacity and facilitating cross-functional meetings to establish a single, aligned business forecast.
Demand Forecasting: Develop, maintain, and continuously improve demand forecasts at SKU and sales-channel levels, incorporating promotional activities, subscription trends, historical performance, and new product launches.
Supply and Purchasing Planning: Translate demand forecasts into actionable supply and purchasing plans across the co-manufacturing network, accounting for production capacity, manufacturing lead times, and operational constraints. Identify potential supply shortages before they affect product availability.
Inventory Management and Optimization: Establish and manage inventory targets and stock levels, balancing customer service requirements with working capital efficiency. Monitor inventory turns and ensure appropriate stock availability while minimizing excess inventory.
Performance Reporting and Analytics: Develop and maintain reporting tools that provide clear visibility into forecast accuracy, inventory health, fill rates, supply constraints, and potential operational risks. Ensure key performance indicators are tracked and communicated consistently.
Procurement and Logistics Coordination: Partner with Purchasing and Logistics teams to translate supply plans into purchase orders, production requirements, and inbound delivery schedules, ensuring products arrive according to operational timelines.
Stockout Prevention and Risk Management: Proactively identify and communicate out-of-stock (OOS) risks, working with Marketing, Fulfillment, and Customer Care teams to implement mitigation strategies and minimize customer disruption.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Finance to assess inventory and cash flow implications, Marketing to incorporate demand drivers, and R&D and Quality teams to support new product launches, recipe transitions, and co-manufacturing changes.
Process Development and Continuous Improvement: Establish structured planning workflows, documentation, and accountability measures to strengthen the S&OP process and support business growth. Identify root causes of planning issues and implement sustainable solutions rather than temporary fixes.
Milestone and Performance Delivery: Achieve the established 30/60/90-day objectives and performance scorecard, ensuring timely implementation of planning processes and measurable improvements in operational performance.
Requirements:
At least 5 years of professional experience in demand planning, supply planning, inventory management, or Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP).
Previous experience in the food, Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), or direct-to-consumer (DTC) subscription industry is strongly preferred.
Demonstrated experience building, implementing, or independently managing an S&OP process, rather than simply participating in an established planning structure.
Advanced Excel and financial modeling skills, with the ability to independently develop forecasts, analyze complex datasets, and build reliable planning models.
Experience managing demand and supply planning across multiple facilities or a co-manufacturing network, including production capacity, supplier lead times, and inventory constraints.
Strong understanding of demand forecasting methodologies, purchasing processes, inventory management, supply chain operations, and service level optimization.
Ability to translate commercial demand forecasts into practical production, procurement, and inventory plans.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to identify trends, anticipate supply risks, and make data-driven recommendations.
Proven ability to monitor and improve key performance indicators, including forecast accuracy, fill rates, inventory turns, and stock availability.
Excellent cross-functional collaboration skills, with the confidence to communicate planning assumptions, challenge competing priorities, and maintain alignment around data-driven decisions.
Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities, including the capacity to clearly explain operational risks, planning scenarios, and their potential business impact.
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple planning activities and deadlines simultaneously.
Self-motivated and comfortable operating independently in a fast-growing, evolving environment where processes are still being developed and improved.
Proactive approach to problem-solving, with a strong focus on identifying risks early, addressing root causes, and preventing operational disruptions.
Ability to work effectively in a fully remote, cross-functional environment and take ownership of deliverables with minimal supervision.
Benefits:
Remote Work: Fully remote working opportunity, available to candidates based in the United States.
Contract Opportunity: Opportunity to take ownership of a high-impact planning function through mid-January.
Strategic Ownership: Significant autonomy in building and implementing an S&OP process from the ground up.
Cross-Functional Exposure: Direct collaboration with senior leadership and teams across Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, Purchasing, Logistics, R&D, and Quality.
Professional Impact: Opportunity to influence demand planning, inventory performance, purchasing decisions, and operational scalability.
Growth Environment: Join a fast-growing, direct-to-consumer business with ambitious expansion plans and an entrepreneurial working culture.
Collaborative Team Culture: Work within a distributed team that values clear accountability, honest communication, continuous improvement, and shared ownership.
In-Person Team Gatherings: Opportunities to connect with colleagues during quarterly company-wide gatherings.