Reporting to the Global Supply Chain Manager – Outdoor Products, the Supply Chain Planner will create and communicate unit-forecasting. Apply business, technical, and analytical expertise, while utilizing Logility software to efficiently estimate demand for assigned products. Collaborate with buying, product/trade marketing, and sales to finalize the demand signals (Events, sku forecast, customer data feeds). Facilitate financial planning sales plans utilizing software with collaboration from brand and sales. Advise the group in support of business objectives, by providing a fact-based perspective on trends, opportunities, risks and product performance. In addition, the position will require research, monitoring, and communication between multiple departments ranging from finance, product marketing, trade marketing, sourcing, inventory management and sales management. Additionally, the Supply Chain Planner is responsible for the procurement of finished goods and component parts, partnering with vendors to establish capacity-feasible production schedules that meets customer requirements, and for managing day to day vendor performance in accordance with the Company’s established goals

The qualified candidate must have a proven and successful track record of performance in a fast paced results-oriented organization. This position will prove to be a challenging, highly visible and rewarding opportunity for the individual who enjoys working strategically with key business leaders, while remaining a hands-on and participative team manager.

Location: Overland Park, KS

Essential Job Functions: Including but not limited to

Demand Planning

• Utilize software to generate statistical unit demand forecasting for customer/sku level
  • Collaborate input from internal consensus participants (brand-marketing/sales)
  • Manage sku level forecasting by customer-location
• Utilize software to establish inventory policies for assigned sku’s.
  • Responsible for achieving on-hand inventory goals through parameter settings and push/pull of inventory replenishment
  • Product life cycle management (beginning of life-end of life planning)
  • Manage product flow by month
  • Plan exit strategies and transition plan for excess inventory

• Analyze and consolidate large volumes of data (shipments, point of sales, inventory, market share, promotional activity), develop a fact-based point of view, and communicate to management via presentations and reports.
• Facilitate monthly inventory/replenishment reviews with buying staff to communicate trends and assumptions. Assimilate information from collaborative input and provide recommendations for adjustments.
• Facilitate monthly/seasonal review of inventory policy and goals with Buying/Sourcing/Finance to develop corporate plans to support capacity plans.
• Develop and maintain weekly sku level demand signals (promotions, customer forecasts) for new, active, discontinued products by utilizing statistical forecasting models, incorporating customer-supplied data, market intelligence or applying other techniques to define best methods to forecast customer demand.
• Identify key opportunities and obstacles inherent to the forecasting process. Assist management in continuous improvement of the process.
• Support long range factory capacity planning processes by maintaining unit forecasts for 12-18 future months in software
• Responsible for End of Life sku planning- utilizing Life Cycle Planning and communication to liquidate and achieve set budget targets.
• Assists with customer interaction to provide business overviews and supply-sales opportunities
• Collaborate with Key Customers and Field Sales to gain outside market data
• Build and communicate via reporting on inventory stock position issues, initiative tracking, end of season, and additional reporting as necessary

Inventory Planning

• Purchase finished goods items to ensure supply meets the MRP domestic and global "planned order" requirements and maintain PO through delivery.
• Responsible to ensure product is ready on time at the supplier and partner with the China Logistics team to ensure shipments are booked with the appropriate carrier on-time.
• Perform supply analysis in addition to monthly purchasing cycle activities to ensure supply will meet key customer requirements and then act and/or influence others internally and externally as required to resolve variances.
• Ensure international and subsidiary demand is accurately incorporated into monthly purchases.
• Prepare purchase projections for suppliers and partner with suppliers and internal sales team to develop capacity-feasible production schedules that align with customer requirements.
• Responsible for all aspects of order placement and management of vendor production schedules.
• Identify and ensure disconnects such as anticipated product shortages, non-conforming material, excess or obsolete materials are continuously monitored and resolved.
• Manage supplier relationships by clearly communicating expectations and monitor to assure compliance.
• Communicate and resolve vendor performance issues in a timely manner coordinating these efforts with the sourcing team.
• Assist in the development of partnership arrangements with suppliers to reduce inventory ownership and lead times.
• Focus to drive down the overall freight expenses, material liability and cost of managing materials.
• Assist in the development of key reports, measurement, and benchmarks to improve purchasing and supplier management processes. Track vendor performance to key metrics (shipping, PO confirmation, etc.) monthly and issue reporting.
• Perform analysis to understand revenue/margin impacts of inventory movement

• Proactively manage backorders and expedite/prioritize incoming inventory to minimize inventory gaps and meet demand.
• Recommend expedited freight options to minimize inventory gaps and perform revenue/margin impacts to the business to aid in decision making.

Education & Training:

• Bachelor degree required, preferably in the content area of consumer goods, business or relevant field of study.
• 2-4 years consumer goods industry experience related to forecasting, business planning and/or product development or retail management experience desired.
• Proficient in Microsoft suite of programs (Excel, PowerPoint, and Word)

Skills/Attributes:

• To perform this job successfully, an individual must possess strong computer knowledge.
• Must be experienced with Microsoft Office Suite including PowerPoint, Word, and Excel.

• Problem solver
• Ability to articulate assumptions, methods, and results to peers and management, and to influence decision making
• Highly analytical, strong math and conceptual skills
• Aptitude to learn technical applications quickly
• Detail oriented and organized
• Strong effective oral and written communication, with the ability to lead and facilitate consensus meetings
• Assertive
• Strong time management and organizational skills
• Fundamental knowledge of supply chain management practices (forecast, purchasing, product development, sourcing, etc)
• Accuracy and thoroughness
• Ability to quickly learn, remain flexible and work in a rapidly changing environment
• Excellent interpersonal skills are essential to effectively interact with all cross-functional teams and levels of business

We offer a highly competitive salary, comprehensive benefits including: medical and dental, vision, disability and life insurance, 401K, PTO, tuition reimbursement, and the ability to add value to an exciting mission!

Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Females/Protected Veteran/Disabled