Distribution Planning Manager

Nordic Naturals•Vista, CA

2d•$105,000 - $125,000

About The Position

The Distribution Planning Manager is a strategic supply chain leadership role responsible for directing network-wide distribution strategy, optimizing the movement of materials and finished goods, and shaping long-term fulfillment capabilities. Reporting to the Director of Supply Planning and Execution, the manager leads distribution planning across domestic and global networks. The role partners with Demand Planning to analyze demand flows and forecasts, works with Sales Operations on customer allocation strategies, and collaborates with International Sales on global distribution frameworks. The manager establishes network optimization strategies, drives Sales and Operations Planning alignment, governs service-level performance, and manages risk and inventory balancing across network nodes. The role also leads and develops planning professionals and coordinates with Commercial, Manufacturing, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to align priorities, trade-offs, and network investments. It uses enterprise resource planning and business intelligence tools to develop predictive models, scenario planning, and executive dashboards, while driving continuous improvement across distribution operations.

Requirements

Master’s degree or Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Operations, Business Administration, or a related quantitative discipline.
10 or more years of progressive supply chain leadership experience specializing in strategic distribution planning, network modeling, demand integration, and global distribution strategy.
Expertise in enterprise resource planning software and distribution planning software tools.
Advanced capability with business intelligence and data visualization platforms.
Deep knowledge of distribution network strategy, demand-flow integration, multi-node inventory balancing, customer allocation frameworks, and international supply chain design.
Proven ability to partner with cross-functional leadership, influence commercial strategy, and translate complex data into executive decisions.

Nice To Haves

Professional certification in supply chain management or a continuous improvement methodology is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Partner with Demand Planning to analyze historical demand flows, velocity trends, and forecasts and align network capabilities with commercial plans.
Architect and govern Distribution Requirements Planning models for outbound finished goods and regional stock positions across distribution centers and customer channels.
Establish strategic transportation flow strategies for raw materials and components to support production continuity.
Define stock-transfer policies and parameters, establish strategic safety stocks, and balance inventory across multiple network nodes.
Collaborate with Sales Operations on product allocation frameworks, customer prioritization during supply constraints, and fulfillment protocols during demand spikes.
Work with International Sales leadership to design global distribution strategies, shipping lanes, fulfillment models, and market-entry supply pathways.
Oversee long-range outbound distribution planning and carrier network design to achieve On-Time In-Full delivery targets and improve customer experience.
Evaluate distribution footprint, node capacity, and lane economics to model facility locations, trade routes, and fulfillment network configurations.
Lead the distribution stream in the executive Sales and Operations Planning framework and present inventory projections, network constraints, and service trade-offs to senior leadership.
Establish and monitor service performance metrics for order fill rates, lead-time reliability, and distributor compliance.
Develop risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans for transport disruptions, supply bottlenecks, and port congestion.
Use enterprise resource planning and business intelligence platforms to build predictive distribution models, scenario-planning frameworks, and executive dashboards.
Apply continuous improvement and process optimization to reduce waste, optimize inventory velocity, reduce lead times, and improve backorder resolution.
Lead cross-functional alignment among Commercial, Manufacturing, Finance, and Supply Chain teams on trade-offs, network investments, and priorities.
Lead, mentor, and develop planning professionals across distribution, transfer management, and network planning.
Partner with the Director of Supply Planning and Execution to establish KPI architecture, present strategic options to leadership, and execute long-term supply chain transformation initiatives.