Manager, Supply Chain Programs (Individual Contributor)

International Dairy Queen•Bloomington, MN

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Supply Chain Programs Manager is an individual contributor who leads end-to-end supply chain execution for limited-time offers (LTOs), product tests, and related promotional items from concept through discontinuation. The role serves as the Supply Chain lead across internal functions and approved suppliers, translating forecasts provided by Analytics & Insights into executable material and production plans. It ensures supplier readiness, timely production, risk mitigation, and accurate cross-functional communication across multiple concurrent programs. The manager coordinates cross-functional LTO planning and readiness, develops integrated project plans and production timelines, and manages supplier capacity, schedules, materials, packaging, quality requirements, and delivery commitments. The role also identifies and mitigates supply and inventory risks, maintains accurate program and supplier data, and uses lessons learned and technology to improve planning, visibility, accountability, and risk management. Supplier visits and business-event travel are generally 5–10%.

Requirements

B.A. or B.S. degree in Supply Chain, Business, Operations, Economics, or another related field, or an equivalent combination of education and work experience.
Four to six years of progressive experience in supply chain, purchasing, supplier management, project management, foodservice operations, or time-sensitive product launches.
Working knowledge of sourcing, supplier production planning, materials, scheduling, forecast translation, obsolescence mitigation, and supplier negotiations.
Strong analytical skills and advanced Excel proficiency.
Excellent project management, organization, communication, and facilitation skills, with high attention to detail and accuracy.
Ability to lead cross-functional work, manage competing priorities, make timely decisions, escalate risk, build productive relationships, and deliver win-win solutions.
Ability to travel for supplier visits and business events, generally 5–10%.
Must be authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

Experience with Power BI, Smartsheet, ArrowStream, or comparable tools.

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary USCI contact for cross-functional LTO meetings.
Lead concurrent LTO and product-test supply chain workstreams from concept through discontinuation, establishing milestones, decision points, owners, dependencies, and escalation paths.
Build integrated project plans and facilitate cross-functional pipeline, planning, readiness, and launch meetings; document decisions, actions, due dates, and risks.
Provide clear status updates and drive supplier setup, production readiness, communication, and timely issue resolution.
Translate approved forecasts and product requirements into finished-good, ingredient, packaging, raw material, and production requirements.
Negotiate supplier capacity, lead times, minimums, material availability, production windows, and ability to meet requested quantities and dates.
Develop production plans and preliminary commitments for long-lead needs; document assumptions and exposure, monitor readiness, and escalate constraints or required adjustments.
Serve as the primary Supply Chain contact for assigned LTO suppliers from feasibility through final production and discontinuation.
Manage supplier LTO capability, capacity, schedules, materials, packaging, quality requirements, contingency options, and completion against requested dates.
Partner with Purchasing Managers on long-lead materials, tooling, packaging, and finished goods; negotiate pricing, cancellation exposure, returns, and mitigation options, escalating service, quality, or delivery concerns.
Align LTO and core production priorities with Purchasing Managers so supplier capacity and production plans support LTO execution without compromising core supply.
Develop production timelines covering material orders, manufacturing, quality release, and finished-good completion; track progress and resolve timing gaps.
Manage and complete records of decisions, changes, commitments, and corrective actions.
Identify supply, capacity, quality, lead-time, commodity, single-source, and obsolete-inventory risks; develop contingency and mitigation plans.
Estimate and mitigate exposure and manage production changes, cancellation, repurposing, returns, disposal, final production, and remaining supplier-held materials.
Lead documentation, invoice review, approvals, tracking, and communication with suppliers and internal stakeholders.
Ensure accurate supplier, product, pricing, forecast, production, material, and milestone data using consistent tools, routines, and documentation standards.
Use data, technology, and lessons learned to improve planning, visibility, accountability, quality resolution, and risk management; support special projects and supplier events as assigned.