Proprietary Supply Planner

Horizon Hobby • Champaign, IL

10d • Onsite

About The Position

The Proprietary Supply Planner monitors inventory lifecycles for a subset of nonproprietary products and Train-P, a category of Horizon Hobby’s Athearn brand. The role manages day-to-day supplier relationships, including item management, supplier performance tracking, and meetings. It collaborates with distribution centers, logistics, sales, and marketing to support product availability and brand success. This is a full-time, on-site position in Champaign, Illinois, with typical hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Typical annual pay is $50,000–$60,000, with a possible bonus that is not included in the base range; the final offer depends on the selected candidate’s experience and qualifications.

The position manages planning and purchase orders from identifying supply needs through order placement, fulfillment, receiving, invoice approval, and payment. It monitors stock levels, backorders, excess inventory, supplier performance, product lifecycles, and recurring shortages; analyzes data to identify corrective actions and process improvements; and provides insights to brand managers on pricing and portfolio optimization. The role may require occasional overtime during reporting periods or audits and occasional lifting of office supplies and materials up to 20 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made for employees with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Requirements

• Two to five years of relevant experience in inventory and supply planning, project management, purchasing, or supply performance management.
• Logical thinking, strong organizational skills, and good communication skills.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills.
• Ability to work across business operations teams and influence people at all organizational levels, including suppliers.
• Ability to work with different cultures.
• Flexibility to manage meetings across different time zones.
• Ability to use data files and Oracle Fusion Cloud-based software to manage the planning process.
• Ability to lift office supplies and materials weighing up to 20 pounds occasionally and to sit or stand for extended periods while working on a computer.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Management, Supply Chain Management, Project Management, or Finance; relevant job experience may be accepted instead.
• Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) accreditation or another relevant certification.
• Experience using Oracle Fusion Cloud ERP.

Responsibilities

• Define, monitor, and manage expectations for service quality, product availability, and supplier performance using established targets and metrics.
• Use reporting and analytics to identify corrective actions and opportunities for continuous process improvement.
• Review category, item, and brand fill rates and in-stock rates weekly; investigate out-of-stock causes, return-to-stock estimates, and recurring shortages.
• Review excess inventory monthly, identify affected items, and suggest disposition.
• Manage purchase orders from identifying needs through final payment, including creating requisitions or orders according to applicable parameters and restrictions.
• Communicate purchase orders to vendors and follow up on expected shipment dates; monitor past-due orders weekly and update promised ship dates or cancel outdated orders as appropriate.
• Support receiving and three-way matching; help resolve shortages, overages, and defective-product issues through appropriate adjustments, credits, returns, or other dispositions.
• Approve invoices in Oracle, resolve holds, and monitor payment due dates.
• Review customer backorders weekly, follow up on open orders, create purchase orders for items without supply, and identify items that will not be available.
• Prepare and distribute monthly supplier scorecards and facilitate monthly vendor review meetings to develop action plans for improving weighted and non-weighted metrics.
• Maintain professional and efficient vendor communications and facilitate discussions or negotiations concerning new items, price increases, market insights, product lifecycles, and inventory management.
• Manage supplier relationship expectations and track, report, and monitor supplier performance.
• Monitor product lifecycles and provide brand managers with feedback on pricing, competitive conditions, portfolio optimization, industry research, and emerging brands.
• Collaborate on ongoing and new process-improvement projects and provide insights to improve process efficiency.
• Perform other duties within the scope of the position as assigned and assist with special projects or other work important to company operations.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• HSA and FSA options.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• Life insurance and supplemental life insurance.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Paid time off.
• Paid holidays.
• Internal rewards.
• Discounts on company products.
• Additional coverage options, including accident, critical illness, hospital, and pet insurance.
• Possible bonus not included in the stated base pay range.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level