Supply Chain Planner

NEW ERA CAP LLC • Buffalo, NY

33d • $65,000 - $80,000 • Onsite

About The Position

The Supply Chain Planner oversees demand and supply planning to ensure inventory is delivered on time and aligned with business needs. The role manages assigned category planning responsibilities, including Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP), forecasting, stock buys, inventory management, and Hot Market activities. It partners with internal and external stakeholders to provide service, maintain optimal inventory levels, and drive cost efficiency.

The position is part of Demand Management, which works across the company to meet customer service goals while maintaining appropriate inventory, decreasing lead times, stabilizing production rates, and reducing unnecessary costs. The role is based 100% on-site at New Era Cap’s headquarters in downtown Buffalo, New York, with domestic and/or global travel of 0% to 10%.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• Three to five years of experience in Supply Chain Planning, Demand Planning, Supply Planning, or related planning roles, including financial or product analytics.
• Proficiency in financial accounting principles and terminology.
• Efficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, and ability to learn and use new systems.
• Understanding of supply chain operations and how demand flows through supply execution.
• Data analytics experience, including organizing, manipulating, and reporting data using Excel and Tableau or Power BI.
• Excellent mathematical skills.
• Working knowledge of or experience in forecasting, planning, and scheduling.
• Understanding of financial data, including building finance plans from scratch.
• Familiarity with an MRP and ERP system such as SAP, PeopleSoft, or JD Edwards.
• Ability to prioritize tasks, meet deadlines, and pivot to accommodate unexpected delays.
• Detail-oriented approach that considers all areas, processes, and tasks.
• Effective oral and written communication with varied staff levels and external customers and suppliers.
• Ability to respond to internal customer needs, use diplomacy and tact, work well in a team, and establish collaborative working relationships.
• Enthusiasm for change, urgency, persistence, continuous improvement, learning, and taking initiative.
• Ability to work off-hours as needed during Hot Market periods.
• Interest in sports and lifestyle trends and their impact on demand.

Nice To Haves

• Master of Science in Supply Chain or MBA.
• ACSM/APICS CPIM or CSCP certification.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate demand planning activities and manage the S&OP process for an assigned business area.
• Analyze sales data, point-of-sale data, trends, and product calendars to develop S&OP plans and identify opportunities or gaps against financial plans; present drivers and recommendations to category leaders, finance, and executives.
• Use forecasting tools to align forecasts with S&OP plans, review plans with category and sales teams, and upload stock forecasts into SAP at the SKU level.
• Review forecast impacts on global and domestic capacity and communicate planning challenges or changes to planning and global production teams.
• Partner with category managers, global sourcing, global production, customer service, sales, and purchasing to maintain appropriate inventory of stocked finished goods.
• Manage inventory for the assigned business area using metrics such as months of supply, GMROI, and inventory quality ratio; manage safety stock and recommend actions for slow-moving, obsolete, or discontinued inventory.
• Analyze demand for global programs, prepare reports, coordinate supply-plan adjustments to meet supplier minimums, guide decisions about cancelling orders that do not meet minimum requirements, and help secure fabric and factory capacity.
• Oversee Planned Independent Requirement (PIR) management, including approvals, accurate entry, demand increases, and management reporting; confirm supply plans and pass requisitions to Global Production.
• Perform supply planning for globally sourced stock products, refine planning tools, assess items for scrap or liquidation, align SAP demand and supply plans, and communicate arrival needs to Global Production.
• Use MRP output to develop purchasing requirements; coordinate procurement and inventory levels with global production; track requisitions through purchase-order placement; and manage SAP MRP exception messages.
• Ensure the Open to Buy process is followed, communicate availability, obtain approvals, and report items beyond plan.
• Maintain and review raw material levels at stock manufacturers; lead meetings and present PO cubes, new minimum stocks, and priority lists.
• Lead Hot Market planning, including inventory management, heat-seal purchase-order management, and execution; develop time-and-action calendars and analyze demand for heat-sealed programs.
• Create purchase orders for third-party logistics personnel, coordinate execution directly with warehouses, and develop inventory reports to secure base caps for the process.
• Lead alignment meetings with category managers, customer service, and sales; communicate inventory availability and scheduled production to customer service, sales, and SBUs.
• Work flexible hours to support 24/7 demand during Hot Market periods and meet deadlines for stock buys, inventory reporting, and heat-sealed purchase orders.
• Manage end-of-life strategies with finance, operations, and commercial business partners.
• Interact with and provide direction to Credit/Finance, Customer Service, Manufacturing, Global Sourcing, Logistics, and Executive departments.
• Report on key performance indicators, monitor their use, and add, change, or remove measures as needed.
• Maintain understanding of other departmental roles to provide backup for domestically manufactured products and general coverage.
• Expand use of system-based tools and improve system processes to increase Supply Chain accuracy and efficiency.
• Keep sensitive matters confidential and perform other assigned duties.

Benefits

• Competitive compensation and bonus.
• Generous PTO policy.
• World-class benefits designed to promote health, financial stability, and personal growth.
• Paid parking.
• Exclusive discounts on apparel and headwear.
• On-site professional development opportunities.
• On-site café and fitness center.

What This Job Offers

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