Supply Planning Manager

Peter Millar•Durham, NC

About The Position

The Supply Planning Manager is responsible for transforming demand forecasts into executable supply and purchasing strategies that optimize product availability, inventory investment, and financial performance. Operating at the center of cross-functional collaboration, the role partners closely with Demand Planning, Merchandising, Production, Operations, and manufacturing vendors. This individual owns end-to-end supply planning from budget planning, in year reforecasting, factory capacity planning through purchase order execution and fulfillment center receipt. They make key tradeoff decisions related to buy timing, order phasing, chase strategies, MOQs, lead times, and inventory targets to balance service levels, inventory productivity, and financial objectives. They are an active business parter with demand planning to achieve business operational objectives. The Supply Planning Manager also champions continuous improvement through process optimization, automation, analytics, and reporting. They must develop scalable planning capabilities that improve decision quality, operational efficiency, and business agility. The ideal candidate is a highly analytical, results-oriented supply chain professional with strong business acumen, exceptional problem-solving skills, and a passion for continuous improvement. They thrive in entrepreneurial environments, effectively navigate complexity and uncertainty, and leverage data, systems, and cross-functional relationships to drive informed decisions and operational excellence.

Requirements

7+ years of experience in purchasing, planning, inventory, supply, production, or supply/demand planning roles; consumer brand or retail experience preferred
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, a related analytical field or equivalent business experience
Experience managing purchasing or supply for seasonal, promotional, or fast-moving product categories
Strong understanding of inventory dynamics, vendor lead times, and purchasing strategies
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including modeling, analysis, and automation (not just static reporting)
Experience with data analysis and visualization tools such as Power BI or Tableau; DAX, SQL, or scripting experience a plus
Experience working with planning and forecasting systems, with the ability to operate effectively both within and outside those tools
Strong ownership and results-oriented mindset with a focus on continuous improvement
Highly analytical, with the ability to synthesize complex and changing data into actionable insight
Ability to make timely, data-driven decisions grounded in supply chain expertise
Comfortable operating in environments with evolving systems, imperfect data, and shifting priorities
Strong operational discipline, accountability, and follow-through
Excellent communication, collaboration, and time management skills
Continuous learner who adapts quickly to new tools, systems, and business needs
Strong pattern recognition and innovation mindset, with a bias toward simplification and scalable solutions
Proven ability to build clear, executive-ready reporting and visualizations

Responsibilities

Own budget setting, in-season reforecasting, and inventory planning for assigned categories
Build exception management tools and processes for forecast changes, inventory risk, and capacity constraints
Drive proactive risk mitigation through resolution with internal partners
Ensure plans meet capacity constraints, financial targets (OTB, inventory turns), and timing requirements (in DC / ex-factory).
Monitor and drive adherence to inventory KPIs including in-stock rates, turns, excess, and allocation efficiency
Partner closely with Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to align supply plans with business priorities
Lead assigned areas of the S&OP supply review
Independently develop clear summaries and recommendations that support timely, data-driven decision-making
Own the factory capacity planning process from mid-term strategic volume planning through purchasing execution
Responsible to build and maintain capacity plans incorporating forecasts, OTB targets, and production constraints
Align purchasing strategies with vendor capacity, lead times, and internal timelines
Track readiness for launches, campaigns, and peak periods, proactively communicating risks, delays, or constraints
Develop and enhance capacity planning tools and dashboards (Power BI, Excel).
Convert demand forecasts into executable purchase orders aligned to business and inventory targets.
Manage tradeoffs (buy early, hold, phase, chase) based on demand signals, capacity, and financial impact.
Ensure purchases stay aligned to OTB targets and time-phased buying plans.
Partner with production teams on MOQs, lead times, and material availability to support execution.
Collaborate with vendors and internal partners to ensure timely and accurate PO execution.
Ensure strong alignment with essentials buyers to maintain factory capacity & inventory flow
Support air/sea decision-making based on forecast changes, marketing needs, and cost implications.
Identify, prioritize, and implement process improvements that reduce lead times, increase flexibility, improve service levels, and minimize waste
Design and implement tools, automation, and data flows to improve planning speed, accuracy, and decision quality
Develop strong working knowledge of ERP, WMS, and planning systems to support scenario analysis and execution
Create and maintain SOPs and work instructions for all assigned processes
Participate in projects and key initiatives as business needs evolve