Director of Planning

Role Overview

• Build, develop, and inspire a high-performing, end-to-end planning organization across Demand, Supply, and Materials Planning, setting clear expectations, cultivating accountability, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Provide strategic direction, coaching, and structured career development to planners and planning leaders, ensuring the team has the skills, tools, and support needed to scale with the business.
• Establish the planning organization’s operating model-defining roles, responsibilities, workflows, governance, and cross-functional interfaces to ensure seamless execution.
• Champion change management related to system upgrades, process maturation, network expansion, and the planning discipline expected of a newly public company.
• Create a culture of analytical excellence, proactive problem-solving, and cross-functional partnership, enabling the team to influence decisions across Commercial, Operations, Finance, Procurement, and Executive Leadership.
• Drive talent capability building in forecasting, scenario planning, analytics, communication, and integrated planning processes to support both short-term performance and long-term organizational growth.
• Support an S&OP/IBP process that improves cross-functional alignment and drives clearer decision-making in a rapidly changing environment.
• Connect demand and supply plans to provide predictable, reliable signals for operations and commercial teams.
• Lead the rollout and evolution of planning tools and systems, balancing the need for better analytics with the realities of a small, fast-moving team.
• Build scalable forecasting capabilities—including statistical tools, AI/ML, and structured cross-functional inputs—to enhance demand signal reliability across channels and customers.
• Drive continuous improvement in forecast accuracy through disciplined review cycles, root-cause analysis, and effective collaboration with Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Commercial partners.
• Own the demand planning pillar of the S&OP/IBP process, ensuring transparency, actionable scenarios, and clear recommendations for executive decision-making.
• Execute a scalable supply plan that balances service, cost, inventory, and capacity across a fast-growing, multi-node co-manufacturing network.
• Implement robust capacity planning, scenario modeling, and constraint-based planning tools to guide short-, mid-, and long-range decisions.
• Partner with Operations, Procurement, and Commercialization to anticipate constraints, mitigate supply risks, and ensure production plans are fully aligned with demand priorities, innovation timelines, and network capabilities.
• Communicate supply risks, trade-offs, and service implications clearly and proactively to leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Lead continuous improvement efforts to enhance responsiveness, reduce lead times, and improve throughput across the supply network.
• Collaborate with external network partners, including co-mans, logistics providers, and suppliers, to support reliability improvements, capacity expansion, and long-range network planning.
• Oversee material contracts and coverage, ensuring adequate supply levels and strong alignment with Procurement on new contracts, and supplier performance.
• Manage VMI (Vendor Managed Inventory) suppliers, ensuring replenishment of reliability, inventory accuracy, and adherence to service and quality standards.
• Establish scalable processes that provide end-to-end visibility across raw materials, packaging, components, and all supplier-managed inventory programs.
• Lead material risk management by proactively identifying shortages, supplier constraints, lead-time shifts, and cost exposures, while developing mitigation plans and communication protocols.
• Partner closely with Procurement and R&D to support commercialization timelines, supplier readiness, and material availability for new product launches and innovation projects.
• Ensure material availability and readiness to support ongoing production plans and service-level commitments across the network.
• Own safety stock strategy, inventory optimization, and slow-moving/obsolescence management in a cost-conscious environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Supply Chain Management, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in supply chain planning, including years in leadership roles and direct oversight of demand planning.
• Proven ability to operate in a small or mid-sized, fast-growth environment, ideally within a company transitioning to or operating under public-company standards.
• Strong expertise in S&OP/IBP, forecasting methodologies, capacity planning, and inventory optimization.
• Experience managing co-manufacturers, third-party suppliers, and multi-node supply networks.
• Demonstrated success building or scaling planning organizations, including establishing standards, structure, and integrated planning processes.
• Track record of owning end-to-end planning processes with measurable outcomes such as improved forecast accuracy, inventory health, service levels, or cost optimization.
• Ability to lead systems strategy, optimization, and integration to support scalability, automation, and improved decision-making.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to translate data into clear insights and recommendations for leaders at all levels.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional influencing skills; able to drive alignment among Operations, Sales, Finance, Procurement, and Executive Leadership.
• High attention to detail with a commitment to data integrity, accuracy, and planning discipline.
• Skilled problem solver with experience in root cause analysis, continuous improvement, and ambiguity management.
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite, collaboration tools such as Slack, and modern planning platforms.
• Up to 10% of travel required for team-on-sites, supplier visits, and company-wide gatherings.
• Passion for purpose-driven work, especially improving childhood nutrition and contributing to a healthier planet.
• Demonstrated ability to thrive in ambiguity, make high-judgment decisions, and adapt in a dynamic, high-growth environment.
• Must reside in the United States; visa sponsorship not available.

Tech Stack

• Node.js

Benefits

• Remote-first work environment
• Annual Bonus
• 401(k) program + 4% company match after three months
• New Hire Remote Life Stipend + annual Nourish and Nurture Allowance
• Monthly Cell and Internet Stipend
• Quarterly Farm-to-Fridge home deliveries and Employee Discounts
• New Parents: Up to 18 weeks of paid Parental Leave, Baby Steps Back To Work, 3 months’ supply of Once Upon a Farm products, and breast milk shipping service and support for those who travel after birth for the duration of your breastfeeding journey
• Unlimited Paid Time Off
• Paid Volunteer Time
• Paid Time Off to fulfill civic responsibilities, including jury duty and voting in local, state, and national elections
• Medical Insurance for the employee is covered at 100% on select plans, with additional plan options at a reduced cost to the employee
• Vision and Dental Insurance are covered at 100% for the employee and dependents
• Life insurance
• Flexible spending account and Health Savings Accounts for applicable plans
• Employee assistance program (EAP)
• All other benefits, leaves, and insurance as required by law, based on your specific residence