Position Description:
Our manufacturing client seeks to hire a Senior Manager of Supply Chain Planning based in the greater Milwaukee area. This is a confidential search. Details will be shared with suitable candidates. The company is planning for significant manufacturing capacity expansion and revenue growth.
The Sr Manager of Supply Chain Planning is responsible for coordinating demand forecasting, production planning, inventory management, and supply planning to ensure efficient operations across the manufacturing supply chain. This role ensures the right materials and products are available at the right time while optimizing inventory levels, improving service levels, and minimizing operational costs. The role reports to the Director of Manufacturing and supervises 2 planners, 2 purchasing agents, and a shipping manager.
An ideal candidate will have 7 or more years of work experience in supply chain and production planning, and materials management with 3 or more years of management experience, as well as demonstrated strength in SIOP.
Primary Responsibilities:
Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP)
- Develop and maintain demand forecasts based on historical data, market trends, and sales input.
- Align demand forecasts with production capacity and material plans and identify gaps.
- Present supply-demand balance and risk mitigation plans to leadership.
- Drive forecast accuracy improvement and inventory turns.
Purchasing & Material Planning
- Reports: Oversee two Purchasing Managers.
- Ensure raw material and component availability aligned to production schedules.
- Manage inventory levels to optimize working capital and absorption.
- Monitor supplier performance (delivery, quality, cost adherence).
- Coordinate tactical escalation with Regal Holdings supply chain leadership.
Production Planning
- Reports: Oversee Manufacturing Production Planner and Junior Planner.
- Align daily and weekly production schedules with capacity and material constraints.
- Reduce schedule volatility and improve plant efficiency.
- Support new product launches and equipment ramp-up plans.
- Ensure ERP/MRP system accuracy and data integrity.
Shipping & Logistics Execution
- Reports: Oversee Shipping Manager.
- Ensure on-time delivery performance (OTIF).
- Coordinate outbound logistics with centralized logistics function.
- Optimize freight cost and shipping efficiency at the plant level.
- Ensure compliance with trade and tariff documentation.
Inventory & Working Capital Management
- Drive inventory accuracy and cycle count discipline.
- Reduce obsolete and excess inventory.
- Monitor slow-moving and aging materials.
- Partner with Finance on absorption and overhead performance drivers.
- Coordinate with sourcing, manufacturing, logistics, and sales teams to align supply chain activities.
- Sales (forecast alignment)
- Manufacturing (capacity & sequencing)
- Finance (inventory & absorption)
- Engineering/NPD (new product launches)
- Identify and mitigate supply chain risks, including material shortages or production constraints.
- Analyze supply chain performance and recommend process improvements and cost-saving opportunities.
- Work with suppliers to ensure timely material delivery and resolve supply issues.
- Utilize ERP/MRP systems to manage planning data and generate reports.
Minimum Position Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or related field.
- Experience leading full-cycle the SIOP process.
- 8+ years in supply chain, production planning, materials management, or operations.
- 4+ years in people leadership (managing managers and cross-functional teams).
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, IFS, or similar).
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data analysis tools.
- Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Preferred Qualifications
- APICS certification such as CPIM or CSCP.
- Knowledge of lean manufacturing or continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience with forecasting or supply chain analytics tools.
The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirement for the performance of this job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements.
