
Director of Planning
Once Upon a Farm
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Remote
Location: United States
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Salary
💰 $150,000 - $200,000 per year
Job Level
Tech Stack
About the role
- 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.
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
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard Skills & Tools
supply chain planningdemand planningS&OPIBPforecasting methodologiescapacity planninginventory optimizationroot cause analysisstatistical toolsAI/ML
Soft Skills
leadershipcoachinganalytical capabilitycommunicationcross-functional influencingproblem solvingattention to detailcontinuous improvementadaptabilitydecision-making
Certifications
Bachelor’s degreeMBA or advanced degree