Planning Manager

**Job purpose**

The Planning Manager is responsible for overall material planning of packaging, raw materials, and all other miscellaneous items. Managing the production scheduling team, analyzing statistical data, and generating forecast solutions and reports. Responsibilities include estimating future product demands and ensuring forecast are up to date and accurate.

**Duties and Responsibilities**

The associate’s primary functions and responsibilities are as follows:

- Manage buying strategy and optimize number of purchases & deliveries to minimize standard cost variances and warehouse space utilization.
- Define and maintain planning parameters and Master Data on SKU level, including safety stock and inventory coverage targets.
- Research suppliers and vendors that meet the goals of the company and customer needs.
- Review commodity pricing and confirm contracts with suppliers for key materials are up to date.
- Utilize continuous improvement techniques to ensure the highest service level, lowest inventory carrying cost, and maximized run efficiencies using advanced analytic skills.
- Maintain vendor file, purchase price, price fluctuations and quality records for each supplier.
- Provide forecast to all existing and new supplier.
- Assess the impact of demand changes or significant consumption variances in co-pack and recommend/implement appropriate revisions to the Supply Plan
- Timely identify (potential) materials shortages and escalate to resolve as quickly and efficiently as possible.
- Build collaborative relationships with suppliers to timely identify and mitigate supply risks: inventory availability, schedule changes and capacity constraints.
- Maintain and analyze vendors’ scorecards. Spearhead performance improvement initiatives
- Report materials with quality issues to suppliers based on non-conformance issues generated from quality team.
- Support the product life cycle process by cooperating with various cross-functional stakeholders on new product launches, line extensions, product discontinuations, etc.
- Identify potential excess inventory and lead risk mitigation activities. Manage monthly material disposal process.
- Collect and analyze data to ensure the company is making the best decisions.
- Meet with other department managers to understand the needs across the company.
- Work with logistics manager to ensure proper levels products are in stock to support production schedule and customer requirements.
- Work with customers to update monthly forecast to ensure availability of materials and capacity.
- Assist in employee recruitment, performance evaluation, and retention activities.
- Maintain training materials and organizing trainings to team members.
- Review and negotiate contracts with vendors and suppliers.
- Train new employees and support team members as necessary and complete competency skills reviews along with performance reviews
- Set up KPIs and weekly and monthly reports
- Responsible for daily management and support for the team to achieve operational success.
- Monitor time and attendance and ensure compliance with Company Procedures.
- Approve the vacation requests.
- Carry out incident, accident and non-conformity investigations and associated reporting and action closure.
- Issue disciplinary action when needed.
- Perform other assigned duties.
- Follow Health and Safety rules and regulations.
- Must follow Good Manufacturing Practices, Food Safety, and Food Defense guidelines.
- Comply with all Company policies and procedures.

**Qualifications**
- Strong research skills and analytical skills
- Ability to negotiate contracts.
- Proficiency in inventory and ERP product management
- Post-secondary education in Business/Supply Chain or a related field
- 2-5 years of experience in Supply Chain Planning and Material Planning
- Ability to visualize, articulate, and solve complex problems and make decisions based on available information.
- High-level proficiency with MS Office, especially Excel
- Drive for achieving and surpassing targets. Passion and commitment to Continuous Improvement
- Strong Communication and Collaboration skills
- Ability to effectively present and communicate at various levels of the organization.
- Strong oral and written communication.
- Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

**Working conditions**
- Travel to all RDJ locations
- Always work indoors.
- Compliant with ventilation, cleanliness, space, lighting and temperature.

**Physical requirements**
- Sitting involved.
- May repeat the same movement.
- Typing involved.
- **We are an equal opportunity employer. In accordance with AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005), RDJ Bakeries LTD will provide accommodations throughout the recruitment, selection and/or assessment process to applicants with disabilities. If you require disability-related accommodations, please inform the Human Resources (HR) staff. All personal information is collected under the author