Distribution Planner

Business Unit Overview
8th Avenue Food & Provisions is a growing organization made up of businesses that produce and sell quality products including pasta, peanut butter, granola, and fruit and nut trail mixes to retail, foodservice and ingredient customers. The company was formed in October 2018 through a combination of Post Holdings' private brands businesses and is owned by Post Holdings and funds affiliated with Thomas H. Lee Partners, L.P. ("THL"), a private equity firm.
Responsibilities
Position Summary:
8th Avenue Food and Provisions is seeking a Distribution Planner with strong analytical skills. The ideal candidate is someone who has capacity/supply planning experience in the food industry and can plan across multiple sales segments including retail, foodservice, and industrial customers. This role will also be a key member of supporting our efforts to optimize the use of our ERP system (JD Edwards) and help develop the data and analytics required for the organization to be successful in formal supply planning and demand balancing.
Duties and Responsibilities:

• Maintain a balanced supply network within capacity models. Develop distribution requirement plans within JDE.
• Work with the manufacturing facilities of ensuring distribution programs and directions are being followed. Escalate issues and concerns to the next level leadership.
• Lead supply balancing activities for the network of sites within the business units. Balance supply availability, service levels and inventory in cost effective manner. Utilize planning reports to adjust supply in response to changing demand signals.
• Monitor and maintain timely and accurate data flow affecting receiving and distribution of products.
• Contribute to S&OP process by reconciling Production to Distribution - showing gaps to coverage and potential solutions to gaps.
• Contribute to finished goods aged inventory reviews, root cause analysis and develop action plans to reduce aged inventory.
• Work with plant schedulers to resolve/refine plant product schedules to decrease product shortage issues.
• Participate in product life cycle management activities for the phase-in of new products and discontinuation of end-of-life SKUs - coordinating with other functions to maximize service and minimize inventory risks.
• Perform root cause analysis for OTIF misses, supply, and inventory imbalances.
• Aid in design/development/maintenance of key KPIs/metrics.
• Work collaboratively with other critical business functions, including Sales, Manufacturing, Customer Service, Procurement, Logistics, Distribution, Inventory, and 3PL Providers.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Education and Experience Required:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, logistics, or a related field from a 4-year college or university, along with 2+ years of relevant experience in finished goods movement in multi-site network.
• Intermediate to advanced proficiency with JD Edwards or similar manufacturing and distribution planning systems.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to handle multiple planning issues simultaneously.
• Detail oriented, a self-starter, independent and resourceful.
• Strong ability to work cross -functionally and facilitate teamwork.
• Intermedidate proficiency in Microsoft Office Products.
• Must have a valid U.S. Driver's License.

Preferred Education, Experience, and Skills:

• 3+ years of food industry experience.

Physical Requirements:

• This position is regularly required to communicate with others, both oral and written.
• This position is occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Travel:

• This position may travel up to 5% of the time.