Manager, Materials & Demand Planning

Summit Search Group; Oakville; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Summit Search Group is helping a market-leading consumer products company fill a Manager, Materials & Demand Planning role in Canada. You will lead the Canadian Supply and Demand Planning team, optimize inventory, and drive the S&OP process to improve customer service and forecast accuracy.

You will partner with Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Distribution and Operations to deliver consensus forecasts, report KPIs, mentor a high-performing team, and influence the Canadian Leadership Team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, operations, or related field.
• 5+ years in supply/demand planning, order fulfillment, or related area.
• 2+ years in leadership.
• APICS CSCP/CPIM preferred.
• Experience with ERP systems (SAP/APO) is advantageous.
• Willingness to travel within Canada and the U.S.

Responsibilities

• Lead a team of Supply/Demand Planning professionals, supporting the Canadian business.
• Own end-to-end Supply and Demand planning functions to achieve customer service and inventory targets.
• Develop and monitor KPIs related to forecast accuracy, order fill rates, on-time delivery, and inventory turns.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Distribution, and Operations to execute customer initiatives.
• Lead the monthly Canadian S&OP process and present performance insights to senior leadership.
• Develop collaborative customer relationships and forecast consensus building.
• Resolve escalated customer order issues and maintain strong relationships.
• Manage inventory levels to balance service targets with working capital objectives.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team.
• Serve on the Canadian Leadership Team and align with North American planning standards.

Skills

Leadership

Forecasting

Data analysis

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

SAP/APO

MS Office

Travel flexibility

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain/Business/Operations

Tools

SAP/APO

Job description

Our client is a recognized market leader in the consumer products and home solutions space, known for its strong brand portfolio, innovation and partnerships with major national retailers and digital commerce platforms.

Position Scope:

The Manager, Materials & Demand Planning leads the organization’s Supply and Demand Planning team, ensuring product availability, inventory optimization, and exceptional customer service through effective forecasting, inventory management, and execution of the S&OP process. This role partners closely with cross-functional teams to drive supply chain performance and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities:

Demand and Supply Planning

• Lead a team of Supply/Demand Planning professionals, supporting the Canadian business.
• Own end-to-end Supply and Demand planning functions to achieve customer service and inventory targets.
• Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) related to forecast accuracy, order fill rates, on-time delivery, and inventory turns, reporting regularly to senior management.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, Distribution, and Operations to execute customer initiatives and improve Supply Chain performance
• Lead the monthly Canadian S&OP process, presenting performance insights, demand outlook, and consensus forecasts to senior leadership. Roll up Canadian consensus forecasts into the North American S&OP process.
• Lead the development of collaborative customer relationships, sharing insights and forecast consensus building.
• Resolve escalated customer order issues, working cross-functionally to find effective solutions and maintain strong customer relationships.
• Manage inventory levels to balance service targets with working capital objectives, coordinating with procurement and logistics teams to optimize stock.

Other

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Serve on the Canadian Leadership Team, providing strategic input on supply chain priorities, risks, and opportunities.
• Partner with North American Planning teams to standardize processes and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

Required Skills and Knowledge:

• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate a team, with excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Excellent verbal and written skills including meeting facilitation and the ability to present to higher management and customers.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret complex data, identify trends, and make data-driven decisions.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end supply chain processes, including inventory management, logistics, demand forecasting, and warehousing.
• Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP/APO experience strongly preferred) and advanced Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) skills for data analysis.
• Experience in the manufacturing or consumer goods industry is an asset.
• Willingness and ability to travel within Canada and the U.S.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field. Professional certification (e.g., APICS CSCP, CPIM) preferred.
• 5+ years of progressive experience in Supply/Demand planning, Order Fulfillment, Supply Chain Management, or a related role, with 2+ years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.

Summit Search Group is a fair and equitable search firm. We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the recruitment and selection process.