Accelerator DT, Senior Manager Domain Planning

Mars Incorporated; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 119,000 - 164,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars Incorporated's Accelerator team is seeking a senior leader to own planning capabilities across Demand, Supply, and MRP, aligning with SAP Kinaxis/Blue Yonder ecosystems, and partnering with manufacturing, procurement, logistics, and analytics to drive execution and value realization.

Based in Chicago, the role blends strategic vision with hands-on delivery, leading a team of planners, shaping the planning operating model, and delivering measurable improvements in planning KPIs and

Qualifications

• 8+ years in supply chain planning or related areas.
• Experience leading planning-related business transformation or technology initiatives.
• Proven ability to translate business requirements into technology-enabled solutions.
• Experience managing direct reports and leading cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Own the Planning capability roadmap spanning Demand Planning, Supply Planning, MRP, inventory planning, and planning analytics.
• Define future-state planning capabilities, business processes, governance, and operating models.
• Establish planning KPIs, adoption metrics, and value realization measures.
• Lead planning demand intake, prioritization, and roadmap decisions through the Product Operating Model.
• Balance strategic transformation initiatives with operational support and business continuity needs.
• Ensure planning investments align to business priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Directly lead and coach Demand Planning and Supply Planning analysts.
• Participate in solution design, requirements definition, testing, deployment, and business adoption activities.
• Oversee planning-related enhancements, operational support activities, and issue resolution.
• Serve as escalation point for planning process, data, integration, and system challenges.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across planning processes and technologies.
• Connect planning processes across Demand, Supply, Procurement, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Analytics.
• Ensure planning capabilities support end-to-end supply chain execution and business objectives.
• Facilitate alignment between business requirements and technology delivery teams.
• Serve as the primary DT partner for Planning business stakeholders.
• Collaborate with SAP SCP, Kinaxis, Blue Yonder, ERP, and Analytics teams to deliver planning capabilities.
• Manage relationships with implementation partners and vendors supporting planning initiatives.

Skills

Planning leadership

Supply chain planning

Stakeholder management

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic execution

Tools

Kinaxis

SAP IBP

SAP APO

Blue Yonder

ERP systems

S/4HANA

Job description

Job Description

Accelerator is Mars Snacking's growth engine, focused on unlocking growth across high-potential categories and brands. Within Accelerator, the Better For You portfolio includes KIND®, RXBAR®, Nutri-Grain®, Special K Bars®, and Pure Organic® and within Tasty & Wholesome, the portfolio includes Eggo, Rice Krispies Treats and Pop Tarts. Combining the scale of Mars with the agility of a growth business, we are driving innovation, accelerating performance, and transforming how we work through data, automation, and AI-enabled solutions. We're looking for passionate collaborators to help us become the foremost leader in Mars Snacking and positively impact society along the way. If you're looking to be a part of an inspiring, energetic and entrepreneurial environment, you've found the right place.

What you'll do

Reporting to the Sr. Director, Accelerator TLT Lead, this role is part of the Digital Technologies organization supporting Accelerator, including KIND, Tru Fru, Nature's Bakery, and the newly acquired Kellanova brands. The role is responsible for leading Accelerator's end-to-end Planning capability across Demand Planning, Supply Planning, and Material Requirements Planning (MRP), combining strategic ownership with hands-on leadership of planning resources to drive business outcomes, operational excellence, roadmap execution, governance, user adoption, and continuous improvement. As Accelerator continues to evolve, this leader will establish functional ownership of the Planning domain, integrate Heritage Kellanova and Health & Wellness capabilities, and help define the future Planning operating model. Working in close partnership with Supply Chain, Manufacturing, Procurement, Logistics, Finance, and DT platform teams, this role will drive execution across the full solution lifecycle, including implementation, support, enhancements, master data, integrations, issue resolution, and ongoing optimization across the planning landscape.

Job Responsibilities

Planning Capability Ownership

• Own the Planning capability roadmap spanning Demand Planning, Supply Planning, MRP, inventory planning, and planning analytics.
• Define future-state planning capabilities, business processes, governance, and operating models.
• Establish planning KPIs, adoption metrics, and value realization measures.

Product & Portfolio Leadership

• Lead planning demand intake, prioritization, and roadmap decisions through the Product Operating Model.
• Balance strategic transformation initiatives with operational support and business continuity needs.
• Ensure planning investments align to business priorities and measurable outcomes.

Hands-On Delivery & Execution

• Directly lead and coach Demand Planning and Supply Planning analysts.
• Participate in solution design, requirements definition, testing, deployment, and business adoption activities.
• Oversee planning-related enhancements, operational support activities, and issue resolution.
• Serve as escalation point for planning process, data, integration, and system challenges.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across planning processes and technologies.

Cross-Functional Integration

• Connect planning processes across Demand, Supply, Procurement, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Analytics.
• Ensure planning capabilities support end-to-end supply chain execution and business objectives.
• Facilitate alignment between business requirements and technology delivery teams.

Stakeholder & Vendor Management

• Serve as the primary DT partner for Planning business stakeholders.
• Collaborate with SAP SCP, Kinaxis, Blue Yonder, ERP, and Analytics teams to deliver planning capabilities.
• Manage relationships with implementation partners and vendors supporting planning initiatives.

Qualifications

Must-Have Requirements

• 8+ years of experience in Supply Chain Planning, Planning Technology, Supply Chain Digital Transformation, or related areas.
• Demonstrated experience across Demand Planning, Supply Planning, and/or MRP processes.
• Experience leading planning-related business transformation or technology initiatives.
• Proven ability to translate business requirements into technology-enabled solutions.
• Experience managing direct reports and leading cross-functional teams.
• Strong stakeholder management and business relationship skills.
• Experience working with planning platforms such as Kinaxis, SAP IBP, SAP APO, Blue Yonder, or equivalent.
• Ability to operate at both strategic and tactical levels in a fast-paced environment.

Nice-to-Have Requirements

• Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry experience.
• Experience supporting manufacturing and distribution operations.
• Product management or Product Operating Model experience.
• Knowledge of S&OP, Integrated Business Planning (IBP), and inventory optimization processes.
• Experience with AI-enabled planning, demand sensing, or advanced planning analytics.
• SAP S/4HANA planning knowledge.
• Experience supporting acquisitions, integrations, or large-scale transformations.
• Familiarity with Agile delivery methodologies.

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 119,040.00 - USD 163,680.00