Deployment Planner

Lactalis USA; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Lactalis USA is seeking a Deployment Planner to create and manage internal finished goods deployments to meet regional inventory targets and service levels. You will work closely with production planners, transport and warehouse teams, customer service, and demand planning to determine optimal shipment quantities.

The role reports to the Deployment Manager and requires 4+ years in supply chain planning/forecasting, plus experience in warehousing and transportation planning.

Qualifications

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience required.
• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• Major in Supply chain, Engineering, Business, logistics, or related field is required.
• 4+ years Supply Chain Planning/forecasting experience is required.
• Cross functional experience in warehousing, transportation planning, and/or customer service preferred.

Responsibilities

• Build truckloads of finished goods to maintain inventory targets and maximize service to customers.
• Plan for constraints in the network: warehouse space, drop lot capacity, trailer pools, dock schedules, and DC operating hours.
• Coordinate with warehousing and transportation teams to ensure space and carrier capacity for shipping throughout the year.
• Collaborate with supply chain, industrial planning, transportation, and warehousing to drive results and communicate at multiple levels.
• Communicate expected service levels at distribution centers based on inbound flow and outbound orders.
• Utilize technology and tools to optimize workflow and results.
• Respond to variances to plan and perform root cause analysis to advise on disruptions.
• Drive continuous improvement to improve KPIs and process efficiency.

Education

Associate’s degree or equivalent experience

Bachelor’s Degree preferred

Tools

Excel

SAP

Job description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

The Deployment Planner will create and manage internal finished goods deployments in order to satisfy regional inventory targets to service our customers. In this role the Deployment Planner will work closely with the production planners, transport and warehouse teams, customer service and demand planning to determine optimal quantities to ship in order to achieve service and spoils targets. The Deployment Planner must leverage tools and resources to efficiently create shipments while minimizing rework and shipping inefficiencies. The role will serve as the go-to for troubleshooting service disruptions or shipping inefficiencies. This role will report to the Deployment Manager.

From your STORY to ours

• Build truckloads of finished goods product effectively to maintain inventory targets and maximize service to customers while avoiding overstock and finish goods spoils. Generate plans that account daily for new orders, netted forecasts and updated network inventory.
• Plan to account for constraints in the network, including warehouse space, drop lot capacity, trailer pools, dock schedules, and distribution center operating hours.
• Coordinate with warehousing team and transportation team to ensure ample warehouse space and carrier capacity for shipping requirements throughout the year, including for seasonality or volume spikes.
• Collaborate and build strong working relationships with various logistics and supply chain departments to effectively communicate, troubleshoot and drive results, including supply planning, industrial planning, transportation, and warehousing. Effectively communicate at multiple levels within the organization.
• Communicate expected service levels at distribution centers based on inbound flow of goods, outbound customer orders, and warehouse throughput constraints.
• Utilize technology, tools and resources to optimize workflow and results.
• Respond to variances to plan and perform root cause analysis to advise on variances and disruptions. Communicate findings and opportunities in a clear and actionable manner.
• Drive continuous improvement by proactively identifying and driving changes to improve KPIs, enhance communication and visibility and drive process efficiency.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Education

• Associate’s degree or equivalent experience required. Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• A major in Supply chain, Engineering, Business, logistics, or related field is required.

Experience

• 4+ years Supply Chain Planning/forecasting experience is required.
• Additional cross functional experience in warehousing, transportation planning, and/or customer service preferred.

Certifications and specific knowledge

• Proficiency in Excel and general knowledge of other MS Office applications is required.
• Proficiency in SAP is required.
• Experience in the CPG industry is preferred.

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affluent Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.