Manager, Bulk Spirits Planning

Pernod Ricard Winemakers - Headquarters (inactive); Fort Smith (AR); On-site; USD 109,000 - 136,000; Full time

Job summary

Pernod Ricard is seeking a Manager, Bulk Spirits Planning for its Fort Smith, AR facility, coordinating liquid supply, blending, and master data governance. You will lead planning for bulk spirits, flavors, and ingredients to meet customer demand and production schedules.

You will partner with Procurement, Quality, R&D, Operations, Finance, and Customer Service to ensure uninterrupted supply, optimal inventory, and efficient blending operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain short-, mid-, and long-term bulk spirits supply plans.
• Ensure adequate inventory levels to support demand, production schedules, and service requirements.
• Monitor inventory health and establish inventory targets and safety stock levels.
• Identify material supply risks and develop mitigation plans to prevent production disruptions.
• Balance customer service, operational efficiency, and working capital objectives.
• Translate demand requirements into executable blend and liquid supply plans.
• Coordinate with Bulk Processing to align blending schedules with material availability and tank capacity.
• Review production requirements and proactively resolve material constraints.
• Partner with manufacturing teams to optimize blend sequencing and resource utilization.
• Support new product launches and commercial initiatives through effective liquid planning.
• Serve as the business owner for all liquid-related master data within ERP and planning systems.
• Ensure all spirits, ingredients, blends, formulas, recipes, routings, production versions, planning parameters, yield/loss factors, and tank/storage locations are properly established.
• Ensure planning systems reflect operational capabilities and inventory structures; collaborate with R&D, Quality, Operations, and Finance for formula changes and product introductions.
• Manage bulk liquid inventories to achieve service, freshness, and working capital objectives.
• Conduct regular inventory reviews and identify opportunities to reduce excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory.
• Ensure inventory accuracy through robust controls and reconciliation processes.
• Analyze inventory trends and provide recommendations to improve utilization and reduce waste.
• Partner with Procurement to communicate future bulk spirit and ingredient requirements.
• Collaborate with Customer Service and Commercial teams to understand demand drivers and customer priorities.

Job description

Where Conviviality is at work.

Pernod Ricard is a global premium international champagnes and spirits company. We\'re the team behind leading brands such as ABSOLUT® Vodka, Jameson® Irish Whiskey, Malibu®, Kahlúa® Liqueur, The Glenlivet®, Beefeater and Malfy Gins, and a leading portfolio of American whiskey brands including Jefferson\'s, Rabbit Hole, TX, Smooth Ambler and Skrewball™ whiskey.

Working at Pernod Ricard is all about igniting conviviality in all that we do. Derived from the French word, convivialité...it means human connection, authenticity, friendly, and jovial. Conviviality is energy and spirit with a splash of je ne sais quoi and is a core philosophy around how we live and work at Pernod Ricard.

Guided by our 4 core values: (1) grounded in the real; (2) fiercely authentic; (3) passion for challenge; and (4) connected beyond borders; we are team players, dream makers, trailblazers, movers and (cocktail) shakers. We have a passion for living life to the fullest, making new friends every day, and realizing our potential as people and as a business!

The salary range for this role, based in New York, is $109,100.00 to $136,400.00. The range may vary if the role outside of this location. Base salaries are determined during our interview process, by assessing a candidate\'s experience, skills against internal peers and against the scope and responsibilities of the position.

Note: This role is located in Fort Smith, AR. If not currently withing commuting distance to our Fort Smith Facility, we welcome all candidates that are open to relocation.

Position Overview:

The Manager, Bulk Spirits Planning is responsible for leading all bulk liquid planning activities for the Fort Smith manufacturing facility specializing in the procurement, storage, blending, and processing of distilled spirits, flavors, extracts, sweeteners, and specialty liquid ingredients. This facility does not perform distillation or barrel aging operations; instead, it relies on effective planning, procurement, inventory management, and blending of purchased liquid components to meet customer and production requirements. This role is accountable for developing and executing liquid supply plans, managing bulk spirits and ingredient inventories, ensuring accurate setup and maintenance of blends and liquid materials within ERP and planning systems, and coordinating blending operations to support business objectives. The Manager serves as the primary liaison between Procurement, Bulk Processing, Quality, R&D, Customer Service, Finance, and Commercial teams to ensure uninterrupted supply and efficient execution of production plans.

What you will do:

Bulk Spirits & Liquid Supply Planning

• Develop and maintain short-, mid-, and long-term supply plans for bulk spirits, flavors, extracts, and liquid ingredients.


• Ensure adequate inventory levels to support customer demand, production schedules, and service requirements.


• Monitor inventory health and establish appropriate inventory targets and safety stock levels.


• Identify material supply risks and develop mitigation plans to prevent production disruptions.


• Balance customer service, operational efficiency, and working capital objectives.

Blending & Production Planning Support

• Translate demand requirements into executable blend and liquid supply plans.


• Coordinate with Bulk Processing to ensure blending schedules are aligned with material availability and tank capacity.


• Review production requirements and proactively resolve material constraints.


• Partner with manufacturing teams to optimize blend sequencing and resource utilization.


• Support new product launches and commercial initiatives through effective liquid planning.

ERP & Planning System Master Data Governance

• Serve as the business owner for all liquid-related master data within ERP and planning systems.


• Ensure all spirits, ingredients, blends, formulas, intermediate liquids, and planning parameters are properly established and maintained.


• Oversee material masters, bills of materials, formulas, recipes, routings, production versions, planning parameters, yield/loss factors, and tank/storage locations.


• Ensure planning systems accurately reflect operational capabilities and inventory structures.


• Partner with R&D, Quality, Operations, and Finance to implement formula changes and product introductions.

Inventory Managemen t

• Manage bulk liquid inventories to achieve service, freshness, and working capital objectives.


• Conduct regular inventory reviews and identify opportunities to reduce excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory.


• Ensure inventory accuracy through robust controls and reconciliation processes.


• Analyze inventory trends and provide recommendations to improve utilization and reduce waste.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Procurement to communicate future bulk spirit and ingredient requirements.


• Collaborate with Customer Service and Commercial teams to understand demand drivers and customer priorities.


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