Manager, Planning

Canadian Solar Inc.; Walnut Creek (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) Retirement Plan

Medical/dental/life/disability program

PTO and sick days

Job summary

CS Power Systems, a division of Canadian Solar, seeks a Planning Manager to lead North American demand and supply planning, forecast accuracy, and inventory management. You will partner with Factory, Sales, Finance, and Operations to optimize planning processes and drive data-driven decisions.

The role requires deep planning expertise, ERP/CRM proficiency, and strong communication skills to influence leadership and improve metrics across multiple functions.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, operations, or related field.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in demand, supply, or inventory planning.
• Strong understanding of end-to-end planning and order lifecycle.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for large datasets, modeling, and reconciliation.
• Hands-on experience with ERP and CRM systems.
• Excellent written, verbal, and executive-level communication.
• Self-starter who can manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Own demand and supply planning across products and horizons, aligning forecasts with customer demand, inventory, and production capacity.
• Drive forecast reviews, improve forecast accuracy, and identify risks with mitigation plans.
• Guide allocation and reallocation decisions based on commitments and priorities, managing aging inventory.
• Maintain planning data integrity and collaborate with cross-functional teams to resolve gaps.
• Analyze complex data and translate findings into clear, executive-ready insights.
• Communicate forecast changes, risks, and actions to leadership and stakeholders.
• Ensure planning reports are accurate, traceable, and delivered on time.
• Own ERP/CRM processes and data quality; improve planning tools and reporting with IT.
• Lead system/process changes and develop the planning team with clear priorities.

Skills

Advanced Excel

ERP/CRM systems

Analytical thinking

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain

Tools

Power BI

Job description

At CS Power Systems, we’re on a mission to transform lives by delivering clean, solar-powered electricity to millions worldwide—and we’re just getting started. As a cutting-edge division of Canadian Solar, a global leader founded in 2001, we stand at the forefront of manufacturing high-performance solar panels, inverters, and advanced energy storage solutions. In this fast-growing, high-impact industry, our deep commitment to sustainability drives everything we do, creating innovative technologies that power a brighter, greener future.

Across Canadian Solar’s powerful ecosystem—including CS Power Systems, CSPowerTech, e-STORAGE, Recurrent Energy, MSS, and CSI Solar, we’re deeply invested in our people’s success. If you’re passionate about renewable energy and want to “Make the Difference” by building a lasting positive impact on the planet and communities everywhere, join us at CS Power Systems —where your talent can help shape the clean energy revolution.

Company Summary:

At CS Power Systems, we’re on a mission to transform lives by delivering clean, solar-powered electricity to millions worldwide—and we’re just getting started. As a cutting-edge division of Canadian Solar, a global leader founded in 2001, we stand at the forefront of manufacturing high-performance solar panels, inverters, and advanced energy storage solutions. In this fast-growing, high-impact industry, our deep commitment to sustainability drives everything we do, creating innovative technologies that power a brighter, greener future.

Across Canadian Solar’s powerful ecosystem—including CS Power Systems, CSPowerTech, e-STORAGE, Recurrent Energy, MSS, and CSI Solar, we’re deeply invested in our people’s success. If you’re passionate about renewable energy and want to “Make the Difference” by building a lasting positive impact on the planet and communities everywhere, join us at CS Power Systems— where your talent can help shape the clean energy revolution.

Location:

Our Walnut Creek, CA office is conveniently located near public transportation (BART), is ideally situated for bicycle commuters, there’s plenty of free parking, and an abundance of eateries in the surrounding area. Regular office attendance is expected 4-days per week.

The Opportunity

CS PowerSystems is seeking a highly analytical and self-driven Planning Manager, reporting to the Director of Sales Operations and Planning, to lead demand planning, supply planning, forecasting, inventory management, allocation, and planning operations for the North American business. The role partners closely with Factory, Sales Representatives, Sales Operations, Finance, Logistics, Product Management, and company executives.

The ideal candidate combines strong planning fundamentals and business understanding with strategic thinking and exceptional attention to detail. This person must be able to identify meaningful differences in complex data, produce accurate forecasts, and clearly communicate changes, assumptions, risks, and business implications. We value intellectual curiosity and the ability to continue learning and growing in the role.

Key Responsibilities

Planning & Forecasting

• Own demand and supply planning across products and planning horizons, aligning forecasts with customer demand, inventory, and production capacity.
• Drive forecast reviews, improve forecast accuracy through disciplined analysis and validation, and identify risks with practical mitigation plans.

Inventory, Allocation & Business Support

• Guide allocation and reallocation decisions based on customer commitments, available supply, and business priorities, while driving effective use of inventory, including aging inventory.
• Maintain planning and inventory data integrity and partner with Factory, Sales Representatives, Sales Operations, Finance, Product Management, and company executives to resolve planning gaps and support decisions.

Data, Communication & Decision Support

• Analyze complex data, identify discrepancies and trends, and translate findings into clear recommendations and executive-ready insights.
• Communicate forecast changes, assumptions, risks, and actions accurately and promptly, while remaining accessible and responsive to Operations, Logistics, the Director of Sales Operations and Planning, and company leadership.
• Ensure planning reports and outputs are accurate, precise, traceable, and delivered on time.

Systems, Process Improvement & Team Leadership

• Own planning-related ERP and CRM processes and data quality, and improve planning tools, controls, automation, and reporting with IT and business stakeholders.
• Lead system and process changes while maintaining operational continuity and manage and develop the planning team with clear priorities and accountability.

Qualifications and Experience:

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business, operations, or a related field, or equivalent hands-on planning experience.
• 7+ years of progressive experience in demand planning, supply planning, inventory planning, or related planning functions, including experience at the specialist level.
• Strong understanding of the end-to-end planning and order lifecycle.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including large-dataset analysis, modeling, reconciliation, data validation, and variance identification.
• Hands-on experience with ERP and CRM systems.
• Strong business acumen, analytical judgment, and commitment to data accuracy and precision.
• Ability to connect operational details to broader business priorities and translate data into clear recommendations.
• Excellent written, verbal, and executive-level communication skills.
• Self-starter who can manage competing priorities, remain positive, and drive results in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred

• Experience in the solar, renewable energy, manufacturing, high-tech, or industrial products industry.
• Power BI experience, including dashboard development and data visualization.
• Experience leading S&OP or similar cross-functional planning processes.
• Experience managing and developing a planning team.

Canadian Solar offers a competitive salary plus fully comprehensive benefits and performance bonus package based on an annual objective achievement. Our generous benefits package includes a 401(k) Retirement Plan, medical/dental/life/disability program, PTO and sick days.

The pay range for this position 110-150K. This range represents annual base salary only, without regard to location, and does not include bonus or other incentives or benefits that may apply. The pay range for this role is subject to change.

Canadian Solar is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, disability, or veteran status._

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