Planning Manager

Katzman; New York (NY); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 185,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work model

Job summary

Katzman is seeking a Planning Manager to translate sales trends into accurate demand forecasts and actionable planning recommendations. You will enable the Procurement team to focus on strategic sourcing while reducing overstocks and working capital.

The role emphasizes demand forecasting, promotional planning, and inventory optimization in a fast-paced, perishable-food environment. Hybrid work includes three on-site days in New York and New Jersey and two remote days.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years in procurement, demand planning, or related supply chain role.
• Experience in perishable, fast-moving environments preferred.
• Ability to convert data into actionable recommendations.
• Strong Excel and planning systems knowledge.
• Bachelor's degree in related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain demand forecasts using historical sales, promotional activity, seasonality, weather, and market intelligence.
• Translate forecasted demand into clear inventory and supply requirements, identifying risks and changes for action.
• Measure forecast accuracy and forecast bias, investigate variances, and improve planning methodologies.
• Lead promotional planning and execution with Procurement and Sales, including timing and readiness.
• Monitor inventory turns, days of supply, service levels, and other health indicators.
• Provide executive KPI reporting on forecast accuracy, vendor performance, inventory, pricing, and profitability.
• Identify opportunities to reduce overstocks, out-of-stocks, shrink, and working capital.

Skills

Forecasting

Demand planning

Inventory planning

Excel

ERP systems

Data analysis

Vendor collaboration

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain

Tools

ERP software

Job description

This position is responsible for translating sales trends, promotions, seasonality, weather, market intelligence, and supply conditions into actionable forecasts and planning recommendations. By creating structure, visibility, and accountability across the planning process, the Planning Manager enables the Procurement team to devote greater focus to strategic sourcing and supplier partnerships while reducing overstocks, out-of-stocks, shrink, and unnecessary working capital.

Key Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Demand Planning & Forecasting
• Develop and maintain demand forecasts using historical sales, promotional activity, seasonality, weather, and relevant market intelligence.
• Translate forecasted demand into clear inventory and supply requirements, identifying risks, gaps, and changes that require Procurement and Sales action.
• Measure forecast accuracy and forecast bias, investigate material variances, and continuously improve planning assumptions and methodologies.
• Identify emerging sales trends, changes in customer demand, and potential supply constraints early enough to support proactive decision-making.
• Promotional Planning & Execution
• Coordinate promotional planning with Procurement and Sales, including pricing inputs, demand expectations, inventory builds, timing, and execution readiness.
• Ensure promotional demand is reflected in forecasts and supply plans with sufficient lead time for sourcing and operational execution.
• Conduct post-promotion analysis to assess forecast accuracy, sales performance, inventory impact, and opportunities to improve future events.
• New Item, First-of-Season & Holiday Planning
• Lead planning and execution for first-of-season items, holiday calendars, and new item launches.
• Coordinate cross-functional readiness and proactively surface risks that could affect launch timing, product availability, or customer service.
• Procurement Analytics & Inventory Performance
• Monitor inventory turns, days of supply, aging inventory, inventory capacity, service levels, and other inventory health indicators to improve productivity and freshness.
• Develop and provide executive KPI reporting on forecast accuracy, vendor performance, inventory, pricing, and commodity profitability.
• Identify opportunities to reduce overstocks, out-of-stocks, shrink, and working capital while supporting customer service expectations.
• Use data and exception-based analysis to prioritize issues and recommend actions to Procurement and cross-functional partners.

Qualifications & Requirements

• 3-5 years of experience in procurement, demand planning, supply planning, inventory planning, or a related supply chain function preferred.
• Experience in produce, fresh food, food service, wholesale, or another highly perishable and fast-moving environment is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to develop forecasts, analyze inventory performance, identify exceptions, and convert data into actionable recommendations.
• Strong analytical skills with advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel; experience with ERP, inventory, planning, or business intelligence systems is preferred.
• Strong understanding of seasonality, promotions, supply constraints, service levels, inventory turns, and other core planning concepts.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills with the ability to align multiple departments around shared assumptions, decisions, and action plans.
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Proactive problem solver who is comfortable working with incomplete or rapidly changing information and escalating risks when needed.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Finance, Analytics, Operations, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience will be considered.
• Fast-paced, warehouse-adjacent office environment, supporting a perishable and logistics-intensive business.
• Proposed onboarding schedule includes six months of hybrid work, to include three days on-site across the Katzman facilities in New York and New Jersey and two days remote.
• Must be comfortable adapting to seasonal demand, changing market conditions, and time-sensitive planning needs.

Pay:

$160,000 - $185,000 per year

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws.For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.