Director of Demand Planning (Automotive)

Talent Traction; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Talent Traction seeks a Director of Demand Planning to own the full demand and supply planning function, from forecasting through inventory replenishment and S&OP execution. You will partner with the VP of Purchasing on product buying decisions and with the CFO on budget alignment, ensuring liquidity and alignment with operations.

You will close gaps between orders and stock, normalize inventory across multiple warehouses, and lead 3PL relations in Southern California.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of demand planning, supply planning, or S&OP experience in a high-SKU distribution, wholesale, or manufacturing environment.
• Experience in the automotive aftermarket, wheels, or adjacent import-heavy industry.
• Proficiency in ERP or demand planning systems (SAP, JDA/Blue Yonder, or equivalent).

Responsibilities

• Own the full demand and supply planning function from forecasting to inventory replenishment and S&OP execution.
• Partner with VP of Purchasing on product buying decisions and with CFO on budget alignment.
• Build an S&OP cadence that prevents overstock and stockouts across multiple warehouses.
• Manage current 3PL relationships and support buildout of additional sites; balance ordering and inventory mix across locations.

Skills

Demand planning

Supply planning

S&OP

Forecasting

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain or related field

Tools

SAP

JDA/Blue Yonder

Job description

As the Director of Demand Planning, you will own the full demand and supply planning function for the company, from statistical forecasting through inventory replenishment and S&OP execution. You will partner directly with the VP of Purchasing on product buying decisions and with the CFO on budget alignment, ensuring purchasing activity stays in sync with liquidity. Your work will sit at the center of the business, connecting supplier production cycles, 3PL operations, and the local Southern California distribution business into one coherent planning process.

You will be responsible for closing a significant gap between what is ordered from manufacturers and what actually arrives in stock, normalizing inventory levels across multiple warehouse locations, and building an S&OP cadence that prevents both overstock and out-of-stock events. You will manage the existing Kentucky 3PL relationship and support the buildout of additional 3PL sites, balancing ordering and inventory mix across locations. This is a highly hands-on, data-intensive role requiring strong analytical output, direct supplier engagement, and close cross-functional collaboration with sales and finance.

• 5+ years of demand planning, supply planning, or S&OP experience in a high-SKU distribution, wholesale, or manufacturing environment
• Experience in the automotive aftermarket, wheels, or adjacent import-heavy
• Proficiency in ERP or demand planning systems (SAP, JDA/Blue Yonder, or equivalent)
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, or related field, or equivalent professional