Senior Manager, Planning & Operations

Kate McLeod; United States; Remote; USD 115,000 - 145,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Senior Manager of Planning & Operations to enhance supply chain excellence. In this pivotal role, you will drive demand forecasting, production planning, and logistics management to meet customer needs across multiple sales channels. You will collaborate with major retailers and internal teams to optimize inventory and vendor performance while ensuring timely delivery of high-quality products. If you are passionate about operational excellence and thrive in a fast-paced environment, this opportunity offers a chance to make a significant impact in a growing company dedicated to self-care and quality products.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in operations or supply chain roles, preferably in retail or eCommerce.
• Strong analytical skills and proficiency in demand forecasting and inventory management.

Responsibilities

• Lead demand planning and production scheduling to optimize supply chain performance.
• Manage relationships with third-party logistics providers and ensure compliance with SOPs.

Skills

Demand Forecasting

Inventory Management

Production Planning

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Problem-Solving Skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business

Supply Chain Management

Operations

Tools

Netsuite

Shopify

Excel

Job description

Who We Are

Kate McLeod creates effective, good-for-you products that help customers find moments of intentioned self care in their lives. Our hero product is the Body Stone, an innovative solid moisturizer that melts into the skin on contact. It's designed to be used daily and turns something quotidian into an intentioned moment of self care — a source of everyday magic.

Job Title: Senior Manager, Planning & Operations
Location: Remote / Northeast
Reports To: VP, Operations
Department: Operations

Job Overview:

We are seeking a driven and analytical Senior Manager of Planning & Operations to drive end-to-end supply chain excellence—from demand forecasting to production planning, procurement, and 3PL management. This role is critical to ensuring we meet demand across D2C and retail channels (including Sephora, Nordstrom, and Anthropologie) while optimizing inventory, logistics, and vendor performance. You’ll be a key partner in creating an agile, efficient, and high-performing operations function.

Key Responsibilities:

Demand Planning

• Lead the development and execution of item level demand forecasts across all sales channels (D2C, Sephora, Nordstrom, Faire), utilizing data-driven insights to anticipate consumer demand and inform supply chain planning.
• Develop and refine topline forecasts for D2C alongside the VP, Operations, taking into account historical data, new product launches, and marketing initiatives.
• Work directly with major retailers to collect replenishment forecasts, selling data, and anticipated new product orders to develop and maintain rolling internal forecasts for each retailer.
• Communicate unexpected deviances from plan and inform partners of supply gaps that may impact demand.

Production Planning & Supply Chain Management

• Develop and maintain detailed production plans to fulfill forecasted demand and retailer orders, ensuring optimal utilization of resources and adherence to timelines.
• Monitor ongoing supply needs to identify risks, issues, and conflicts that may impact the schedule, and develop mitigation plans.
• Collaborate with our manufacturing facility to assess capacity constraints and ensure appropriate staffing to execute on production plans.
• Place POs and manage relationships with raw materials, packaging and accessories suppliers, ensuring continuity of high quality materials at competitive prices.
• Create and maintain all items, BOMS, and POs in our ERP system (Netsuite).

3PL Management

• Manage relationships with third-party logistics providers (3PL), ensuring that Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are in place and packouts meet company specifications.
• Monitor that 3PL partners have adequate shipping supplies at all times and order supplies as necessary.
• Audit 3PL costs, analyze shipping costs, and negotiate rates with logistics partners to ensure competitive pricing while maintaining high service levels.
• Facilitate QBRs to assess ongoing costs, adherence to SLAs, and shipment accuracy.

Reporting & Budgeting

• Regularly analyze and report out on sales performance by channel, production schedules, and logistics efficiency to continuously optimize performance.
• Contribute to budgeting and operational planning, providing key input on production costs, shipping expenses, and inventory management to align with overall company goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations, or a related field.
• 7+ years of experience in operations, supply chain, production planning, procurement, or logistics roles, preferably in retail, consumer goods, or eCommerce.
• Proficiency in demand forecasting, inventory management, and production planning.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills, with experience working across departments and managing vendor relationships.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities effectively.

• Familiarity with eCommerce platforms (Shopify) and ERP systems (Netsuite strongly preferred).
• Advanced Excel proficiency
• Experience in the beauty, personal care, or CPG sectors preferred, particularly in startup environments.

Pay:

• $115,000-$145,000 per year based on experience

Kate McLeod is committed to building a diverse team and fostering an inclusive culture. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We welcome our employees’ differences in race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability, pregnancy, medical conditions, among other characteristics.