Owned by 250 family farms, Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is a food and beverage company that has offered innovative, award-winning, high-quality dairy products since 1965. Our progressive cooperative’s success is based on a commitment to quality in everything we do that extends to every stage of operations, from our farms to the consumer. Our product offerings include milk, flavored milk, yogurt, dip, sour cream, cottage cheese, Italian cheese, and ice cream mix marketed under the Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk® brands.

Role & Responsibilities:

The primary function of this position is the development of supply plans for designated production facilities and production lines that attempt to understand and optimize planned milk utilization. Optimization of costs and service in support of Customer Service initiatives, milk utilization objectives, and company profitability plans. Actively manages Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process to ensure a balance between customer service, manufacturing effectiveness, inventory investment and spoilage avoidance. Manage the finished goods inventory investments. Oversee the development of utilization plans for designated warehouse facilities and transportation lanes. Track and report production, supply and fulfillment related issues and planning metrics as part of the S&OP process. Analyze capacity utilization and provide information to support business case for capacity expansion, milk supply or physical network re-alignment.

Job Duties and Responsibilities:

The Supply Network Planner is responsible for the following activities:

• Work as an analytical evaluator in a wide range of supply chain opportunities to help optimize total cost and service.
• Develop & maintain a monthly forward looking 18-month outlook of planned production, milk utilization, asset utilization, and FG inventory projections for manufacturing operations accounting for new product rollouts, planned operational initiatives, and seasonal product planning.
• Develop, manage, and maintain the capacity planning models for 3-8 manufacturing facilities.
• Collaborate with Membership to maintain understanding of planned milk supply.
• Conduct monthly Supply Agreement process for designated manufacturing facilities and product categories in support of Sales and Operations Planning Process surfacing any Supply and Demand imbalances and facilitate imbalance management decision making through the S&OP Process.
• Establish inventory planning and production scheduling parameters to be executed by Master Production Schedulers within each supply facility.
• Collaborate with Procurement, plant located Materials Planners & Production Schedulers to align raw material, production, and finished good strategies.
• Develop materials for and lead discussion of Capacity and Inventory review in S&OP Supply Review Meeting.
• Analyze and review inventory stocking policies and strategies quarterly to minimize spoilage, maximize service, and maximize inventory turns.
• Collaborate with Plant Operations to develop and execute product run rate review process and align with plant operations leadership on any changes to capacity definitions.
• Analyze inventory investment costs and trends to ensure they are in alignment with departmental and company objectives.
• Analyze total delivered costs (manufacturing and distribution), recommend, and implement changes to process and strategy to achieve lowest Supply Chain cost.
• Performs all accountabilities within the policies, procedures, and core values of Upstate Niagara Cooperative.
• Manage key aspects related to planning activities, acting as the main interface between manufacturing, logistics, marketing, and finance within the S&OP process.

Education and Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree in business, logistics or related field with 5 years of planning experience preferred.
• APICS certification or matriculation towards certification preferred.
• Demonstrated statistical and spreadsheet analytical skills.
• Demonstrated ability to perform basic financial analysis.
• Knowledge of manufacturing, distribution, and customer service
• Experience in Sales and Operations planning preferred.
• Good communication, presentation, interpersonal and listening skills.
• Direction or Influencing of Others:

Key Working Relationships

• Membership, Mfg. Operations, Transportation, Warehousing, Finance, Sales, Marketing, & Procurement 

Preferred Skills:

Business Acumen

Soft Skills

Technical / Analytical Skills

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

This position will primarily operate in a fast-paced office environment that requires a combination of team-based work as well as in-depth individual analysis. This individual must be comfortable sitting/standing at workstation for extended periods of time. Must be able to operate standard office equipment such as computer, phone, copier…etc. Periodic travel to plant operations or to support customer interactions may be required.

Pay: $75,000-$95,000/yr. 

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.