What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Supply Chain - Planning position at Sanmina Corporation?
At SCI Technology, a Sanmina Company, we serve those who serve by delivering innovative, trusted and comprehensive products and services that meet and exceed the unique needs of the Defense and Aerospace sector. From avionics to tactical and airborne communications, counter-UAS, integrated manufacturing and cradle-to-grave product life cycle support, we deliver high-reliability solutions that keep service members connected and protected in the field.
Our heritage dates to 1961, as an early supplier to the space program in Huntsville, Alabama. Today, SCI offers a complete range of Defense & Aerospace solutions through our three business segments – Products, Systems Build, and Life Cycle Services. It’s SCI summed up - ALL WE DO to serve those who serve.
At this time, SCI is recruiting highly qualified candidates whose background and career goals meet our needs for the following position in Huntsville, AL. Please note that due to Department of Defense contract requirements, U.S. CITIZENSHIP IS REQUIRED.
Director of Supply Chain - Planning
Job Purpose
The Director of Supply Chain Planning is responsible for leading, designing, and optimizing the tactical and strategic planning frameworks across the divisions manufacturing and service sites.
This role owns the Sales and Operations Planning/ Sales and Operations Execution processes, ensuring the perfect synchronization of demand, production capacity, and component availability.
The ideal candidate will bridge the gap between business development (customer forecasts) and site operations, ensuring the lowest total cost of ownership, high inventory turns, and exceptional on-time delivery (OTD) in a fast-paced contract manufacturing environment.
Nature of Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & S&OP Ownership
● S&OP Leadership: Establish, mature, and govern the divisional Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process to align financial plans, customer demand, and operational capacity.
● Master Scheduling & Capacity: Oversee the development of the Master Production Schedule (MPS) and long-term capacity models to optimize equipment utilization and labor allocation across facilities.
● Inventory Optimization: Define and execute inventory strategies to maximize turns, minimize liabilities, and proactively manage Excess & Obsolete (E&O) materials.
Systems, Data & Analytics
● MRP Governance: Serve as the divisional architect for Material Requirements Planning (MRP) parameters (lead times, safety stocks, lot sizes) to ensure data integrity and system-driven execution.
● Advanced Planning Systems: Evaluate, implement, and leverage advanced planning and visibility tools (e.g., Kinaxis, SAP IBP, Oracle Advanced Supply Chain Planning) to enable real-time scenario simulation and ‘what if’ analyses.
● KPI Management: Establish and monitor rigorous planning metrics, including Forecast Accuracy, Schedule Attainment, On-Time-to-Commit (OTTC), and Inventory Days of Supply (DOS).
Customer & Supplier Collaboration
● Demand Management: Collaborate with Business Development and Program Management to analyze customer forecasts, challenge assumptions, and mitigate probabilistic Bill of Materials (BOM) risks in high-mix/low-volume or high-volume environments.
● Sourcing Alignment: Work closely with Procurement and Materials Management to align material pipeline commits with production schedules, supporting initiatives like Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) and consignment.
● Change Management: Lead responsive change management processes to handle engineering changes (ECOs), component shortages, and demand upside/downside shocks cleanly.
Team Leadership
● Talent Development: Direct, mentor, and elevate a team of Supply Chain Planners, Master Schedulers, and Demand Analysts.
● Standardization: Develop and scale standardized planning playbooks, competencies, and continuous improvement processes across all divisional sites.
Education & Experience Requirements
Education & Certifications
● Required: Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Research, Industrial Engineering, or Business Administration.
● Preferred: MBA or Master’s in Supply Chain; ASCM/APICS certification (specifically CPIM - Certified in Planning and Inventory Management) is highly preferred.
Experience
● EMS Industry Expertise: 8+ years of progressive experience in supply chain planning and materials management specifically within EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services) or high-tech contract manufacturing.
● Leadership Track Record: 3+ years in a dedicated managerial or director-level role leading planning teams across a multi-site network.
● High-Tech Models: Proven experience managing complex, high-velocity operating models including Build-to-Order (BTO), Configure-to-Order (CTO), and reverse logistics/repair service planning.
Skills & Competencies
● Advanced ERP/MRP Fluency: Expert-level knowledge of advanced ERP architecture (SAP, Oracle, or similar) and specialized supply chain planning software.
● Lean & Continuous Improvement: Deep understanding of Lean manufacturing concepts, Kanban systems, Pull signals, and Six Sigma problem-solving methodologies.
● Analytical Acumen: Strong financial and statistical analysis skills; comfortable translating complex material and capacity constraints into executive-level risk and financial impact summaries.
● Communication: Exceptional presentation and negotiation skills, with the ability to confidently interface with senior executives and Tier-1 customers.
Sanmina is an Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/Veteran/Disability/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity.
This is an ITAR facility and applicants must be a US Citizen.