Director of Supply Planning Chain

Chicago, IL 60607

Employment Type: Permanent Job Category: Supply Chain Job Number: 46122639 Compensation: $170000-175000 / year

Job Description

Title: Director of Supply Chain Planning 

Location: Chicago, IL 

Overview:
Sterling has helped build careers for thousands for professionals like yourself. Our expert recruiters support you at every step in the process and as a Best of Staffing company, Sterling provides exciting work with exceptional employers across the U.S.

Hire Type: Direct Hire
Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, PTO 
Bonus/ Incentives/ Stock Options: Annual Bonus, Leadership Bonus, 401k Matching 
Pay: $175k 

Job Summary:
  • We are seeking an experienced Director of Supply Planning Operations to lead end-to-end planning across a dynamic manufacturing and co-manufacturing network. This role oversees production, raw materials, and inventory deployment planning, driving alignment with business goals to ensure service, cost, and efficiency targets are met. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement experience to build scalable processes and high-performing teams in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.

Job Duties:
  • Lead supply planning functions across internal manufacturing and co-manufacturing sites, including production, materials, milk, and inventory planning.
  • Oversee the development and execution of efficient, service-oriented production schedules.
  • Drive alignment across demand planning, operations, logistics, finance, and customer service teams.
  • Own and lead plant capacity and supply reviews; support S&OP and S&OE processes.
  • Mentor and develop planning managers and supply planners; foster a culture of ownership and continuous improvement.
  • Ensure planning strategies support inventory targets, cost efficiency, and customer service excellence.
  • Manage end-to-end planning for co-manufacturing partners, ensuring production schedule attainment and deployment accuracy.
  • Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives across tools, systems, and planning processes.
  • Collaborate with operations to ensure plans align with production capabilities and operational strategy.
  • Lead planning alignment meetings with transportation, warehousing, and customer service teams.
  • Refine planning system configurations and support development of new planning tools and reporting.
  • Serve as a backup for key planning functions and ensure cross-site planning synchronization.
  • Demonstrate strategic thinking, proactive problem-solving, and effective leadership communication.

Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, or a related field required.
  • 5–7 years of relevant supply chain planning experience, with 3–5 years in a leadership or people management role.
  • Proven experience leading planning teams across multiple manufacturing and/or co-manufacturing sites.
  • Strong analytical skills and attention to detail; ability to interpret data and drive actionable insights.
  • Skilled in Microsoft Office, especially Excel; experience with Access is a plus.
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; able to influence and collaborate across all levels of the organization.
  • Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, high-growth, and ambiguous environment.
  • Experience with ERP systems (e.g., Dynamics 365), Anaplan, and planning tools strongly preferred.
  • Knowledge of programming (e.g., SQL or Python) and data visualization tools (e.g., Power BI) is a strong plus.
  • Network design or strategic supply chain planning experience preferred but not required.
  • Willingness to travel up to 60% as needed to support planning operations across multiple sites.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or genetic information. 

Meet Your Recruiter

Alicia Alexander

As one of the most respected names in engineering staffing, Sterling has hundreds of opportunities with top employers. If you’ve got a friend or colleague seeking their next move in engineering, we could have their next opportunity. We offer a referral bonus for every referral that we place. Submit referral now. 

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About Chicago, IL

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