Manager of Distribution

At Russell Stover , not only do we love chocolate, but we love our jobs! Every day we go to work exhibiting our values of excellence, innovation, entrepreneurship, responsibility, and collaboration. Working at Russell Stover you’ll be part of the leading manufacturer of boxed, seasonal, and sugar‑free chocolates. For over 100 years, Russell Stover Chocolates, Whitman’s, and Pangburn’s have been crafted with the finest ingredients to bring happiness to generations. Today, we produce over 55 million pounds of chocolate annually, and our legacy brands can be found in 13 company‑owned stores and over 9,000 wholesale accounts. Join our team and let’s continue making chocolate lovers happy! A day in the life… As the Manager of Distribution, you will lead Russell Stover's centralized planning team to optimize deployment plans from the RSC factory network, improve inbound truck utilization and synchronize inventory management in our 3PL Distribution Centers with the objectives of optimizing inventory accuracy, maximizing fill rate, and optimizing in‑network shipments. You will also drive results through strong collaboration with cross‑functional leadership within sales, plant operations, procurement, customer service and RSC’s 3rd‑party distribution partner. You will be a proactive, action‑oriented business leader with the ability to solve complex problems and drive change within the organization. With oversight of inventory management, you will ensure execution of inventory and deployment functions and maximize customer service levels at the lowest total delivered cost. In addition, you will challenge, motivate, and empower individuals to grow professionally. This role reports to the Senior Director of Supply Chain Planning. Key responsibilities include: What you will be doing… Leads talent management, professional development, and retention strategy for direct reports Work closely with shipping managers in plants and 3rd‑party distribution centers Coaches team for high performance to deliver expected financial goals and KPI achievements including, but not limited to; inventory accuracy, inbound utilization, and minimizing out of network shipping Develops robust processes and works to give employees the opportunity to master the processes and the tools of inventory management Create annual/quarterly operational budgets which entail inbound pallets, outbound pallets, and storage capacity requirements Deliver weekly and monthly reporting to provide visibility to leadership regarding deployment and warehouse activities On an as‑directed basis, balance network capacity for assigned & non‑assigned LSNA brands Develop KPIs to identify and support continuous improvement projects Provide guidance & oversight of demand planning relating to DC forecast accuracy Identifies supply chain and business interdependencies in his/her work and coordinates as needed with other groups to drive customer fill rates at lowest possible cost Provides resourcing to support planning systems upgrades / process improvements If visiting our manufacturing plants, you will be expected to: Adhere to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) to ensure product quality and maintain compliance with food safety standards. Complete and follow FSQA training and programs to comply with regulatory requirements, ensure consumer safety, and support the plant’s food safety and quality objectives. Promptly report and take appropriate action on any observed or potential food safety hazards, process deviations, or non‑conformities by notifying the designated plant supervisor, in accordance with your role and responsibilities. Actively contribute to the continuous improvement of the company’s food safety culture through engagement and actions aligned with your role. This job posting is not all inclusive and other duties may be assigned. Do you have what it takes? Basic Qualifications Minimum 4 years of combined experience in manufacturing planning, customer services & logistics, supply planning demand forecasting, information technology, statistical modeling, and/or financial planning Demonstrated proficiency with supply / demand planning concepts and systems MS Office skills with Excel and proficient in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint Manufacturing or Demand Planning Systems (APO/PPDS or IBP), SAP or similar ERP system Experience managing direct reports or leading teams Excellent communication skills and the ability to speak, read, and write English fluently, with or without an accommodation Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain or engineering Experience in CPG (fast‑moving consumer goods), supply chain, forecasting, and/or logistics Strong collaboration and negotiating skills with both oral and written communication abilities Problem‑solving mindset, analytical and ability to use data to drive decisions/processes Strong interpersonal skills Ability to work and influence across departments and across levels within an organization Ability to manage multiple tasks and stressful situations effectively, adapt to changing priorities, and respond with urgency to requests while remaining focused on strategic imperatives Strong systems acumen with ability to adapt and apply At Russell Stover Chocolates , we don’t just accept difference — we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our employees, our products, and our community. Russell Stover Chocolates is proud to be an equal‑opportunity workplace. We provide equal employment opportunities to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, religion, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition, genetic information, military service, veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law. Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I‑9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks. Make Happy. Work Happy. #J-18808-Ljbffr Russell Stover Chocolates, LLC