Senior Director Supply Chain Planning

About SunOpta

SunOpta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers, and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, SunOpta fuels customers’ growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, foodservice, and e-commerce channels across North America.

Job Summary:

The Sr. Director, Supply Chain Planning leads the strategy and execution of demand planning, supply planning, inventory management, production planning, materials planning, and network optimization. This role develops integrated demand and supply plans that align customer needs, operational capabilities, and financial objectives to support profitable growth.

The position is responsible for supply chain planning performance, inventory optimization, customer service, and working capital management. Partnering closely with Sales, Commercialization, Procurement, Finance, and Operations, this leader drives effective decision-making through the S&OP/IBP process while proactively managing risks and opportunities.

The Sr. Director also leads the adoption, governance, and continuous improvement of planning technologies, analytics, automation, and AI-enabled capabilities to enhance forecast accuracy, inventory productivity, supply reliability, and decision quality. Additionally, the role drives process standardization, capability development, and continuous improvement initiatives that support operational excellence and successful execution of business growth strategies.

Essential Job Functions:

• Develop and execute the enterprise-wide supply chain planning strategy, aligning demand, supply, inventory, production, capacity, and network plans with organizational objectives.
• Oversee the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes, facilitating executive-level decision-making through data-driven analysis, forecasting, and performance reporting.
• Direct demand planning, supply planning, inventory management, and master production planning activities to ensure optimal product availability, customer service, and inventory performance across the network.
• Establish long-term network capacity and resource plans by evaluating demand forecasts, manufacturing capabilities, distribution requirements, capital investments, and business growth initiatives.

• Drive inventory optimization strategies that balance customer fulfillment, working capital, inventory turns, and service-level objectives while minimizing supply chain risk.
• Partner with Business Management, Sales, Finance, Procurement, and Operations leadership to align planning strategies with customer demand, business priorities, and financial objectives.
• Oversee production planning and scheduling activities, ensuring efficient utilization of manufacturing resources while responding to changing business requirements and supply constraints.
• Monitor and analyze key planning and supply chain performance metrics, including forecast accuracy, inventory health, customer service, capacity utilization, fulfillment, and working capital performance, implementing corrective actions and continuous improvement initiatives as needed.
• Provide executive oversight for commercialization planning, ensuring successful integration of new products, acquisitions, and strategic business initiatives into supply chain operations.
• Own the strategy, governance, implementation, adoption, and continuous improvement of supply chain planning technologies, analytics, automation, AI-enabled capabilities, and supporting systems to improve forecast accuracy, inventory productivity, supply reliability, and decision quality.
• Establish and maintain the supply chain planning technology roadmap, partnering with IT, Operations, Finance, and business leaders to prioritize system enhancements, data governance, capability development, and user adoption.
• Champion supply chain transformation initiatives through process standardization, systems optimization, automation, and data-driven decision-making to improve organizational performance.
• Build, develop, and mentor high-performing planning and scheduling teams, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, continuous improvement, and employee development.
• Establish organizational structures, succession plans, and talent development strategies that support business growth and long-term operational excellence.
• Present strategic planning recommendations, operational performance, risks, and improvement opportunities to executive leadership to support informed business decisions.
• Other duties as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Provides direct leadership and oversight for the Demand, Production, Materials and Supply Planning functions and team members.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in Business, Supply Chain Management, Operations, or related field.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain planning, demand planning, production planning, scheduling, inventory management, or operations leadership, including experience leading large, cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and/or Integrated Business Planning (IBP) processes.
• Proven ability to develop and execute strategic supply chain initiatives that improve customer service, inventory performance, operational efficiency, and working capital.
• Strong knowledge of demand planning, forecasting, production scheduling, capacity planning, inventory optimization, and supply chain analytics.
• Experience leading organizational change, process improvement, and supply chain transformation initiatives.
• Extensive experience with enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and supply chain planning software.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration (MBA), Operations Management, or related field.
• Experience with Oracle ERP and advanced planning systems (APS).

• Professional certifications such as APICS Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM), or Lean Six Sigma.
• Experience supporting manufacturing, consumer packaged goods (CPG), food and beverage, or other complex production environments.

Competencies:

• Results‑driven leadership that sets clear direction, drives accountability, and delivers meaningful organizational outcomes (Speed, Dedication, Problem‑Solving, Entrepreneurship).
• High integrity and sound judgment in high‑impact decisions, with a strong commitment to ethical behavior, sensitivity, and confidentiality (Dedication, Customer Centricity).
• Adaptability in leading through change, maintaining clarity and confidence for others during uncertainty or pressure (Speed, Entrepreneurship).
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills including presenting, training, influencing, and negotiating (Passion, Customer Centricity).
• Relationship‑building skills that enhance collaboration, strengthen partnerships, and support organizational goals (Customer Centricity, Dedication).
• Strong business acumen supported by critical thinking that anticipates needs, evaluates risks, and guides effective problem‑solving (Problem‑Solving, Entrepreneurship).
• Effective time and priority management to balance multiple complex workstreams with competing deadlines (Speed, Dedication).
• Conflict resolution grounded in emotional intelligence, addressing issues directly while preserving relationships and team cohesion (Customer Centricity, Problem‑Solving).
• Commitment to high standards of quality, accuracy, and accountability that elevate performance across teams (Dedication, Passion).

Additional Considerations:

Travel Requirements:

• Some travel is required; travel to various SunOpta locations and for meetings and/or other job-related functions.

Location:

• SunOpta Headquarters, Eden Prairie, MN.

Work Environment:

• Majority of work is performed in an office environment.

Physical Demands:

• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer, including frequent screen use and visual focus.
• Frequent use of hands and fingers for typing, mouse use, and handling documents or office equipment.
• Occasional standing, walking, bending, stretching, and reaching.
• Ability to lift and carry items up to 15-25 pounds.
• Sufficient verbal and auditory ability for communication in meetings, calls, and office settings.

Featured Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid Family leave
• Paid maternity leave
• 401(k) with Match
• Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital indemnity
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED