Demand Planning Manager

Demand Planning Manager

Walnut Creek, CA

BUILT ON FLAVOR. FUELED BY PEOPLE.

What's it like to work at Kinder's? Well, there's a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that, there's also plenty of hard work. Because we don't just like flavor, we're obsessed with it.

With over 100 products sold nationwide, we're now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more. We're not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led, we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships. Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.

As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue, we need more smart-and-scrappy, flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If you're looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it! Every day, you'll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.

How you'll have an impact at Kinder's:

Kinder's is expanding rapidly, and we are looking for a dynamic and experienced Manager of Demand Planning to lead our channel and category demand activities. The ideal candidate is not only skilled in demand forecasting but also embodies a growth mindset, balancing today's demands with building systems for tomorrow. This role requires a strong collaborator who can work cross-functionally to align demand plans with our rapid market expansion and product innovation cycles.

The Manager of Demand Planning will own category-based forecasting across all geographies, ensuring agility in our short-term operations while aligning long-term business strategy. This position requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment and can innovate within ambiguity, embracing our core value of "Fail Forward." You will be the bridge between Sales and Operations Execution (S&OE) and Integrated Business Planning (IBP), playing a pivotal role in connecting tactical execution with strategic growth initiatives.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain accurate, data-driven demand forecasts for the Grocery channel using historical shipment and POS data, market trends, and sales input.
• Continuously analyze Point of Sale (POS) data to identify growth drivers and optimize forecasts, ensuring alignment with marketing spend and promotional activities.

Collaboration & Partnership:

• Build strong, collaborative relationships across internal teams (Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain) and key external partners.
• Foster a culture of open communication, ensuring alignment on demand expectations, opportunities, and risks.

Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP):

• Lead the S&OP process for your channels and categories, ensuring that demand plans align with company goals.
• Act as a change agent who brings diverse perspectives together to drive clear, actionable plans.

New Product Introductions:

• Partner with Product Development, Marketing, and Sales teams to integrate new product launches into demand forecasts.
• Ensure smooth market entry by driving alignment across functions and forecasting channels.

Data-Driven Analysis:

• Leverage sales data, market trends, and other relevant insights to improve demand forecasting accuracy.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance distribution efficiency and streamline operations.

Performance Metrics & Accountability:

• Develop and monitor KPIs that track the effectiveness of demand planning.
• Own the results, ensuring the right stock levels to minimize overstock or stockouts while maintaining high service levels.
• Take ownership of reporting and presenting key insights to senior leadership.

Process Improvement & Innovation:

• Proactively identify and implement process improvements.
• Drive efficiency and embrace innovation by rethinking traditional demand planning methods, asking insightful questions, and exploring new approaches to achieve better outcomes.

Leadership & Ownership:

• Act as a key player in bridging short-term tactical planning with long-term strategic growth.
• Demonstrate leadership by fostering collaboration, taking ownership of the demand planning function, and being a role model for integrity and results.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Business, Economics, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in demand planning, preferably within the food and beverage industry.
• Proven ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, with a focus on innovation and process improvement.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience using demand forecasting tools (e.g., Anaplan, SAP IBP) and analyzing POS data (Nielsen, IRI, or similar).
• Demonstrated track record of successfully leading demand planning initiatives that improve forecasting accuracy and drive business growth.
• Collaboration & Communication: Excellent communication skills and the ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders. Capable of building genuine, non transactional partnerships to achieve shared goals.
• Experience with S&OP processes, integrating commercial, marketing, and supply chain inputs into robust demand plans.
• Passion for continuous improvement, embodying a growth mindset that values learning agility and adaptability in a rapidly evolving environment.
• Strong attention to detail with a proactive, results-oriented approach to problem-solving and decision-making.

Required Skills:

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate across teams and build strong partnerships.
• Proficiency in demand planning software and tools, with a focus on leveraging data for strategic decision-making.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and work effectively as part of a cross functional team.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, with a passion for delivering results.

The expected starting salary range for this role is $130,000- $160,000 per year. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range based on the location of the role. The amount a particular employee will earn within the salary range will be based on factors such as relevant education, qualifications, performance and business needs.

SEASONED FOR SUCCESS:

• No two days here are the same.
• We try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don't live by hierarchy and structure – everyone is a difference maker here.
• We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information – our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
• We believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate risk.
• We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
• We aren't trying to be average – we want to do exceptional things, and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.

BENEFITS THAT BRING MORE TO THE TABLE:

We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off, 401k, bonus / incentive eligibility, equity grants, competitive health benefits, and other family-friendly benefits, including parental leave. Kinder's benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.

OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE:

We believe great culture starts with people. We're a people-first company built on connection, collaboration, and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community, but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.

WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS:

Kinder's is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, citizenship, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities