Senior Manager, Beverage Operations Planning

The Role 

As more Americans turn to cannabis for well-being, we are looking to grow our team to help us bring additional safe, trusted products to even more consumers and channels across the country. The Sr. Manager, Beverage Operations Planning will be a key player in expanding our THC-infused beverage business to ensure availability of our beverages nationwide.  

We are seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial Sr. Manager to spearhead the growth of our portfolio of brands led by Señorita, an award-winning hemp-derived THC beverage brand in a rapidly emerging market. This role combines strategic planning with hands-on execution, requiring someone who thrives in a fast-paced, startup-like environment. The ideal candidate is resourceful, driven, and eager to build an industry leading planning operation from the ground up. This role offers significant growth opportunities as the business expands. However, the individual must be comfortable taking a hands-on approach, actively engaging with suppliers, production facilities, and internal stakeholders. 

This is a hybrid role and will require in office work at our Chicago office. Up to 25% travel is expected for this role. 

Responsibilities 

Inventory Control: 

• Build tools and processes to actively monitor and manage raw materials, finished goods, and work-in-progress inventories 
• Work directly with suppliers/3rd party warehouses to understand availability of raw materials/lead times and re-stock materials across each production facility ensure smooth and uninterrupted production 
• Manage relationship with 3PL/storage facilities to understand current inventory levels, recent/historical depletion rates, and cadence to replenish 3PL to ensure minimal to no OOS 

Production Planning & Scheduling: 

• Build and continuously update short-term and long-term production schedules by production location and SKU 
• Work with each beverage production facility to,  
• Monitor/update weekly production against expectations and most recent demand forecasts,  
• Ensure locations are stocked with required raw material inventory,  
• Update work in progress and finished goods inventory levels, and 
• Identify and mitigate against bottlenecks and production issues 
• Be able to update Beverage leadership on production updates & KPIs (inventory levels, production rate, 3PL performance, unexpected downtime, etc.) 

Demand Forecasting: 

• Collaborate with the sales, e-commerce, and marketing teams to update near term /long term demand plan. 
• Review market demand forecasts against production schedules and flag any imbalances to ensure demand is appropriately met 

Logistics Management: 

• Build relationships with customer’s operations teams and freight forwarders to schedule order freight, provide required documentation, work through questions/issues, and arrange payment for deliveries 

Production Documentation: 

• Build and manage warehouse of all batch production documentation including, all production work orders, COAs, batch records, etc. 

Qualifications  

• Proven Operations Planning Experience: 8+ years experience related to supply chain, production planning, and/or demand & supply planning; preferably in the alcohol/beverage industry  
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Administration, Finance or related degree preferred 
• Technical Toolkit: Advanced proficiency in MS Excel required. Preferred experience Tableau, SQL/MS Access, and other planning tools  
• Core Skills: Skilled at analyzing data points & reporting in all forms, structuring processes, and managing expectations with senior stakeholders 
• Intangibles:  
  • Highly motivated, self-directed, innovative and able to work independently or among teams with keen judgement, common sense and resourcefulness 
  • Adapts and thrives in a demanding, start-up, fast-paced environment 
  • Scrappy, adaptable, and ready to overcome challenges in a competitive industry 
  • Possesses a high level of critical thinking with the ability to comprehend the short & long term business decisions beyond the numbers 
  • Operates with a high level of professionalism and integrity, including dealing with confidential information 
  • High attention to detail and accuracy 
• Ability to travel up to 25% 

Additional Requirements 

• Must pass any and all required background checks  
• Must be and remain compliant with all legal or company regulations for working in the industry  
• Must possess valid driver’s license 
• Must be a minimum of 21 years of age 

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