Supply Chain Planner

Since 1920, this family-owned business has hired employees who are masters of their craft. We are innovators, architects of culture, experts, and forward thinkers. We demand excellence because we pride ourselves on the quality of our products and the authenticity of our brand. 

Interested in working with us? Check out this exciting opportunity at New Era Cap’s Headquarters (HQ) building located in downtown Buffalo, NY. This role is 100% on-site, encouraging employees to collaborate and connect in person five days a week. HQ offers an inviting atmosphere, complete with an on-site café, fitness center, and Flagship store.

Apply to join New Era's team! 

The Supply Chain Planner is responsible for overseeing demand and supply planning to ensure inventory is delivered on time and aligned with business needs. The Supply Chain Planner will manage and execute assigned category planning responsibilities, including S&OP, forecasting, stock buys, inventory management, and Hot Market activities. The Supply Chain Planner will partner with internal and external stakeholders to provide excellent service, maintain optimal inventory levels, and drive cost efficiency across the category. 

The Supply Chain Management Team encompasses five key responsibilities; Sales and Operations Planning, Demand and Supply Planning, Raw Material Planning, Scheduling and Inventory Management and Control. Demand Management collaborates with all aspects of the company to meet customer service goals while managing the goals of the business including maintaining the right inventory, decreasing lead-times, stabilizing production rates, and reducing unnecessary costs.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate Demand Planning activities 
  • Manage Sales & Operations Planning process for assigned business area
    • Analyze sales data, POS data and trends to develop S&OP plan
    • Understand calendars for all product types to determine upsides or gaps to plans
    • Present key drivers to S&OP plan vs financial plans and make recommendations for any gaps to category leaders, finance, & executive team
  • Utilize the Forecasting tools to align to the S&OP plans, review these plans with category and sales; upload into SAP at the SKU level for stock
  • Review impact of forecast on capacity (globally and domestically) 
  • Highlight challenges/changes to planning and global production team
  • Work closely with Category managers, Global Sourcing, Global Production, Customer Service, Sales, and Purchasing to ensure proper inventory levels are maintained for all stocked finished goods
  • Manage inventory for assigned business area 
    • Utilize inventory metrics including months of supply, Gross Margin Return on Investment (GMROI), Inventory quality ratio and others to manage inventory in all product types
    • Manage Safety stock levels for stock products to ensure New Era has the accurate inventory to support stock products
    • Work with internal teams including category leaders, sales, finance, & B2B team to recommend opportunities for slow moving, obsolete and discontinued inventory
• Work closely with the Category managers, Global Sourcing, Global Production, Customer Service, and Sales to ensure accurate demand roll ups of global programs
  • Analyze the demand for global programs and prepare reports to take action
  • Work with Category teams to adjust supply plans to meet supplier minimum requirements
  • Guide category and product teams to making decisions to cancel orders for goods that do not meet minimum requirements
  • Provide direction to Planning team and Global Production team to secure fabric and factory capacities
  • Oversee Planned Independent Requirement (PIR) management, ensuring any PIRs have approvals, are entered properly to increase demand, and reported out to management
  • Confirm supply plans and pass requisitions to Global Production
• Supply Planning activities for globally sourced stock product
  • Utilize and refine tools for Supply Planning activities
  • Determine when stock items should be scrapped or sent to liquidation channels 
  • Review SAP Demand Plans to ensure there is alignment in the supply plan, managing when we need the product to arrive, communicating to Global Production 
  • Use output from MRP to develop purchasing requirements
  • Work with global production to coordinate the procurement of and required inventory levels for globally sourced stock product
  • Track open requisitions and ensure they are placed on purchase orders
  • Manage MRP exception messages from SAP and communicate with appropriate New Era personnel accordingly
  • Ensure Open to Buy process is followed. Review and communicate what is available, elevate approvals, report out anything beyond the plan
  • Maintain and review raw material levels at our stock manufacturers
  • Lead meetings and present PO cubes, new MIN stocks, and priority lists
• Lead Hot Market Planning Activities, including managing inventory, heat seal PO management, and execution
  • Develop Time and Action Calendars for stock buys and production planning
  • Analyze demand for Heat Sealed programs as outlined by appropriate Category
  • Create purchase orders for 3rd Party Logistics personnel and communicate directly with warehouse in the execution of these orders
  • Develop and manage inventory reports to effectively secure base caps to be utilized in this process
  • Lead meetings with Category Managers, Customer Service, and Sales to align on inventory positions and alternatives
  • Communicate detailed information regarding inventory availability and scheduled production with Customer Service, Sales, and SBU’s
  • Be prepared to work flexible hours with 24/7 demands for these goods during Hot Market periods of activity
  • Meet all deadlines as it pertains to stock buys, inventory reporting, and creation of Heat-Sealed purchase orders 
  • Manage the end-of-life strategy with all internal parties including finance, operations and the commercial business
• Interact with and provide direction to key New Era departments including:
  • Credit/Finance
  • Customer Service
  • Manufacturing
  • Global Sourcing
  • Logistics
  • Executive
• Report on metrics for key performance indicators and monitor their use. Will be tasked with adding, changing, or removing measures as needed
• Understand and maintain understanding of the functions of other departmental positions to provide backup for domestically manufactured products and general coverage
• Expand utilization of system-based tools and improve current system processes so that Supply Chain processes are more accurate and efficient
• Keep all sensitive matters confidential 
• Other duties or tasks as assigned

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Efficient in Microsoft Programs (Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and demonstrate the ability to learn and utilize new systems
• Understanding of the Supply Chain and the impact of the demand flow through supply execution
• Understanding and interest in sports and lifestyle trends and impact to demands
• Ability to work off hours during hot market as needed
• Ability to prioritize tasks and responsibilities
• Experience in data analytics including organizing, manipulating, and reporting data using Excel and Tableau or Power BI
• Excellent mathematical skills 
• Working knowledge or experience in forecasting, planning, and scheduling 
• Understanding of financial data, including building finance plans from scratch
• Familiar with an MRP and ERP system (SAP, PeopleSoft, JD Edwards, etc.)
• Ability to meet deadlines and pivot as necessary to accommodate unexpected delays
• Detail-oriented; accomplishes tasks by considering all areas involved showing concern for all processes and tasks, no matter how small
• Ability to communicate effectively both orally and in writing with various levels of staff and outside customers/suppliers
• Attuned to the needs of internal customers, employ diplomacy & tact, and work well in a team environment
• Enthusiastic, positive person who embraces and facilitates change with a sense of urgency and persistence
• Challenges self to continuously improve; seeks learning/development opportunities to broaden knowledge and demonstrates initiative
• Ability to establish and maintain collaborative working relationships 

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Supply Chain, or related field required; MS in Supply Chain or MBA preferred
• Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in Supply Chain Planning, Demand Planning, Supply Planning, or other related planning roles including Financial or Product Analytics
• Proficient in financial accounting principles and terminology 
• ACSM/APICS certification in CPIM or CSCP preferred

Travel Requirements

• The location for this position is 100% on-site in Buffalo, NY
• 0% to 10%; domestic and/or global

The salary range for this posted position is $65,000 – $80,000 (plus bonus & benefits) and pertains to candidates located in Western New York. Actual compensation will fall within this range and is determined by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, education, essential job duties and requirements, and necessary experience.

New Era Cap, LLC’s casual work environment celebrates individuality and encourages employees to showcase their personal style. We pride ourselves on offering competitive compensation, a generous PTO policy, along with world-class benefits designed to promote health, financial stability, and personal growth.

As an employee, you'll enjoy a range of perks, including paid parking, exclusive discounts on apparel and headwear, and professional development opportunities right here on-site. We can't wait for you to experience all that our dynamic workplace has to offer!