Operations Planning Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

Job Title: Operations Planning Manager

Reports to: Director of Supply Chain

Job Summary

The Operations Planning Manager will deliver the strategic objectives of the company by establishing and executing operational excellence in the Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) process. This individual will develop, own, and monitor processes; define and analyze business rules; facilitate cross-functional collaboration; and serve as a key driver in business decision-making.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provide strong leadership, setting a positive example and fostering a collaborative work environment.
• Manage and develop a team, providing feedback, coaching, and guidance to support their growth and success.
• Set goals, plan work, and allocate tasks to ensure efficient utilization of resources and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Maintain open and effective communication channels within the team and with other stakeholders.
• Monitor team performance, provide timely feedback, and address performance issues as needed.
• Identify training and development needs and support the professional growth of team members.
• Resolve conflicts and make informed decisions to drive success.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and regulations.

Essential Duties

• Develop and lead a best-in-class strategy, vision, and implementation of Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP).
• Direct the inventory management and production planning activities.
• Facilitate annual, quarterly, and monthly demand planning discussions, translating demand into operational and supply chain requirements while balancing supply and demand to achieve targeted inventory and customer service levels.
• Define and set clear and challenging annual and monthly Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for SIOP functional areas aligned with company goals and objectives.
• Develop “dashboard” reporting to monitor SIOP effectiveness, including critical end-to-end KPIs; implement corrective actions to meet targeted KPIs.
• Lead periodic SIOP meetings to resolve supply and inventory issues, including implementing remediation tactics.
• Develop and implement automated and re-engineered SIOP processes to replace current practices, stay current on new methodologies, and systems for continuous improvement.
• Train and coach stakeholders to ensure clarity of roles and responsibilities; ensure functional group alignment to SIOP procedures and drive cross-functional accountability.
• Eliminate silos between functions to promote collaboration.
• Document and maintain procedures and processes to ensure operational continuity, system accuracy, and data integrity.

Required Skills and Abilities

• Proven knowledge and expertise in SIOP, including successful development and execution.
• Thorough understanding of supply chain principles, Material Requirements Planning (MRP), and inventory analysis and planning.
• Demonstrated leadership in operations (inventory, supply chain, etc.) with a track record of creating KPIs, leading process improvements, and driving continuous improvement.
• Strong decision-making skills leveraging business models, strategic goals, policies, and best practices.
• Analytical, statistical, and data analytics expertise.
• Sense of urgency in decision-making with a focus on simplification, innovation, and growth.
• Self-motivated, inquisitive, and positive approach to problem-solving and change management.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with strong influence and negotiation abilities.
• Ability to develop team members and build next-level capability.
• Ability to set clear expectations, hold others accountable, and deliver results.
• Strong computer skills, particularly in inventory and planning systems, ERP, and Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Access, Word, PowerPoint)
• Demonstrated success implementing processes that create urgency and outcome-driven culture.
• Proven experience motivating and achieving results through others.

Education and Experience

• Knowledge of supply chain or business administration principles normally acquired by the completion of a bachelor’s degree in supply chain, business administration, or a related field and/or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in supply chain or related fields, including direct management of SIOP processes.
• Minimum of 5 years of leadership responsibility preferred.
• Experience managing distribution in both Make to Order (MTO) and Make to Stock (MTS) environments.
• Experience with MRP, planning, and inventory management.
• Continuous Improvement (CI) and Lean experience preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand, walk, and move around for extended periods of time.
• Capability to lift and carry objects of various weights up to 50 pounds occasionally.
• Proficiency in using hands, fingers, and arms for tasks such as typing and writing.
• Sufficient visual acuity to read documents and recognize details at close and distant ranges.
• Ability to hear and understand verbal communication.
• Flexibility to bend, stoop, and reach low or high objects.
• Ability to perform physically demanding tasks, such as lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying heavy objects.
• Adaptability to work in varying environmental conditions, such as temperature extremes, noise, dust, or fumes, depending on the nature of the job.
• Willingness to adhere to safety protocols and wear protective gear, including helmets, goggles, gloves, and safety shoes, as required by the job.

Company Culture & Values

• A Commitment to Our Purpose (COMMITTED PEOPLE) – Our mission is to serve and build up our customers, suppliers, communities, and each other, guided by the principles of our Lord Jesus Christ. The commitment to serving and building up is easily seen in those employees that exemplify this value.
• Without Our Customers We Are Nothing (CUSTOMER FIRST) – We realize that we are blessed to serve our customers and without them, our company does not exist. They rely on us for their success and that is a responsibility we cannot take lightly. Our focus must be on serving them with as seamless communication and access to products as possible.
• Kind, Humble and Positive (HUMBLE) – These positive traits do not mean being a doormat to others. But when a person is kind, humble and positive it comes through in their genuine caring for those around them.
• A Desire For “Expert” (EXPERTS) – Our people want to be seen as the experts in their specific roles. From how we convert a bag efficiently and with highest quality, to knowledge of the product portfolio, to desiring to know more about tax or human resource policy – the desire for “expert” drives us in each of our roles.
• Intentional Growth – Developing of Self and Others (PERSONAL GROWTH)– Times, tools, and customer expectations change. Our team members are interested in developing themselves and those around them. We know that a stronger team is one that makes our customers and our fellow employees happier.
• Strong Work Ethic (HARD WORKERS) – The commitment to serve those around us is honorable and we respond to this by putting our strongest effort into that purpose.
• High Expectations of Self and Others (HIGH EXPECTATIONS) – We expect ourselves, and those around us, to put in our best effort. When others struggle, we help them align towards perfection. When we struggle, we are open and humble to hear it and course-correct accordingly.
• If It Isn’t Safe, We Don’t Do It (SAFETY) – All people deserve to return home to their loved ones safely and work in an environment where they can best execute their tasks safely. When choosing between safety and profit, safety and efficiency, safety and feelings, safety, and “x” – we choose safety.

Travel Requirements

This position requires occasional overnight travel and occasional travel within the workday.

Driver Qualification

The ability to drive a company owned/leased vehicle or personal vehicle on behalf of the company may be required. Inclusion in the company’s driver qualification program is required to drive a company owned/leased vehicle or personal vehicle.

Becoming a qualified driver includes:

• Agree to the company driving policies that apply to company owned/leased vehicle or personal vehicle as applicable.
• Possess and maintain a valid driver’s license and be a minimum of 21 years of age.
• Maintain an acceptable driving record, as evidenced by completion of a baseline motor vehicle record check and ongoing monitoring.
• When driving a personal vehicle on behalf of the company, must provide a copy of the declaration page from personal auto insurance that shows the policy dates and minimum coverage amounts ($300,000 bodily injury per accident/$100,000 property damage per accident or if driving less than 5 hours/200 miles a year $50,000 bodily injury per accident/$10,000 property damage per accident or the state minimum, whichever is more). This requirement is initially and then annually thereafter.

This job description is intended as a general outline of the primary responsibilities of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or comprehensive list of all duties, responsibilities, or activities that may be required. The employer reserves the right to modify, add, or remove any responsibilities, duties, or activities as deemed necessary with or without notice.

Volm Companies is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to qualified individuals with disabilities and other protected characteristics. If you require reasonable accommodation to perform the essential functions of the job, please inform us and we will work with you to address your needs.

Benefits

As a family-owned and operated company, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support you and your family. We offer a strong foundation of benefits, including access to medical, dental, and vision coverage, an HSA employer contribution, and a 401k with profit sharing to secure your future. To support your overall well-being and family life, we offer additional benefits beyond the core package, such as paid vacation, wellness stipends, childcare reimbursement assistance, and much more. We are committed to continuously enhancing our benefits to meet the evolving needs of our team.