Material Planner

What makes this a great opportunity?

At Suntory Global Spirits, people are our number priority, and we believe our people grow together in diverse and inclusive environments where their unique insights, experiences and backgrounds are valued and respected.  Suntory Global Spirits is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless or face of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship material status, disability, gender identity and all other characteristics, attributes or choices protected by law.  All recruitment and hiring decisions are based on an applicant’s skills and experience.

The following position is open in Clermont, Frankfort KY or Chicago IL

Role Responsibilities

Job Purpose

Leads material planning execution for assigned categories or regions, ensuring supply continuity, optimized inventory, and alignment to demand and financial plans. Accountable for delivering service, cost, inventory performance, and people development through effective planning processes, team leadership, and cross-functional coordination.

Scope & Complexity

• Planning Scope: multi-site responsibility across assigned material categories
• Spend/Inventory Impact: Direct influence on material inventory, working capital, project execution, and supplier performance
• Team Leadership: Direct management of material planners
• Systems: SAP ECC / APO / IBP or equivalent planning tools
• Decision Horizon: Tactical (0–12 months) with input into strategic planning

Key Accountabilities

1. Material Planning Execution (Core Accountability)

• Own end-to-end material supply plans aligned to demand, production, and inventory targets
• Balance service, inventory, and cost through scenario-based planning and trade-off decisions
• Manage material constraints, supplier performance issues, and supply risks
• Ensure accurate and timely execution of planning outputs in systems

Measures of Success:

• Service level attainment
• working capital performance
• Material availability / line downtime due to shortages

2. Continuous Improvement & Capability Building

• Lead initiatives to improve planning accuracy, efficiency, and standardization
• Drive adoption of best practices, KPIs, and system capabilities (e.g., SAP IBP)
• Identify and eliminate root causes of planning inefficiencies

Measures of Success:

• Forecast accuracy improvement (materials)
• Inventory optimization (reduction in excess/obsolete)
• Process adherence and cycle time improvements

3. People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of material planners
• Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and development plans
• Build planning capability and succession pipeline

Measures of Success:

• Team performance vs. KPIs
• Employee engagement and retention
• Capability progression within team

4. Cross-Functional & External Collaboration

• Partner with Procurement, Operations, and Suppliers to ensure material availability
• Influence stakeholders to resolve constraints and align priorities
• Support supplier S&OP and performance management processes
• Innovation delivery

Measures of Success:

• Supplier OTIF and reliability
• Reduced escalation frequency
• Improved cross-functional plan adherence

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in material planning, supply planning, or supply chain management
• Prior experience in CPG, beverage, or similarly complex manufacturing environments preferred
• Demonstrated team leadership experience
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills
• Experience with SAP (ECC, APO, IBP, S4 Hana) or equivalent planning systems
• Strong communication and stakeholder management capabilities

Salary Range - The salary range for this role, is $75,000 - 95,000k, along with an annual bonus, 401K match, profit sharing, and medical and wellness benefits. The salary range is commensurate with the candidate’s location, experience, and skillset.