Demand Planning Manager

BUILT ON FLAVOR. FUELED BY PEOPLE.

Whats it like to work at Kinders Well theres a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that theres also plenty of hard work. Because we dont just like flavor were obsessed with it.

With over 100 products sold nationwide were now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco Walmart Whole Foods and more. Were 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 youre looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it!Every day youll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.

How youll have an impact at Kinders:

Kinders 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 todays 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:

DemandForecasting:

• Developandmaintainaccuratedata-drivendemandforecastsfortheGrocerychannelusinghistoricalshipmentandPOSdatamarkettrendsandsalesinput.
• ContinuouslyanalyzePointofSale(POS)datatoidentifygrowthdriversandoptimizeforecastsensuringalignmentwithmarketingspendandpromotionalactivities.

Collaboration&Partnership:

• Buildstrongcollaborativerelationshipsacrossinternalteams(SalesMarketingFinanceSupplyChain)andkeyexternalpartners.
• Fosteracultureofopencommunicationensuringalignmentondemandexpectationsopportunitiesandrisks.

SalesandOperationsPlanning(S&OP):

• LeadtheS&OPprocessforyourchannelsandcategoriesensuringthatdemandplansalignwithcompanygoals.
• Actasachangeagentwhobringsdiverseperspectivestogethertodriveclearactionableplans.

NewProductIntroductions:

• PartnerwithProductDevelopmentMarketingandSalesteamstointegratenewproductlaunchesintodemandforecasts.
• Ensuresmoothmarketentrybydrivingalignmentacrossfunctionsandforecastingchannels.

Data-DrivenAnalysis:

• Leveragesalesdatamarkettrendsandotherrelevantinsightstoimprovedemandforecastingaccuracy.
• Drivecontinuousimprovementbyidentifyingopportunitiestoenhancedistributionefficiencyandstreamlineoperations.

PerformanceMetrics&Accountability:

• DevelopandmonitorKPIsthattracktheeffectivenessofdemandplanning.
• Owntheresultsensuringtherightstocklevelstominimizeoverstockorstockoutswhilemaintaininghighservicelevels.
• Takeownershipofreportingandpresentingkeyinsightstoseniorleadership.

ProcessImprovement&Innovation:

• Proactivelyidentifyandimplementprocessimprovements.
• Driveefficiencyandembraceinnovationbyrethinkingtraditionaldemandplanningmethodsaskinginsightfulquestionsandexploringnewapproachestoachievebetteroutcomes.

Leadership&Ownership:

• Actasakeyplayerinbridgingshort-termtacticalplanningwithlong-termstrategicgrowth.
• Demonstrateleadershipbyfosteringcollaborationtakingownershipofthedemandplanningfunctionandbeingarolemodelforintegrityandresults.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelors 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.

Things About the Way We Work:

• No two days here are the same.
• We try to be good team members and good communicators but we dont 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 arent trying to be average we want to do exceptional things and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.

Location & Travel:

The position will be based out of our 20000 sq. foot office in Walnut Creek CA. We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumer and to have more fun. Fridays are flex days with employees having the opportunity to choose to be either in the office or to work from home based on what makes most sense for them.

The expected starting salary range for this role is $130000- $160000 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 dont 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 arent 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. Kinders benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.

WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS:

Kinders 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 Act or similar law and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements please reach out to us at