Sales Operations Planning Manager
LMK Recruiting Solutions, Chicago, IL, United States
Location:
Greater Chicago Area, IL (On-Site)
Reports to:
Director of Operations
About the Role We are seeking a strategic and hands-on
Manager of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)
to lead the end-to-end planning function across a complex manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for aligning demand, supply, and inventory to ensure the business operates efficiently while meeting customer commitments.
You will own the S&OP process, lead Buyers and Planners, and drive execution across multiple fulfillment models including Make-to-Order (MTO), Assemble-to-Order (ATO), Engineer-to-Order (ETO), and Make-to-Stock (MTS). This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who thrives in fast-paced, multi-SKU environments and can balance strategy with execution.
Key Responsibilities
Own and lead the S&OP process, aligning demand forecasts with supply, capacity, and inventory strategies
Translate commercial demand into actionable production and procurement plans
Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Engineering, and Finance to manage risks and trade-offs
Establish planning cadence, forecasting discipline, and data integrity across teams
Buying & Procurement Oversight
Lead and develop the Buying team
Establish sourcing strategies aligned with demand and inventory goals
Ensure timely material availability to support production and customer commitments
Manage supplier performance, lead times, and risk mitigation strategies
Planning & Scheduling
Lead and develop the Planning team
Own master production scheduling across MTO, ATO, ETO, and MTS workflows
Ensure production plans are realistic and aligned with capacity constraints
Drive continuous improvement in planning accuracy and execution
Inventory Management
Own enterprise-wide inventory strategy and performance
Implement and manage ABC classification frameworks and stocking policies
Balance service levels with inventory turns and working capital efficiency
Address excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory through data-driven actions
Operational Alignment
Define and standardize planning rules across multiple fulfillment models
Partner with Engineering and Operations on ETO workflows and constraints
Align inventory positioning with customer expectations and lead-time commitments
Drive scalability and consistency across operating units
Performance & Continuous Improvement
Establish and track KPIs including forecast accuracy, service levels, inventory turns, and plan adherence
Use data to identify gaps and drive corrective actions
Lead continuous improvement initiatives across planning and procurement
Support ERP and planning system enhancements
Qualifications
5+ years of experience in supply chain, planning, or operations leadership
Proven experience leading Buyers and Planners in a manufacturing environment
Strong knowledge of MTO, ATO, ETO, and MTS operating models
Deep understanding of inventory management, including ABC classification
Experience building and running S&OP processes in multi-SKU, multi-site environments
Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into action
Excellent cross-functional leadership and communication skills
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or related field preferred
Why This Role This is an opportunity to step into a highly visible leadership role where you will shape planning strategy, drive operational discipline, and directly impact business performance. You’ll work cross-functionally with key stakeholders and play a critical role in building a scalable, high-performing supply chain.
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Greater Chicago Area, IL (On-Site)
Reports to:
Director of Operations
About the Role We are seeking a strategic and hands-on
Manager of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)
to lead the end-to-end planning function across a complex manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for aligning demand, supply, and inventory to ensure the business operates efficiently while meeting customer commitments.
You will own the S&OP process, lead Buyers and Planners, and drive execution across multiple fulfillment models including Make-to-Order (MTO), Assemble-to-Order (ATO), Engineer-to-Order (ETO), and Make-to-Stock (MTS). This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who thrives in fast-paced, multi-SKU environments and can balance strategy with execution.
Key Responsibilities
Own and lead the S&OP process, aligning demand forecasts with supply, capacity, and inventory strategies
Translate commercial demand into actionable production and procurement plans
Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Operations, Engineering, and Finance to manage risks and trade-offs
Establish planning cadence, forecasting discipline, and data integrity across teams
Buying & Procurement Oversight
Lead and develop the Buying team
Establish sourcing strategies aligned with demand and inventory goals
Ensure timely material availability to support production and customer commitments
Manage supplier performance, lead times, and risk mitigation strategies
Planning & Scheduling
Lead and develop the Planning team
Own master production scheduling across MTO, ATO, ETO, and MTS workflows
Ensure production plans are realistic and aligned with capacity constraints
Drive continuous improvement in planning accuracy and execution
Inventory Management
Own enterprise-wide inventory strategy and performance
Implement and manage ABC classification frameworks and stocking policies
Balance service levels with inventory turns and working capital efficiency
Address excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory through data-driven actions
Operational Alignment
Define and standardize planning rules across multiple fulfillment models
Partner with Engineering and Operations on ETO workflows and constraints
Align inventory positioning with customer expectations and lead-time commitments
Drive scalability and consistency across operating units
Performance & Continuous Improvement
Establish and track KPIs including forecast accuracy, service levels, inventory turns, and plan adherence
Use data to identify gaps and drive corrective actions
Lead continuous improvement initiatives across planning and procurement
Support ERP and planning system enhancements
Qualifications
5+ years of experience in supply chain, planning, or operations leadership
Proven experience leading Buyers and Planners in a manufacturing environment
Strong knowledge of MTO, ATO, ETO, and MTS operating models
Deep understanding of inventory management, including ABC classification
Experience building and running S&OP processes in multi-SKU, multi-site environments
Strong analytical mindset with the ability to translate data into action
Excellent cross-functional leadership and communication skills
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment
Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, or related field preferred
Why This Role This is an opportunity to step into a highly visible leadership role where you will shape planning strategy, drive operational discipline, and directly impact business performance. You’ll work cross-functionally with key stakeholders and play a critical role in building a scalable, high-performing supply chain.
#J-18808-Ljbffr