Central Planner

Description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family-owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™, Oui®, Yoplait®, Go-Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy. 

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis American Group, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Central Planner based in Buffalo, New York. As a Central Planner, you will be responsible for the short & mid-term capacity, inventory levels and transportation requirements of assigned product line(s) or replenishment management with the objective of maintaining established finished goods level, meeting customer service goals and efficiently utilizing manufacturing resources.  

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Analyze and prepare reports on plant capacity utilization by product lines.
• Understand KPI (Key Performance Indicators) related to the position, the planning department, and cross functional impacts for best decision for the company.
• Conducts inventory simulations to determine optimal safety stock and inventory levels based on demand and shelf-life constraints.
• Analyzes risks of dumps and downgrades and acts with CS to minimize or mitigate negative impact.
• Be an active participant in identifying SKU’s that are problematic (efficiency, waste risk, volume, labor, etc.) that should be considered for discontinuation/rationalization.
• Provides finished goods requirements to plant schedulers, monitors production schedules and initiates action to correct deficiencies.  
• Plans and enters interplant shipment orders for assigned products and/or DC’s within established inventory standards while respecting lead times.
• Communicates logistics requirements plan of interplant movement to enable equipment to be on site and available to move finished goods between plant and DC’s.
• Communicates in a timely fashion with Customer Service and Transportation Planners on any changes to inventory plans that may impact delivery commitments to our customers.
• Regularly communicate with Demand Planner(s) to identify any FC challenges and/or production bottlenecks.
• Analyze and manage the aging report & 8 day to expire report for your product line(s) to mitigate waste risk.
• Understanding of the Capacity graph review for your product line(s)
• Utilize FuturMaster to guide proper inventory planning.
• Provide recaps and action items from meetings you are leading or designated as scribe.
• Enforce accountability of action items from meeting recaps and general business continuity needs.
• Facilitate monthly/weekly meetings with strategic cross functional teams (internal & co-packers)
• Coordinate with distribution center and sales personnel to be continually aware of inventory levels and finish product aging to minimize the possible loss of product going out of code.
• Coordinate meetings with Manufacturing team to ensure transparency and production plan efficiencies.
• Prepares and distributes reports on activity and performance metrics.
• Cross trains with other Central Planners and provides full back-up support during vacations and daily absences.
• Full understanding on Capacity constraints on Product lines you manage.
• Work directly with Supply Planning manager on projects, and drive change with implementing new process when applicable.
• Visit manufacturing site(s) where you manage production to ensure full understanding of the process and ensure relationships.
• Provide any necessary training to new supply planners or associate supply planners

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

• Associate degree or higher preferred; ideally individual will possess a bachelor’s degree or combination of Education and Industry Experience.

Experience 

• 1+ years Planning experience preferred or combination of transferrable education and experience.
• Experience in Food Industry, Relative Supply Chain or Financial Analysis preferred.

Certifications and Specific Knowledge 

• To perform this job, the individual will need to be able to learn and use FuturMaster, Stratum and AS/400.
• APICS or CPIM certification or similar knowledge is beneficial.

Work Conditions

• Travel may be required seldom.
• Extended hours may be necessary depending on the project needs.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s)    may be provided.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential duties and responsibilities.
• This position requires physical presence in the office, in accordance with the guidelines of the Hybrid Work Policy.
• Demonstrate commitment to a safe working environment that promotes the health and well-being of all employees and that will further contribute to the Company’s overall performance and success. 

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Affirmative Action Employer will comply with all related legal obligations.