Senior Director, Demand Planning & Forecasting - Concentrate

Summary:

The Senior Director of Concentrate Demand Planning will lead the strategic and operational demand planning efforts for our NAOU beverage syrup production. This role is pivotal in ensuring an uninterrupted, efficient, and cost-effective supply of all NAOU concentrate to include sparkling, fountain, juice and finished goods (e.g, Smartwater, Powerade) products. The ideal candidate will bring extensive experience in demand planning, cross‑functional and direct people leadership, project management and a deep understanding of the beverage industry.

• Develop and execute a comprehensive demand planning strategy for concentrate production, collaborating with internal and external NAOU supply partners to develop demand forecasts. This includes partnering closely with Bottlers, Co‑Manufacturers, Global Commercial Product Supply (CPS) and Finance to develop highly accurate, explainable forecasts.
• Lead and collaborate with a high‑performing team responsible for demand planning, customer and supplier collaboration for concentrate needs.

• Lead collaborative efforts to build and execute Autonomous Planning capabilities with manufacturing partners and CPS by evaluating readiness, championing the adoption of supply chain technology platforms and driving continuous improvement with innovative solutions and advanced capabilities (AI/ML).
• Work closely with NAOU Digital Capabilities team to build sustainable digital capabilities for the NAOU system to place orders directly to CPS for concentrate needs to support demand forecasts within the Autonomous Planning umbrella.
• Serve as a key liaison between NAOU Supply Chain, Bottler, Co‑Manufacturers, Syrup Plants and Global Commercial Products Supply (CPS) by creating and proposing cross‑functional, highly collaborative routines with both internal and external concentrate partners.
• Lead the charge in identifying, analyzing, and implementing business process improvements that meet our ambitious business objectives.

• Own the final volume forecast coming out of the monthly Forecast Alignment routines with clear assumption documentation and tracking, as well the demand signal for all S&OP and Supply Planning processes.
• Provide a clear POV on volume risks and opportunities based on an understanding of key inputs and objective assessment of the range of possible outcomes.

• Provide leadership and mentorship to the demand planning team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in demand planning processes, leveraging data analytics and technology to enhance forecasting accuracy and responsiveness.
• Lead cross‑functional projects to streamline demand planning functions to include Co‑Man, Bottler and Concentrate technology.

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, finance, economics, data science or equivalent combination of experience and education (MBA or Master’s Degree preferred).
• 10+ years of progressive experience in supply chain planning, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within the beverage or food & beverage industry.
• Change agent – ability to drive large‑scale change in cross‑functional processes and capabilities.
• Strong analytical skills with proficiency in demand forecasting, inventory optimization, and supply chain software tools (e.g., Anaplan, Pigment, SAP, Oracle, JDA, Blue Yonder)
• Deep understanding of syrup production, formulation, and supply chain dynamics within RTD beverage or similar sectors.
• Proven ability to lead cross‑functional teams and manage complex projects in a fast‑paced environment.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Results‑oriented mindset with a track record of driving process improvements and cost savings.
• Strong critical thinker, with a creative approach to problem‑solving
• Possess a curiosity in leveraging AI for next generation planning for tools, technology and processes

• Experiences:
  The opportunity to learn and grow with a global organization and through multiple different category business development.
• Innovation & Technology:
  The ability to work with an award‑winning team that is on the cutting edge of innovation.