Demand Planning Manager Walnut Creek, CA

What’s it like to work at Kinder’s? Well, there’s a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that, there’s also plenty of hard work. Because we don’t just like flavor, we’re obsessed with it.

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

Kinder’s 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 today’s 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.

Demand Forecasting:

• Develop and maintain accurate, data-driven demand forecasts for the Grocery channel using historical shipment and POS data, market trends, and sales input.
• Continuously analyze Point of Sale (POS) data to identify growth drivers and optimize forecasts, ensuring alignment with marketing spend and promotional activities.
• Build strong, collaborative relationships across internal teams (Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain) and key external partners.

Salesand Operations Planning  (S&OP):

• Lead the S&OP process for your channels and categories, ensuring that demand plans align with company goals.
• Act as a change agent who brings diverse perspectives together to drive clear, actionable plans.

New Product Introductions :

• Partner with Product Development, Marketing, and Sales teams to integrate new product launches into demand forecasts.
• Ensure smooth market entry by driving alignment across functions and forecasting channels.

Data-Driven Analysis:

• Leverages sales data, market trends, and other relevant insights to improve demand forecasting accuracy.
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities to enhance distribution efficiency and streamline operations.

Performance Metrics&Accountability:

• Develop and monitor KPIs that track the effectiveness of demand planning.
• Own the results, ensuring the right stock levels to minimize overstock or stockouts while maintaining high service levels.
• Drive efficiency and embrace innovation by rethinking traditional demand planning methods, asking insightful questions, exploring new approaches to achieve better outcomes.

Leadership&Ownership:

• Act as a key player in bridging short-term tactical planning with long-term strategic growth.

• Bachelor’s 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,…