Vice President, Operations Planning
Location: Stoughton, MA
Department: Operations
Aqua Leisure Recreation is a Private Equity owned group of companies that is building a world class platform of water-related outdoor products, through rapid acquisition. Product categories already include swim goggles & masks, pool floats, swim aids, water toys, towables, personal floatation devices, and pool supplies. Growth has been rapid, and our plans are for the pace of this to be sustained.
The VP of Operations Planning is a newly created key leadership position, reporting directly to the Chief Operations Officer. This position will require an experienced Operations leader, able to facilitate and drive results in a fast paced and demanding growth environment, leveraging his/her strong interpersonal and leadership skills. This role will be challenged to build and implement a world class Operations Planning process across the enterprise to improve customer satisfaction, profitability, inventory turns, lead times and working capital. The core functions of the position include strategic and tactical decision-making related to balancing demand and supply; aligns volume and mix with capacity and capability; and integrates financial and operating plans within strategic objectives to deliver improved operating and financial results.
Essential Responsibilities: include the following. Other duties and special projects may be assigned.
• Lead the company’s forecasting/demand planning, ensuring sales are maximized and inventory minimized, within the context of two very different business models:
-Direct Import (selling to US customers who collect Asian made goods at Asian ports)
-Domestic (bringing goods into US from Asia and selling to customers from our warehouses in Boston, Denver, and Orlando)
• Establish a monthly rather than seasonal discipline to purchases, utilizing an open-to-buy budget, training our existing staff to adopt best practices, reviewing requirements monthly by category.
• Support the company’s Ecom strategy, both through Amazon and D2C.
• Lead 3PL strategy and evaluation.
• Understanding of S&OP current best practices.
• Implement and managing KPI’s to improve performance.
• Ability to influence senior managers and leaders as a strategic partner.
• Understand strategic direction and apply it to appropriate operational decisions.
• Develop and manage a global supply chain strategy that meets business objectives.
Required Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, or Logistics. Master’s degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Finance or equivalent preferred.
• A minimum of eight (8) years of experience in Operations and Supply Chain (experience in Demand Planning, Supply Planning, and Inventory Planning in an environment of both manufactured and sourced finished goods highly preferred).
• Knowledge and experience in MRP and ERP systems inventory control, materials requirements planning, item master, demand planning, and advanced supply chain planning and analytics.
• Experience with an ERP systems integration project would be beneficial.
Data-driven with demonstrated ability to analyze and resolve problems and strong proficiency in MS Office applications (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).
• Excellent organizational, project management and time management skills, including multi-tasking and ability to prioritize and meet deadlines, follow up and attention to details. Adaptable to multiple requests, daily changes and still deliver on commitments.
• Able to communicate effectively with senior management, peers, and colleagues cross-functionally. Participation in Board, customer, or vendor presentations may be required.
• People management experience including strong interpersonal and leadership skills: meeting facilitation, skill sharing and training, organization, conflict management, change agent, manage relationships.
• Experience working with Asian imports and Asian sourcing team
• Due diligence and acquisition integration experience
• Must be able to work independently while still functioning well in a team environment.
• Knowledgeable in lean principles/methodologies.
• Infor ERP Knowledge desired.
• Must have excellent computer skills including Proficient in Microsoft Office, (Excel, Power Point, Word).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and Presentation skills.
• Domestic travel, up to 25%.
