Director, Supply & Demand Planning at Albert Uster Imports

ABOUT ALBERT USTER IMPORTSAlbert Uster Imports Inc. (AUI) is a privately held gourmet food company headquartered in the Washington DC area (Gaithersburg MD) with warehouse locations in Kansas City Las Vegas Miami Los Angeles San Francisco Gurnee and Gaithersburg. AUI falls under the Vestar Capital Partners portfolio with affiliate organization Roland Foods LLC.Founded in 1968 the company offers over 1400 products from around the world. We serve leading hotels restaurants casinos cruise lines airlines and manufacturers with innovative high quality products and solutions to their most demanding culinary challenges. We operate a network of distribution centers across the U.S. and serve select international markets as well. AUI has a national direct selling organization of over 60 sales professionals and a staff of culinary experts (chefs and food scientists) adept at custom product solutions.ABOUT THE ROLEAUI Fine Foods is seeking a strategic and analytical Director Supply & Demand Planning to lead our supply & demand planning inventory management and global logistics functions. This role ensures consistent product availability across a diverse multi-category food portfolio while maintaining efficient inventory levels across multiple U.S. distribution centers.The Director will oversee a team comprising Buyers an Inventory Manager and a Global Logistics Manager aligning purchasing inventory and logistics operations under a single cohesive strategy. The ideal candidate will have a food industry background (preferably food distribution or multi-category) with strong experience in demand planning multi-location distribution and supplier management.This leader must be data-driven highly analytical and a strong problem solver who can translate complex supply chain dynamics into actionable insights and clear communication for executive leadership.As a response to the pandemic Albert Uster Imports office employees have transitioned to a hybrid working schedule requiring employees to report in-person Monday through Wednesday with the option to telework on Thursday and Friday each week. Due to the collaborative cross-functional nature of the organization employees at the Gaithersburg office are required to work in-person for the abovementioned days outside of any People & Culture-approved disability accommodation request.RESPONSIBILITIESSupply & Demand PlanningLead and continuously improve the companys supply and demand planning process to ensure product availability across all categories and U.S. distribution centersPartner with Sales Logistics and Finance to translate forecasts into purchasing and replenishment strategiesAnalyze demand patterns seasonality pricing and lead times to adjust plans and prevent out-of-stock or excess inventory proactivelyDevelop reporting tools and dashboards to monitor forecast accuracy inventory turns and service levelsPurchasing LeadershipOversee all purchasing activities including domestic and import procurement ensuring accuracy efficiency and alignment with business needsManage and develop a team of Buyers responsible for replenishment and product transfers between multiple distribution centersPartner with the Innovation team to build supplier relationships to ensure reliability quality and consistency across a diverse food product portfolioInventory ManagementDirect and support the Inventory Manager to maintain optimal stock levels and minimize waste or obsolescenceEstablish and track KPIs around inventory health fill rates and forecast performanceDrive cross-functional coordination to improve visibility planning accuracy and service performanceGlobal Logistics Oversight Directly manage the Global Logistics Manager who oversees international container shipments import compliance and customs clearanceProvide strategic guidance and oversight of inbound freight import documentation and delivery timelinesMaintain a strong working knowledge of global logistics processes to support decision-making and problem resolutionEnsure alignment between logistics purchasing and inventory to maintain product flow and service reliabilityLeadership Analytics & ReportingLead mentor and develop the purchasing inventory and logistics teams to foster accountability accuracy and professional growthServe as the organizations primary problem solver for supply continuity supplier performance and planning issuesDevelop and present clear data-driven reports and insights to executive leadership to guide business decisionsIdentify process improvement opportunities and implement best practices to enhance efficiency and communication across functionsWhat Youll BringStrategic thinking supported by strong analytical capability and attention to detailA collaborative data-driven approach to solving complex operational challengesLeadership that combines accountability clear communication and team developmentDeep understanding of the food industrys unique supply and demand dynamicsQUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS8 years of progressive supply chain purchasing or demand planning leadership experienceProven success in the food industry (preferred: food distribution multi-category or multi-location distribution)Strong analytical forecasting and reporting skills with a focus on data accuracy and decision supportDemonstrated leadership experience managing buyers inventory and logistics teamsExcellent problem-solving and cross-functional communication abilitiesHighly organized precise and capable of managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environmentPreferredExperience with ERP systems and demand planning softwareKnowledge of import logistics customs and international shippingProficiency with advanced forecasting or analytics toolsAbility to build cross-functional partnerships and engage in and lead cross-functional teams and initiativesStrong ability to develop and deploy quantitative analysis for business improvement; record of accomplishment of KPI-driven and data-driven leadershipSALARY RANGEAlbert Uster Imports hires exceptional people to perform a wide variety of important functions that contribute to the success of the Company. One of the ways AUI does that is through a competitive compensation package. The base salary for this role will be $135000 - $165000.This role will be bonus eligible.Based on your qualifications previous experience and transferable skills the Company will determine at its sole discretion the salary offered.Founded by immigrants AUI & Roland Foods knows that diversity is the spice of life. We believe in the power of food to open minds spark adventure and bring diverse people are welcome at our table! We know the transformative value of food in individual lives and communities. Because of this we insist on obtaining the highest-quality ingredients and talent!AUI is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate in hiring or any employment decision based on race color religion national origin age sex (including pregnancy childbirth or related medical conditions) marital status ancestry physical or mental disability genetic information veteran status gender identity or expression sexual orientation or other applicable legally protected characteristic. AUI considers qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with applicable federal state and local law. AUI is also committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability you may contact us at .Please read Albert Uster Imports California Job Applicant Privacy Policy here.Required Experience:Director Key Skills Bidding,Customer Service,B2C,Account Management,Bus Driving,Fire And Safety Engineering Employment Type : Full Time Experience: years Vacancy: 1