Director, Supply Planning - Mfg U.S.
Ferrara Candy
Chicago, IL · Posted November 6, 2026
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November 2026
- #1Best cities for government pay after cost of living$146k · of 18
- #1Cities with the most jobs that do not need a four-year degree in the Midwest684 jobs · of 51
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- #1Best all-round cities for mid-career professionals in the Midwest80 / 100 · of 20
How AI is used in this kind of work
AI use among funeral home managers is little observed so far. Measured exposure for funeral home managers: 1% (little observed).
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Ferrara Candy has filed 2 layoff notices in the last twelve months, covering 308 workers, most recently November 2026. These are public filings with state labor departments, and an open role can sit alongside them. See the filings
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About the job
Work Location: Chicago
Due to the highly interactive and team-based nature of this role, in-person attendance for most of the workweek (i.e., 3 days or more) is essential for: effective communication including during in-person meetings, strong supervision, real-time problem-solving, and participation in cross-functional initiatives.
Want to make an impact?
The Director, Supply Planning sets strategic direction and leads execution across supply planning and short- and medium-term network capacity planning for Ferrara’s manufacturing network. This role optimizes inventory, service levels, sourcing, and capacity across internal manufacturing and co-manufacturing/co-packing operations. As a key leader in Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), the Director drives cross-functional decisions that improve agility, cost efficiency, and customer service.
Ways you will make a difference
Lead end-to-end supply planning across internal plants and external manufacturing partners, including short- and mid-range plans, seasonal pre-builds, product launches, transitions, and discontinuations.
Lead short- and medium-term network capacity planning, maintain plant calendars, conduct manufacturing site reviews, and identify constraints and investment needs.
Develop sourcing strategies for current and new items by evaluating plant capabilities, network fit, capacity, cost, and service implications.
Represent supply planning and network capacity in IBP/S&OP forums; facilitate trade-off decisions involving constrained supply, service risk, inventory, and capacity allocation.
Establish inventory policies for semi-finished and finished goods, including safety stock, economic order quantities, replenishment strategies, and weeks-of-supply targets.
Drive improvements in customer service, inventory turns, planned order adherence, plant attainment, and inventory obsolescence.
Lead root-cause analysis and service recovery for supply disruptions, including preventative action plans and forward-looking risk assessments.
Partner with Plant Operations, Material Planning, Commercial, Innovation, and Finance leaders to align supply and capacity plans with business priorities.
Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing supply planning team; establish clear goals and build capability to support business growth.
Skills that will make you successful
Strategic planning
Supply and capacity planning
Inventory optimization
Manufacturing sourcing
IBP/S&OP leadership
Financial acumen
Executive communication
Cross-functional influence
Risk management
Continuous improvement
Talent development
Experiences that will support your success
Bachelor’s degree required.
7-10 years of progressive experience in supply chain, supply planning, inventory management, operations planning, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience leading network or capacity planning and influencing senior-level cross-functional teams.
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint; SAP and Business Warehouse/Business Intelligence experience strongly preferred.
APICS CPIM or CSCP certification preferred.
What We Offer
At Ferrara, we're proud to support our employees with comprehensive benefits that enhance health, financial wellness, and include paid time off (PTO). Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance. Learn more about our benefits at https://flimp.live/Ferrara-Benefits-Resource-Center
Compensation
The salary range for this role is $130,725 - $183,015 annually.