Beverage Materials Planning Manager

The Role 

As more Americans turn to cannabis for well-being, we are looking to grow our team to help us bring additional safe, trusted products to even more consumers and channels across the country. The Beverage Materials Planning Manager will be a key player in expanding our THC-infused beverage business to ensure the availability of our beverages nationwide.  

We are seeking someone who is dynamic and entrepreneurial to spearhead the growth of our portfolio of brands led by Señorita, an award-winning hemp-derived THC beverage brand. This role will lead all aspects of material requirements planning and supplier relationships, including forecasting, ordering, and inventory control of packaging and ingredients. It combines strategic planning with hands-on execution, requiring someone who thrives in a fast-paced, startup-like environment. The individual must be comfortable actively engaging with co-manufacturers, suppliers, 3PLs, and internal stakeholders.  

This is a hybrid role requiring 2 days (Tues/Thurs) in office at our Chicago (River North) headquarters. The position requires travel up to 25%. 

Responsibilities 

Inventory & Supply Management 

• Maintain optimal inventory levels to balance working capital and service levels across co-manufacturers and warehouses.  

• Monitor safety-stock levels and adjust based on changes in demand, lead times, or supplier performance. 

• Partner with production sites to develop and maintain the inventory cycle count program for all raw materials 

• Drive strategies to minimize waste, obsolescence, and stockouts. 
• Maintain master data for all packaging and ingredients  

Supplier & Vendor Management 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers to ensure reliability, quality, and cost-effectiveness. 

• Monitor and coordinate artwork updates for packaging related to regulatory changes and brand updates, ensuring suppliers and co-manufacturers receive accurate, up-to-date versions. 

• Monitor supplier performance (on-time delivery, quality, responsiveness) and drive continuous improvement. 
• Identify and qualify alternate suppliers to reduce risk and support business growth. 

Planning & Forecasting 

• Develop, implement, and manage material planning processes to ensure a timely and accurate supply of raw materials and packaging. 

• Analyze consumption patterns, demand forecasts, production capacity, and lead time to create efficient material replenishment plans. 

• Track open purchase orders, confirm deliveries, and mitigate risks of material shortages. 

Cross-Functional Collaboration 

• Work closely with Supply Planning, Logistics, Sales, and Quality Assurance to ensure seamless supply chain operations. 

• Participate in Sales & Operations Planning meetings to provide insight on material availability and constraints. 

• Identify opportunities to drive process improvement and digital transformation in material planning 

Qualifications 

• Proven Supply Chain Experience: 5+ years of supply planning, material planning, or procurement experience (beverage, food, or CPG industry preferred). 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, related field, or equivalent work experience 

• Technical Toolkit: Proficiency in MS Excel required. Preferred experience PowerBI, SQL/MS Access, and advanced planning tools  

• Resilience & Resourcefulness: Adjusts quickly to shifting priorities, evolving compliance requirements, and/or demand fluctuations 

• Core Skills: