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 growing rapidly, and we are looking for a strategic, analytical, and forward-thinking Senior Manager, Demand Planning to help shape the future of our demand planning capabilities. This role will play a critical part in translating commercial strategies, consumer insights, and market dynamics into accurate, actionable demand plans that support continued growth, operational excellence, and exceptional customer service.
The Senior Manager, Demand Planning will provide strategic leadership across assigned channels and categories, driving forecast accuracy, strengthening cross-functional alignment, and advancing demand planning processes and capabilities. This individual will serve as a trusted partner to Sales, Marketing, Finance, and Supply Chain leadership, connecting short-term operational execution with long-term business objectives through the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and Integrated Business Planning (IBP) processes.
Success in this role requires a balance of analytical rigor, commercial acumen, and influential leadership. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, challenges assumptions, anticipates risks and opportunities, and brings a continuous improvement mindset to building scalable planning solutions.
Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Demand Planning & Forecasting- Lead the development and execution of comprehensive, data-driven demand plans across assigned channels, categories, and product portfolios, aligning forecasts with business growth objectives.
- Integrate historical shipments, Point of Sale (POS) data, customer insights, promotional activity, market trends, and commercial strategies to develop accurate short- and long-term forecasts.
- Apply advanced forecasting methodologies, scenario modeling, and statistical analysis to anticipate demand variability, identify emerging trends, and improve forecast reliability.
- Challenge assumptions and translate complex data into actionable recommendations that support informed commercial and operational decision-making.
- Serve as a strategic planning partner to Sales, Marketing, Finance, Supply Chain, and other key stakeholders, ensuring alignment between commercial ambitions and operational capabilities.
- Lead collaborative demand reviews, facilitating productive discussions around forecast assumptions, business risks, growth opportunities, and planning trade-offs.
- Influence cross-functional leaders through data-driven insights, sound business judgment, and the ability to constructively challenge perspectives.
- Build strong, trusted partnerships that promote transparency, shared accountability, and proactive decision-making across the organization.
- Provide leadership within the S&OP and IBP processes, ensuring demand plans are aligned with financial objectives, supply capabilities, and evolving business priorities.
- Translate commercial strategies into actionable demand scenarios, identifying implications for inventory, capacity, service levels, and operational performance.
- Partner with Supply Planning, Finance, and Commercial leadership to identify and resolve demand and supply imbalances while driving consensus around key planning decisions.
- Strengthen the connection between Sales & Operations Execution (S&OE) and longer-term planning, ensuring responsiveness to near-term changes without compromising strategic objectives.
- Lead demand planning activities for new product introductions, product expansions, and other strategic growth initiatives.
- Partner with Innovation, Product Development, Marketing, and Sales to develop launch forecasts, evaluate assumptions, and assess potential demand scenarios.
- Monitor new product performance against initial forecasts, identifying trends, risks, and opportunities to improve launch execution and future forecasting methodologies.
- Support portfolio optimization by providing insights into product performance, demand shifts, and evolving consumer preferences.
- Establish and drive accountability for key demand planning performance metrics, including forecast accuracy, forecast bias, and other indicators of planning effectiveness.
- Conduct root-cause analysis of forecast variances, identifying systemic issues and implementing sustainable corrective actions.
- Evaluate demand trends and business performance to identify opportunities to improve inventory productivity, service levels, and working capital efficiency.
- Develop and present clear, actionable insights and recommendations to senior leadership, connecting demand planning performance to broader business outcomes.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance forecasting methodologies, planning processes, data integrity, and cross-functional ways of working.
- Identify opportunities to leverage planning technologies, advanced analytics, automation, and improved data integration to increase forecast accuracy and operational efficiency.
- Establish scalable planning processes, governance, and best practices that support Kinder’s expanding product portfolio, customer base, and operational complexity.
- Champion change management initiatives, helping stakeholders adopt new tools, processes, and planning disciplines that strengthen organizational capabilities.
- Provide thought leadership and subject matter expertise across the demand planning function, elevating analytical capabilities and planning discipline.
- Mentor and develop planning talent, fostering critical thinking, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives that require balancing competing priorities, navigating ambiguity, and influencing outcomes without direct authority.
- Demonstrate strong ownership, sound judgment, and a growth mindset while helping build a high-performing, future-ready planning organization.
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Economics, Finance, or a related field.
- 7+ years of progressive experience in demand planning, forecasting, or integrated business planning, preferably within food and beverage, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or a similarly complex manufacturing environment.
- Demonstrated experience leading complex demand planning processes across multiple product categories, channels, or customer segments.
- Strong understanding of S&OP, IBP, and S&OE processes, with proven ability to connect commercial demand with operational and financial planning.
- Advanced analytical capabilities, including statistical forecasting, scenario modeling, demand variability analysis, and interpretation of POS and syndicated market data.
- Experience with enterprise demand planning systems such as Anaplan, SAP IBP, or comparable platforms, along with strong proficiency in Excel and analytical reporting tools.
- Proven track record of improving forecast accuracy, reducing forecast bias, optimizing planning processes, and delivering measurable business results.
- Strong commercial and financial acumen, with the ability to evaluate the implications of demand decisions on inventory, service levels, revenue, and working capital.
- Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders, challenge assumptions, and drive alignment across cross-functional teams.
- Experience leading process improvement initiatives, implementing planning enhancements, and supporting organizational change in a dynamic environment.
- Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex data into clear insights and actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
- Experience mentoring, coaching, or developing planning professionals, with the ability to elevate team capabilities and performance.
- Strategic & Analytical Thinking: Ability to connect complex demand trends, commercial strategies, and operational constraints to drive forward-looking business decisions.
- Cross-Functional Influence: Strong relationship-building and communication skills, with the ability to challenge assumptions, facilitate alignment, and influence stakeholders at multiple organizational levels.
- Advanced Forecasting & Planning: Deep understanding of statistical forecasting, demand modeling, planning technologies, and integrated business planning principles.
- Business Acumen & Decision-Making: Ability to evaluate trade-offs, anticipate risks, and translate analytical insights into practical business recommendations.
- Continuous Improvement & Change Leadership: Proven ability to identify opportunities, challenge existing processes, and implement scalable improvements in a high-growth environment.
- Leadership & Accountability: Demonstrated ability to lead through influence, develop others, manage competing priorities, and drive measurable results with a strong sense of ownership.
The position will be based onsite in Walnut Creek, CA. We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumer and to have more fun. Fridays are flex days with employees having the opportunity to choose to be either in the office or to work from home based on what makes most sense for them.
Pay TransparencyThe expected starting salary range for this role is $160,000- $180,000 per year. The salary range posted for this role reflects the good-faith base pay range Kinder’s reasonably expects to offer at the time of posting and may vary based on the location of the role. Individual compensation within the posted range will be determined based on factors such as relevant education, experience, qualifications, skills, and business needs.
- No two days here are the same.
- We try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don’t live by hierarchy and structure – everyone is a difference maker here.
- We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information – our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
- We believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate risk.
- We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
- We aren’t trying to be average – we want to do exceptional things, and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.
We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off, 401k, bonus / incentive eligibility, equity grants, competitive health benefits, and other family-friendly benefits, including parental leave. Kinder’s benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.
OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE:We believe great culture starts with people. We’re a people-first company built on connection, collaboration, and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community, but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.
WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS:Kinder's is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, citizenship, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law, and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements, please reach out to us at [email protected]
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Economics, Finance, or a related field
- 7+ years of progressive experience in demand planning, forecasting, or integrated business planning
- Experience in food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, or a similarly complex manufacturing environment
- Experience leading demand planning across multiple product categories, channels, or customer segments
- Strong understanding of S&OP, IBP, and S&OE processes
- Advanced analytical capabilities in statistical forecasting, scenario modeling, demand variability analysis, and POS and syndicated market data
- Experience with Anaplan, SAP IBP, or comparable enterprise demand planning systems
- Strong proficiency in Excel and analytical reporting tools
- Track record of improving forecast accuracy, reducing forecast bias, optimizing planning processes, and delivering measurable results
- Strong commercial and financial acumen involving inventory, service levels, revenue, and working capital
- Ability to influence senior stakeholders and drive cross-functional alignment
- Experience leading process improvements, planning enhancements, and organizational change
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Experience mentoring, coaching, or developing planning professionals
What We Do
In 1946, World War II Navy veteran John Kinder started his own butcher shop in a small storefront in San Pablo, California. Over the next seven decades, John built a reputation for commitment to quality, family service, and amazing flavors. At the age of 90, he was still showing up first and helping customers find quality ingredients to make clean, delicious meals for family and friends. At Kinder’s, we carry on Grandpa John’s legacy by offering the best tasting seasonings, rubs, marinades and sauces in the market. We are growing fast and our products are available at national retailers including Costco, Albertsons, Sam’s Club and Walmart.
