Director, Sales Operations and Planning
We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Director to establish and drive our Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process. While this role sits within the Operations organization, it requires deep partnership and a sophisticated understanding of the Commercial business. This is a critical leadership role that will ensure alignment between our commercial forecasts and operational capabilities. The Director of S&OP will be responsible for developing a robust process that not only balances demand and supply but also actively improves the quality and accuracy of the commercial inputs that will feed the plan. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in S&OP, data analysis, and process improvement, with a deep understanding of lean principles and proven commercial acumen.
While this is a remote-based position, the successful candidate must be located proximate to a major Quest lab site.
Responsibilities
Develop S&OP Framework: Design, implement, and lead a comprehensive S&OP process from the ground up. Define the charter, process steps, meeting cadence, and key performance indicators (KPIs) for the S&OP cycle.
Demand Plan Co-Creation & Refinement: Partner with Commercial, Sales, and Product Management teams to build a consensus demand forecast. Critically evaluate forecast inputs, challenge assumptions, and guide the commercial team in improving their forecasting methods to enhance accuracy.
Commercial Process Integration: Proactively map, understand, and help refine key commercial processes (e.g., sales pipeline management, market intelligence gathering, new product launch planning) to ensure the S&OP process is driven by high-integrity data.
Capacity & Supply Planning: Work with Operations, Manufacturing, and Laboratory leaders to assess and understand the current and future capacity of our facilities and workforce. Identify potential constraints and bottlenecks in the system.
Integrated Reconciliation & Scenario Planning: Build and maintain a sophisticated planning model that integrates the demand forecast with the supply and capacity plan. Use this model to run scenarios and identify gaps between demand and supply.
Drive Executive Decisions: Lead monthly S&OP meetings with executive leadership. Present a clear summary of the demand and supply picture, highlight key gaps and risks, and provide data-driven recommendations for action. Drive decision-making to resolve imbalances and align the organization.
Process Improvement: Utilize Lean manufacturing and flow principles to continuously improve operational efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance throughput.
Data Analysis & Reporting: Conduct ad-hoc data analyses in Excel to answer critical business questions and explore emerging trends. Develop and maintain ongoing reports and dashboards in PowerPoint and other tools to communicate S&OP performance and insights to stakeholders.
Qualifications
A bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, engineering, or related field is required, an advanced degree (Master’s/MBA) is preferred.
A minimum of 10 years of experience in supply chain, operations, or a related field, with at least 5 years in a leadership role directly managing an S&OP process.
Industry: Experience in healthcare, diagnostics, medical devices, or another large-scale, complex operational industry is required.
Proven expertise in building and managing complex models in Microsoft Excel.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint for creating executive-level presentations.
Experience using Arena or another simulation software to build stochastic simulation models is preferred.
Deep knowledge of Lean manufacturing and flow principles (e.g., Value Stream Mapping, Kanban, 5S, Just-In-Time).
Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and build consensus among stakeholders with competing priorities.
Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
Proven experience partnering with, and influencing, commercial and sales leadership.