Supply Chain Manager - Sumitomo Biorational Company

About the role

Headquartered in Libertyville, IL, Sumitomo Biorational Company is the Global Center of Excellence for Biorational Innovation, advancing integrated, science-driven solutions in agriculture, public health, forest health, and environmental markets. As a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Biorational operates through three divisions: AgroSolutions, Environmental Health (MGK), and Public Health & Forest Health, leveraging decades of expertise to drive innovation and sustainability for customers worldwide.

Key Responsibilities

• Tolling Production Planning - Lead the end-to-end production planning process for external manufacturing partners (tollers), ensuring alignment with demand forecasts, inventory targets, service objectives, and financial plans.
  • Develop and maintain short-, medium-, and long-term production schedules for outsourced manufacturing operations.
  • Partner with external manufacturers to validate capacity, identify constraints, evaluate scenarios, and mitigate supply risks.
  • Ensure availability of active ingredients, raw materials, and packaging materials required for tolling operations.
  • Oversee subcontracting processes, including material staging, production execution, inventory reconciliation, and SAP transaction accuracy.
  • Drive performance management and continuous improvement initiatives across the tolling network.
  • Support new product introductions through integrated planning of materials, production capacity, logistics, and inventory readiness.
  • Lead supply planning inputs for S&OP, IBP, and S&OE processes related to toll manufacturing operations.
• Active Ingredient (AI) Material Planning - Lead MRP planning activities for Active Ingredients to ensure uninterrupted supply to internal plants and external manufacturing partners.
  • Develop procurement and replenishment plans considering lead times, production requirements, inventory targets, and business priorities.
  • Monitor supplier performance, material availability, and supply risks, implementing mitigation plans when necessary.
  • Collaborate closely with Procurement to ensure strategic alignment and adequate material coverage.
  • Conduct scenario planning and sensitivity analysis to support business continuity and risk management.
  • Optimize inventory levels while minimizing obsolescence and excess inventory exposure.
• Inventory Management & Working Capital Optimization - Develop and execute inventory strategies aligned with service level, working capital, and financial objectives.
  • Own inventory projections and provide 24-to-36-month visibility for inventory and cash flow planning.
  • Establish inventory policies, safety stock strategies, and inventory segmentation methodologies.
  • Led inventory optimization initiatives focused on reducing excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory.
  • Monitor inventory health metrics including inventory turns, aging, service levels, and working capital performance.
  • Lead cross-functional inventory governance forums and SLOB reduction initiatives.
  • Provide inventory-related insights and recommendations to Finance and Executive Leadership teams.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve inventory visibility, analytics, and decision-making processes.
• Commodity Planning & MRP Governance - Lead material planning processes for key commodities and strategic raw materials.
  • Govern MRP processes, planning parameters, master data integrity, and replenishment policies across the supply chain.
  • Ensure standardization and compliance with MRP planning processes, policies, and best practices.
  • Continuously evaluate and optimize planning parameters including lot sizes, lead times, safety stocks, and reorder policies.
  • Partner with Procurement, Manufacturing, and IT to enhance planning system effectiveness and data quality.
  • Support ERP and planning system improvements to increase automation, visibility, and planning accuracy.
  • Establish and monitor planning KPIs related to material availability, inventory performance, and planning effectiveness.
• Leadership & Continuous Improvement - Lead, coach, and develop a team of supply chain planning professionals.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer focus, and continuous improvement.
  • Support digital transformation initiatives and planning system enhancements.
  • Drive planning process excellence through KPI management, root cause analysis, and corrective actions.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert in Supply Planning, Inventory Management, MRP, and External Manufacturing Planning.
  • Present supply chain risks, opportunities, and recommendations to senior leadership.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Operations Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field. APICS CPIM certification is preferred. MBA or advanced degree is a plus.
• Experience: 8+ years of experience in Supply Chain Planning, Supply Planning, Materials Planning, Inventory Management, or related functions. Minimum 3 years of leadership experience managing planning teams. Strong experience with: Master Production Scheduling (MPS), Planning Material Requirements (MRP), Inventory Management, External Manufacturing / Tolling Operations, Integrated Business Planning (IBP) / S&OP, Capacity Planning, Working Capital Management. Experience in complex, multi-site manufacturing environments. Agricultural chemical, crop protection, specialty chemical, life sciences, or consumer products preferred. Strong ERP experience (SAP preferred) and advanced planning systems knowledge. Experience with Power BI, Excel, and data analytics tools.

What We Offer

• Base Salary: The estimated annual base salary for this position ranges from: $93,500 to $114,400. Individual pay is based upon location, skills, experience, and other relevant factors. Incentives: All full-time employees are eligible for an incentive program or profit-sharing program in addition to their base salary. Benefits: High-quality healthcare coverage starting on day one, with options for medical (HSA/HRA), vision, and dental plans. 5% company contribution to your 401(k), plus a quarterly discretionary bonus. Immediate 100% vesting of all retirement contributions. Financial assistance programs to support your goals. Life and disability insurance for added security. Generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and volunteer days.

Our Commitment to a Sustainable Future

We recognize that compensation and benefits play a crucial role in your career decisions. That's why we're dedicated to equitable pay practices and transparency in how we reward our employees. Sumitomo Biorational Company is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and/or identity, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, disabilities, or protected veteran status. #Sumitomo