Since 1940, Dairy Queen® has been one of the world’s best known and loved brands. Based in Minneapolis, MN, International Dairy Queen Inc., (IDQ), is the parent company of American Dairy Queen Corporation. As a leading franchisor, there are more than 7,000 independently owned and operated restaurants in the U.S., Canada and more than 20 countries around the world. IDQ is a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (Berkshire) which is led by Warren Buffett, the legendary investor and CEO of Berkshire.

Here at IDQ, we create extraordinary Fan experiences every day and we do this through our commitment to hiring and retaining only the best in class talent. We firmly believe that our employees are the catalyst to the success of the company where their initiative, strategic thinking, and entrepreneurial spirit are recognized and rewarded. We're looking for motivated, passionate and dedicated individuals with an inherent need and ambition to go after bigger challenges.

We have an exciting opportunity available for a Project Manager-Supply Chain located at our corporate offices in Bloomington, MN.  The Project Manager will manage supply chain components of product life cycle management for promotional, new and discontinued items.  Collaborate cross functionally with Marketing and R&D teams on the process for developing food & treat tests, executing in market, launching nationally and discontinuing to minimize negative financial impact.  Ensure promotional execution excellence and consumer satisfaction by leveraging cross functional team and systems to provide sufficient supply of promotional materials to franchisees.   Understand and leverage available systems to improve, standardize and automate life cycle management.

Key Accountabilities Include:

1.  Product life cycle management

Testing of new items:

o   Provide Supply Chain representation and leadership in cross-functional Product Pipeline Meetings.   Ensure team understanding of current supply chain challenges, complexities, strategies and resolutions.

o   Recap key implications for USCI (Unified Supply Chain Inc., which is IDQ’s supply chain department) team from Product Pipeline meeting.

o   Collaborate with cross-functional team to determine optimal test markets that meet current network requirements and are representative of national roll-out.

o   Manage product movement from vendor to franchisee/ store, through distribution system or directly from vendors.  This includes initial product set-up, demand calculations and product tracking.

o   Facilitate all Beverage, Food, and Treat tests with sourcing, distribution and stores.    This includes working with internal Operations team (CSS) and Marketing throughout test period to monitor sales and ensure stores have sufficient product for testing.

o   Ensure stores are invoiced for appropriate test products used during test market.

Promotional Execution:

o   Develop servings per case estimates and track accuracy.  This includes working with Product Development, Sourcing, Retail Technology and Franchisees.

o   Ensure appropriate distribution center sales proportions are established for each item and track performance.

o   Create monthly promotional calendars for launch kits.

o   Monitor products’ alignment with forecasts at distributor level and provide direction for adjustment where necessary.

o   Work closely with USCI Sourcing and Distribution teams to ensure total supply matches actual promotional demand while minimizing unnecessary financial risk.

o   Work closely with Corporate Communications team to ensure appropriate product direction is provided to the external team, including Franchisees, Distribution Centers and Suppliers.

o   Lead and improve Pre-order Management process for promotional items not managed through typical promotional  forecasting process.   This includes sales expectations, updating pre-order tool for Franchisees, monitoring Franchisee participation, shipment timing from vendors to distributors and stores.

o   Ensure promotional product is in place prior to initial shipments to Franchisees according to established timelines.

Product discontinuations for promotional and non-promotional items:

o   Ensure items are evenly distributed throughout the system until target discontinuation date.

o   Develop obsolete inventory financial exposure estimates and communicate to Supply Chain team.  Facilitate mitigation strategies where necessary.

o   Provide direction regarding transfer, return or disposal of obsolete materials.

o   Manage invoice receipts, processing, approvals and tracking of obsolete materials.  This includes coordination with Distributors, Distribution, Sourcing and Accounting.

o   Provide supply chain support for ongoing sku rationalization efforts.   This may involve analysis, communication and tracking of affected products.

2.  Other duties:

o   Assist in evaluation of current and potential future systems to maximize efficiencies, streamline processes and reduce redundancies across the supply chain.

o   Reconcile open invoices or statements with warehouses.

o   Provide back up to Manager, Distribution Support and Analysis, as well as other roles within USCI department.

o   May be involved in product recall communications between corporate communications and supply chain.

o   May run distributor surveys on a variety of products and their availability.

Complete other duties and special projects as assigned.

Education/Experience:

• B.A. or B.S. Degree in Supply Chain, Business, or other related area, or equivalent combination of education and work experience.
• 5-8 years of related business experience, including required 3-5 years supply chain experience in Foodservice.
• Experience effectively managing complex cross-functional business projects, preferred. Strong demonstrated ability to multi-task and prioritize multiple projects and requests simultaneously, within an intense, deadline-driven environment.
• Comfort and experience working with Power BI, Smart Sheets, Tableau Desktop or other data platforms, highly preferred.
• Experience working with ArrowStream supply chain technology, preferred. 

Skills:

• Relationship building skills, with the ability to create mutually beneficial relationships with both internal and external clients.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of comfort and proficiency using Excel.
• Well organized with a high attention to detail and accuracy.
• Provide excellent customer service to both internal and external clients.
• Ability to collaborate in a team environment.
• Ability to coordinate with other departments (Operations, Brand Marketing, R&D) to complete projects on time.
• Open to learning new skills or taking on new tasks.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.   You must be work authorized in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.

Benefits

Benefit package includes medical, dental and vision insurance coverage, employer paid basic life insurance, short and long-term disability, paid sick and vacation, 401(k) match, tuition reimbursement, wellness challenges and more!

Covid-19 Requirements

International Dairy Queen (IDQ) requests and strongly encourages all U.S. employees to submit their vaccination status and documentation.

IDQ is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values the strength diversity brings to the workplace. IDQ participates in the US E-Verify program.  You must be work authorized in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.