Director, Integrated Planning Operations

About Lantronix

Lantronix Inc. is a global leader in Edge AI and Industrial IoT solutions, delivering intelligent computing, secure connectivity, and remote management for mission-critical applications across defense, industrial, and enterprise environments. Our expanding platform-spanning embedded compute, AI-enabled networking, PoE infrastructure, and edge software-enables real-time data processing and autonomous decision-making at the network edge. We power next-generation applications including robotics, smart cities, intelligent security, and NDAA-compliant unmanned systems.

Job Summary

The Director, Integrated Planning & Operations is a senior operations leadership role responsible for translating global sales signals into executable supply plans across Lantronix's fully outsourced CM/ODM manufacturing base in Asia. This role owns the end-to-end demand planning cycle, drives rigorous S&OP discipline, and leads strategic sourcing initiatives that reduce cost, compress lead times, and protect supply continuity. A primary mandate is eliminating end-of-quarter loading behavior by instilling smooth, data-driven demand shaping throughout the quarter.

The Director leads a team of planning specialists and the US Warehouse & Logistics operation (Minnesota), and works in close partnership with the Director of Supply Chain (Asia-based CM/ODM execution) to ensure demand signals flow cleanly into supply commitments. This role is a critical bridge between commercial teams and operational delivery.

Job Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Demand Planning & Forecasting

• Own the global demand plan - consolidate and reconcile inputs from regional sales teams, Product Management, and Finance into a single, statistically-grounded demand signal.
• Develop and maintain multi-horizon rolling forecasts (12-18 months) with appropriate granularity by product family, channel, and region.
• Establish forecast accuracy KPIs and drive continuous improvement; hold commercial stakeholders accountable for forecast quality.
• Lead demand sensing and signal analysis to identify trends, risks, and upside opportunities before they materialize as supply surprises.
• Champion in-quarter demand smoothing - actively manage bookings pacing, backlog health, and order patterns to prevent end-of-quarter loading.

S&OP Process Leadership

• Own and facilitate the monthly S&OP cycle end-to-end: Demand Review, Supply Review, Pre-S&OP, and Executive S&OP.
• Develop standardized S&OP materials including executive-ready dashboards, exception reports, and scenario analyses.
• Drive consensus between Sales, Finance, and Operations on the final production plan; escalate unresolved gaps to VP Operations.
• Deliver meaningful management updates at the Executive S&OP - surfacing risks, constraints, and recommended tradeoffs with clear financial impact.
• Continuously improve S&OP process maturity; target progression from reactive to proactive to predictive planning posture.

Production & Inventory Planning

• Translate the approved demand plan into production orders and material pull signals in coordination with the Director of Supply Chain and Asia CM/ODM partners.
• Manage inventory targets and stocking policies by SKU - balancing working capital efficiency against service level commitments.
• Monitor and manage excess and obsolete (E&O) inventory; develop mitigation plans for aged or at-risk inventory.
• Establish planning parameters (lead times, safety stock, min/max levels) in coordination with Supply Chain and Finance.
• Drive Lantronix toward best-in-class inventory turns (5-8x target) from current levels.

Strategic Sourcing

• Lead strategic sourcing initiatives for key commodities (semiconductors, modules, electronic components, contract manufacturing capacity) in coordination with the Director of Supply Chain.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies that improve cost, reduce lead times, and build supply resilience - including dual-sourcing, China+1, and regional diversification where applicable.
• Lead RFQ/RFP processes for new components and manufacturing capacity; own negotiation strategy for strategic supplier contracts.
• Partner with Engineering and Product Management on NPI sourcing, BOM cost modeling, and component selection.
• Monitor tariff landscape (US-China, US-Taiwan, US-Thailand) and develop supply base strategies to mitigate exposure.
• Maintain supplier market intelligence across key commodity categories; provide regular risk and opportunity briefs to VP Operations.

Team Leadership & Development

• Directly manage and develop a team of planning specialists (Production Planning Specialist, Demand Planning Specialist) and the Sr. Manager, Global Logistics overseeing the Minnesota-based Warehouse & Logistics team, with expectation to build team capability and capacity over time.
• Set clear performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching, and conduct formal reviews.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making within the planning team.
• Partner with VP Operations to develop longer-term team structure and capability roadmap.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as the primary planning interface between global Sales, Finance, and Operations - translating commercial dynamics into supply chain action.
• Collaborate closely with the Director of Supply Chain to ensure demand plans are executable and supply constraints are reflected upstream in the demand signal.
• Engage proactively with Asia CM/ODM partners on capacity planning, lead time management, and ramp schedules.
• Provide VP Operations with regular reporting on forecast accuracy, plan attainment, inventory health, and sourcing performance.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Accountable for planning and directing all aspects of the operations of a major program or functional area.
• Works to influence others in company to accept new practices, concepts, and approaches in a major functional area.
• Directly manage and develop a team of planning specialists (Production Planning Specialist, Demand Planning Specialist) and the Sr. Manager, Global Logistics overseeing the Minnesota-based Warehouse & Logistics team, with expectation to build team capability and capacity over time.
• Set clear performance expectations, provide ongoing coaching, and conduct formal reviews.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data-driven decision-making within the planning team.
• Partner with VP Operations to develop longer-term team structure and capability roadmap.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related technical discipline.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in demand planning, S&OP, and/or strategic sourcing within a hardware, electronics, or IoT product company.
• Demonstrated experience owning and facilitating a formal S&OP process across commercial and operations functions.
• Experience working with Asia-based CM/ODM or EMS partners (China, Taiwan, Thailand preferred).

Qualifications & Skills

Required qualifications and skills include, but are not limited to:

• Hands-on demand planning expertise: statistical forecasting, forecast accuracy management, safety stock modeling.
• Strategic sourcing experience: RFQ/RFP management, supplier negotiation, commodity strategy, BOM cost analysis.
• Strong proficiency in ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, or equivalent) and planning/analytics tools (Excel, BI platforms).
• Excellent cross-functional communication skills - ability to present to executives and hold commercial teams accountable for forecast inputs.
• Proven track record of reducing E&O, improving turns, and driving cost savings in a constrained-supply environment.

Preferred qualifications and skills include, but are not limited to:

• MBA or advanced degree.
• APICS CPIM or CSCP certification.
• Experience with tariff mitigation strategies (Section 301, USMCA, HTS classification).
• Background in NPI sourcing and supply chain readiness.
• Familiarity with IoT, embedded computing, networking, or Edge AI product categories.
• Experience with China+1 sourcing strategy and geopolitical supply risk management.
• Working knowledge of ISO 9001 quality management system as it pertains to supplier and planning processes.
• Salary range: $150,000-$200,000 USD annual base salary, depending on experience, skills, qualifications