Edtech.com's Summary

MPS, a division of Macmillan Publishers, is hiring a Director, Business Planning & Analytics. This senior leadership role drives data-driven decision-making across inventory control, logistics, and operational planning within a large print book distribution network. The Director collaborates with the VP of Planning and Analytics to manage analytics, ERP-related systems, and cross-functional operational strategies, becoming a key senior leader.

Highlights

Lead inventory strategy and control across multiple distribution locations.
Analyze logistics operations, including freight strategies and capacity planning.
Develop financial and operational models to support executive decision-making and policy evaluation.
Manage advanced analytics systems, ERP and WMS data extraction, and maintain critical analytical databases.
Work with IT to improve data governance, reporting automation, and system sustainability.
Support knowledge transfer, document institutional analytics, and develop analytics maturity roadmap.
Provide cross-functional analytical support to Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain teams.
Require advanced skills in Excel, SQL, business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Cognos), and strong financial modeling.
Preferred qualifications include publishing or media distribution experience, ERP bolt-on system expertise, and Lean/Six Sigma training.
Compensation includes a $1,000 retention bonus after one year, paid time off, holidays, 401(k) participation, and competitive benefits.

Director, Business Planning & Analytics Full Description

Director, Business Planning & Analytics

Job Category: Shared Services

Requisition Number: DIREC003337

Full-Time
On-site

Gordonsville, VA 229428501, USA

Job Details

Description

Come join our team!

$1,000 Retention Bonus (after 1 year)
Paid Time Off
14 Paid Holidays
Eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan
Competitive Benefits

MPS, a division of Macmillan Publishers, a leading US publisher of Trade and Academic titles, has a job opening for a Director, Business Planning & Analytics in our Gordonsville facility. MPS provides back office support, warehousing, and, fulfillment for Macmillan US, and is their primary distribution facility for North America.

Position Summary
The Director of Business Planning and Analytics is a senior leadership role responsible for advancing data-driven decision-making across inventory control, logistics, and operational planning within a high-volume print book distribution environment.

The Director will work closely with the VP of Planning and Analytics to absorb institutional knowledge, technical systems expertise, analytical methodologies, and strategic planning capabilities. The Director will assume increasing ownership of mission-critical analytics, ERP-adjacent systems, and cross-functional operational strategy initiatives, and develop into a key role on the senior leadership team.

This position requires a rare combination of operational leadership, analytical capability, systems fluency, and business modeling expertise.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Strategy & Control

Assist inventory control with strategies across a multi-location print book distribution network.
Analyze shrinkage, adjustments, and systemic inventory accuracy trends.

Logistics & Network Optimization

Partner with the logistics manager to evaluate inbound, outbound, and inter-facility freight strategies.
Model service levels vs. cost trade-offs.
Support peak season planning and capacity modeling.

Distribution Planning & Policy Modeling
Quantitative evaluation of:

New customer terms and policy changes
Internal process changes
Inventory deployment strategies
New business models and distribution channels
Build financial and operational models to support executive decision-making.
Translate complex data analysis into clear executive recommendations.

Advanced Analytics & Systems Leadership

Extract and analyze large datasets from ERP and WMS systems.
Maintain and enhance mission-critical databases and analytical tools that augment core ERP functionality.
Oversee the architecture, documentation, and sustainability of internally developed analytical systems.
Ensure business continuity of all bolt-on databases and reporting tools.
Partner with IT to improve data governance, automation, and reporting reliability.

Knowledge Transfer & Succession Development
Work directly with the VP to:

Document institutional knowledge
Understand historical decision logic and modeling frameworks
Map data sources and analytical workflows
Catalog all custom-built systems and tools
Gradually assume ownership of strategic analyses and executive reporting.
Develop a long-term roadmap for analytics maturity within the distribution organization.

Cross-Functional Leadership

Serve as the analytical backbone for Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain teams.
Present complex data in accessible, actionable formats.
Influence policy and strategy through rigorous, data-based reasoning.
Mentor analysts and develop internal analytical capability.

Required Qualifications:

8–12+ years of experience in distribution, supply chain, or operations leadership.
Significant experience in high-volume distribution environments (book publishing experience strongly preferred).

Demonstrated experience in:

Advanced Excel modeling
SQL querying and database design
Data extraction from ERP/WMS systems
Business intelligence tools (Cognos Analytics, Power BI, etc.)
Experience building and maintaining analytical databases or operational reporting systems.
Strong financial modeling skills.
Ability to translate operational data into strategic insight.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in publishing or media distribution.
Experience with ERP-integrated bolt-on systems.
Lean/Six Sigma or similar process optimization training.
BA/BS in Supply Chain, Analytics, or related field.
Experience with SAP Financials and Order-to-Cash.

Critical Competencies
This role requires:

Systems Thinking – Understand how inventory policy, customer terms, logistics cost, and financial outcomes interrelate.
Technical Curiosity – Comfortable going beyond reports to raw data.
Analytical Rigor – Builds defensible, data-backed recommendations.
Operational Credibility – Earns trust with warehouse and logistics teams.
Executive Communication – Simplifies complex modeling into decision-ready insights.
Institutional Stewardship – Protects and modernizes mission-critical analytical infrastructure.

MPS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, consistently striving to foster a culture where everyone belongs. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds and identities. Qualified applicants are evaluated without regard to race, color, religion, age, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability status, physical ability, neurodiversity, genetic information, protected veteran status, family and economic status, and background or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law. We prohibit discrimination of any kind and will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with applicable law.

Qualifications

Skills

Required

Power BI

Advanced

Excel

Advanced

Behaviors

Preferred

Team Player: Works well as a member of a group

Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them

Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Education

Preferred

Bachelors or better.

Experience

Required

8-12 years:

8–12+ years of experience in distribution, supply chain, or operations leadership. Significant experience in high-volume distribution environments (book publishing experience strongly preferred).

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.

Original Job Description

Director, Business Planning & Analytics

Job Category: Shared Services

Requisition Number: DIREC003337

Full-Time
On-site

Gordonsville, VA 229428501, USA

Job Details

Description

Come join our team!

$1,000 Retention Bonus (after 1 year)
Paid Time Off
14 Paid Holidays
Eligible to participate in the 401(k) Plan
Competitive Benefits

This position requires a rare combination of operational leadership, analytical capability, systems fluency, and business modeling expertise.

Key Responsibilities

Inventory Strategy & Control

Assist inventory control with strategies across a multi-location print book distribution network.
Analyze shrinkage, adjustments, and systemic inventory accuracy trends.

Logistics & Network Optimization

Partner with the logistics manager to evaluate inbound, outbound, and inter-facility freight strategies.
Model service levels vs. cost trade-offs.
Support peak season planning and capacity modeling.

Distribution Planning & Policy Modeling
Quantitative evaluation of:

New customer terms and policy changes
Internal process changes
Inventory deployment strategies
New business models and distribution channels
Build financial and operational models to support executive decision-making.
Translate complex data analysis into clear executive recommendations.

Advanced Analytics & Systems Leadership

Extract and analyze large datasets from ERP and WMS systems.
Maintain and enhance mission-critical databases and analytical tools that augment core ERP functionality.
Oversee the architecture, documentation, and sustainability of internally developed analytical systems.
Ensure business continuity of all bolt-on databases and reporting tools.
Partner with IT to improve data governance, automation, and reporting reliability.

Knowledge Transfer & Succession Development
Work directly with the VP to:

Document institutional knowledge
Understand historical decision logic and modeling frameworks
Map data sources and analytical workflows
Catalog all custom-built systems and tools
Gradually assume ownership of strategic analyses and executive reporting.
Develop a long-term roadmap for analytics maturity within the distribution organization.

Cross-Functional Leadership

Serve as the analytical backbone for Operations, Sales, and Supply Chain teams.
Present complex data in accessible, actionable formats.
Influence policy and strategy through rigorous, data-based reasoning.
Mentor analysts and develop internal analytical capability.

Required Qualifications:

8–12+ years of experience in distribution, supply chain, or operations leadership.
Significant experience in high-volume distribution environments (book publishing experience strongly preferred).

Demonstrated experience in:

Advanced Excel modeling
SQL querying and database design
Data extraction from ERP/WMS systems
Business intelligence tools (Cognos Analytics, Power BI, etc.)
Experience building and maintaining analytical databases or operational reporting systems.
Strong financial modeling skills.
Ability to translate operational data into strategic insight.

Preferred Qualifications:

Experience in publishing or media distribution.
Experience with ERP-integrated bolt-on systems.
Lean/Six Sigma or similar process optimization training.
BA/BS in Supply Chain, Analytics, or related field.
Experience with SAP Financials and Order-to-Cash.

Critical Competencies
This role requires:

Systems Thinking – Understand how inventory policy, customer terms, logistics cost, and financial outcomes interrelate.
Technical Curiosity – Comfortable going beyond reports to raw data.
Analytical Rigor – Builds defensible, data-backed recommendations.
Operational Credibility – Earns trust with warehouse and logistics teams.
Executive Communication – Simplifies complex modeling into decision-ready insights.
Institutional Stewardship – Protects and modernizes mission-critical analytical infrastructure.

Qualifications

Skills

Required

Power BI

Advanced

Excel

Advanced

Behaviors

Preferred

Team Player: Works well as a member of a group

Leader: Inspires teammates to follow them

Detail Oriented: Capable of carrying out a given task with all details necessary to get the task done well

Education

Preferred

Bachelors or better.

Experience

Required

8-12 years:

8–12+ years of experience in distribution, supply chain, or operations leadership. Significant experience in high-volume distribution environments (book publishing experience strongly preferred).

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Director, Business Planning & Analytics

Edtech.com's Summary

Director, Business Planning & Analytics Full Description

Director, Business Planning & Analytics

Data Analyst

Associate Director, Business Intelligence

Business Intelligence Analysts

Senior Business Intelligence and Data Analyst

Data Scientist II