Regional Inventory Planner & Scheduler (Wood products)

Stella-Jones is a leading manufacturer of essential infrastructure products focused on serving utilities and railroads, as well as supplying big box home improvement stores across North America. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada and publicly traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange, Stella-Jones operates a vast network of facilities that employs more than 3,000 employees across the United States and Canada. Built on strong foundations with a coast-to-coast reach, we offer real opportunities for career success and community impact.

Position Summary

We are seeking a Regional Timber Supply & Inventory Planning Manager to oversee the end-to-end management of timber procurement, inventory planning, and supply coordination across red pine and white wood operations. This role bridges the gap between field-level timber development and manufacturing requirements, ensuring a sustained, compliant, and cost-effective flow of raw materials. Reporting to the Senior Manager, the position manages the balance between harvest planning, inventory targets, and production demand.

This is a remote position with significant time spent on the road (50–60%), visiting supplier yards, Crown land, and active harvesting sites. The successful candidate must be comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions and operating independently.

Responsibilities

Red Pine Inventory (60%)

• Assist with monthly pole projection and wood flow planning
• Review supplier pole production (actual vs. forecast), identify surpluses and shortages, and support the annual production budget
• Visit and inspect inventory at supplier yards (at least annually), reviewing inventory rotation and aging
• Assist with annual inventory counts
• Track plant and supplier inventory by species, dimensions, and moisture content to support the wood flow plan
• Advise plants and Sales on cutbacks and substitutions
• Coordinate weekly meetings with the Red Pine Senior Manager and stakeholders to discuss inventory positions and challenges
• Provide quote coverage for small spot business
• Assist with white wood inventory levels planning and scheduling at each treating plant (min/max) to meet production requirements; work with plant managers, the Senior Director, and suppliers to maintain target inventory
• Input stock transfer orders, white wood purchase orders, and assist with customs and border paperwork for white wood inventory originating at a treating plant
• Identify gaps between white wood inventory and plant production schedules; notify stakeholders, including the Regional Inventory Manager, of excess inventory and shortages
• Collaborate with Transportation to plan and coordinate movements, maximize transportation opportunities, and manage white wood railcar pool utilization and forecasted schedules
• Perform other related duties as assigned

Timber Development (40%)

• Provide a continuous supply of barkie poles to meet established annual production requirements
• Cruise land to determine volume, size, and quality of timber stands
• Assess timber sales from Ontario sales and MNR rules
• Oversee logging contractors on timber sales and purchased tracts
• Inspect and evaluate potential timber sales; follow up with successful purchasers for possible pole production
• Mark barkie poles in standing timber and train contractors on marking procedures
• Purchase and balance raw materials inventory to meet required production levels
• Monitor barkie yields to ensure cost efficiency and budget targets are met
• Maintain and develop new relationships with suppliers of barkies and fibre
• Arrange transportation of purchases as needed
• Ensure proper quantity and quality of materials received at locations
• Supervise manufacturing of barkie poles for quality control and direct sizes toward company needs
• Provide day-to-day contact with and supervision of contractors and suppliers
• Work closely with Woodlands Manager(s) on managing woodlands goals and planning all activities to meet legal and financial objectives
• Visit all pole potential areas on Crown land and evaluate pole potential, including volume estimation in standing timber
• Follow and regularly visit all active pole harvesting sectors on Crown land during operation time
• Collaborate with coworkers, log buyers, accounting, contractors, consultants, and members of the public
• Communicate regularly with staff to ensure personnel, reporting, organizational, and system requirements are raised and addressed with a goal of continuous improvement
• Assist in the preparation of fibre supply forecasts, including monthly estimates of pole volume for each individual job
• Assist in the preparation of budgets, accruals, and forecasts; manage spending to achieve goals
• Review and sign off on supplier statements
• Audit and inspect inventory quality and profile at white wood pole suppliers
• Regularly update the Director on work status
• Collaborate with EH&S Coordinators to ensure compliance with workplace regulations and policies
• Identify new ESG opportunities and report findings to the Senior Manager for evaluation
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required Education & Experience

• Post-secondary degree or diploma in Forestry or a related field (or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience)
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience within the forestry sector, specifically involving administrative, operational, or supply chain functions
• Valid driver's license with a clean driving abstract
• Ability to create and analyze reports
• Ability to read and understand contracts and specifications
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities independently
• Comfort working outdoors in all weather conditions
• Willingness to travel 50–60% of the time to supplier yards, harvest sites, and plant locations

Preferred Qualifications (Assets)

• Specific experience within the pole or timber manufacturing industry
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex supply chains in a regional forestry context

Core Competencies

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate operational data into actionable supply strategies
• Creative problem-solving mindset
• Proven ability to collaborate across departments (e.g., Procurement, Transportation, EHS)
• Effective communication skills, capable of managing relationships with both internal stakeholders and external suppliers

As a Stella-Jones employee, you will enjoy access to excellent benefits and incentives, including:

• Extended health and dental coverage
• Life insurance and accidental death & dismemberment (AD&D)
• Short-Term and Long-Term disability coverage
• Competitive compensation
• Annual Bonus Program
• Retirement program (RRSP) with generous Company match (150% of employee's 4% contribution)
• Company Share Purchase Program with 25% Company contribution match
• Career advancement opportunities

Stella-Jones is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, provincial, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Stella-Jones makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.