Production Planner

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Buffalo Games is an American manufacturer and marketer of award-winning Party Games and finest quality Jigsaw Puzzles. Our products are manufactured in a self-owned and operated plant in Buffalo, NY. We take great pride in our manufacturing expertise and craftsmanship and relentlessly deliver on the highest quality standards and experience that our consumers have come to expect from Buffalo. For us, Good Enough - Isn't.

Pay Range is $24-$28/hr

POSITION OVERVIEW

We are seeking a detail-oriented, analytically minded Production Planner to support production planning and scheduling for our jigsaw puzzle brand segment. This is a hands-on role responsible for developing and maintaining production plans for multiple puzzle lines to ensure efficient operations and on-time product delivery.

Reporting to the Senior Manager, Production Planning & Forecasting, the Production Planner will help translate sales forecasts and POS data into day-to-day production and inventory actions, maintain planning data integrity, and support the team's ongoing efforts to standardize and improve planning processes.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Production Scheduling Support

● Develop and maintain production schedules, updating schedules with demand changes, capacity updates, and material availability.

● Reconcile demand signals (retailer orders, POS data, and forecasts) against the current schedule and flag discrepancies to the Senior Manager.

● Support on-time delivery and service-rate goals by monitoring open orders and escalating at-risk shipments.

2. Data & Reporting

● Maintain accurate, up-to-date planning data in the ERP system, including item master fields

● Build and update Excel-based tracking tools and reports (order status, inventory positions, service-rate summaries) for use in team and management reviews.

● Compile data in support of root cause analysis following service misses

● Prepare recurring reports and dashboards that support production performance tracking.

3. Inventory Support

● Monitor finished goods and raw material inventory levels across assigned SKUs and flag potential shortages or excess positions.

● Support periodic inventory review cycles, including seasonal transition planning.

● Coordinate with Procurement to confirm material availability against the production plan.

4. Process & Systems Support

● Help document and maintain planning SOPs to support consistent, repeatable processes across the team.

● Identify opportunities to streamline recurring planning tasks and support the rollout of new tools or process changes.

● Participate in ERP and systems initiatives aimed at improving planning accuracy and reducing manual, spreadsheet-based work.

5. Cross-Functional Coordination

● Serve as a day-to-day point of contact with Manufacturing, Procurement, Sales, and Customer Service on order and schedule questions.

● Communicate schedule changes and order updates clearly and promptly to relevant stakeholders.

● Bring data and clear context to team discussions, raising issues early and proposing solutions alongside problems.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

● Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent practical experience).

● 0–3 years of experience in production planning, inventory management, supply chain, or a related operations function; internship or co-op experience in a manufacturing or consumer products environment considered.

● Proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, basic formulas); comfort learning and working within ERP systems.

● Strong attention to detail and data accuracy.

● Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work across cross-functional teams.

● Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

● A proactive, analytical approach to problem-solving.

Preferred

● Exposure to ERP systems with MPS/MRP modules; Epicor experience a plus.

● Coursework or certification progress toward APICS CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent.

• ● Interest or prior exposure to consumer products, seasonal goods, or retail-facing supply chains.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance