Production Planning Manager

SUMMARY

Experienced Planning Manager responsible for leading production planning, scheduling, materials planning, and inventory activities within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Works cross-functionally to balance customer demand, production capacity, material availability, and inventory needs while improving planning accuracy, operational efficiency, and on-time delivery.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and adjust production schedules based on demand, available capacity, inventory levels and changing business priorities.

• Forecast material and production needs using customer requirements, historical demand and operational data.

• Coordinate raw material and component availability to support manufacturing schedules and reduce potential shortages.

• Monitor raw material, work-in-process and finished goods levels; identify opportunities to improve inventory balance and reduce excess.

• Maintain accurate planning information within ERP/MRP systems, including manufacturing orders and core production data.

• Coordinate inventory counts, review discrepancies and support corrective actions that improve inventory accuracy.

• Work closely with production and other internal teams to communicate priorities, schedule changes, constraints and delivery risks.

• Lead planning discussions and proactively identify capacity issues, material constraints or other factors that could affect output.

• Analyze planning, inventory and production performance; maintain reports and key metrics used to support decision-making.

• Drive continuous improvement across planning, scheduling, materials management and inventory-control processes.

• Lead, coach and support team members involved in planning and inventory activities.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Prior management experience leading teams and processes within a manufacturing or operations environment.

• Strong background in production planning, forecasting, scheduling, materials planning and inventory control.

• Working knowledge of manufacturing capacity, material requirements and supply chain coordination.

• Experience using ERP/MRP systems; familiarity with established manufacturing planning platforms is preferred.

• Strong Excel and reporting skills with the ability to interpret production, demand and inventory data.

• Analytical, organized and proactive approach to resolving shortages, competing priorities and changing deadlines.

• Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills with a customer-focused sense of urgency.

• High attention to detail and a continuous-improvement mindset.

BENEFITS

• Direct-hire leadership opportunity with ownership over key planning and inventory processes.

• Annual performance review process with eligibility for a company-performance-based bonus.

• Retirement benefits that include an employer-matching savings plan and an employer-supported pension program.

• Opportunity to influence production efficiency, inventory optimization and planning improvements across manufacturing operations.

• Visible cross-functional role with exposure to operations, inventory, customer requirements and broader supply chain decision-making.