Operations Planner

Santa Ana, CA • Exempt • Full-Time

About the role

The Operations Planner manages production planning and production control activities for the Operations Department. This position translates customer demand, sales forecasts, and engineering project requirements into executable production forecasts that support on-time delivery, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction. The role exercises independent judgment in evaluating production requirements, identifying scheduling risks, balancing competing priorities, and recommending corrective actions to ensure alignment between customer demand and manufacturing capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Review sales forecasts, customer demand, backlog, and engineering project requirements to develop and maintain production forecasts.
• Collaborate with the Production Control Manager (PCM) to ensure production schedules align with customer demand, inventory levels, labor availability, manufacturing lead times, and operational objectives.
• Analyze demand requirements and production capacity to determine achievable production timelines and priorities.
• Monitor production schedules with PCM and adjust plans in response to changing customer requirements, material availability, production constraints, or business priorities.
• Maintain accurate planning data within ERP/MRP systems.
• Partner with the Production Control Manager to ensure production activities remain aligned with customer demand and business priorities.
• Monitor production performance against established schedules and identify potential delivery risks.
• Analyze schedule adherence, production progress, and manufacturing constraints and recommend corrective actions when necessary.
• Support the development and maintenance of production planning processes and controls.
• Ensure planning information remains accurate and supports operational decision-making.
• Support short-term and long-term production planning initiatives.
• Coordinate with Purchasing to ensure material availability supports production schedules.
• Communicate material-related risks and support development of recovery plans and alternative scheduling solutions.
• Provide visibility to Operations leadership regarding material availability concerns affecting schedule performance.
• Serve as a key liaison between Operations, Production, Engineering, Purchasing, Sales, and Customer Service.
• Assess project schedules and identify any risks that could impact timelines in partnership with Program Management.
• Advise Sales and Customer Service teams regarding product availability, manufacturing capacity, and delivery expectations.
• Support operational review meetings by providing schedule performance, capacity utilization, and demand analysis.
• Evaluate planning and scheduling processes and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, accuracy, and responsiveness.
• Support implementation of planning best practices, tools, and process improvements.
• Develop and maintain reports, metrics, and KPI tracking related to schedule performance and capacity utilization.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational effectiveness, on-time delivery, and resource optimization.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in production planning, manufacturing scheduling, operations planning, production control, or related manufacturing functions.
• Comprehensive knowledge of production planning, manufacturing operations, capacity planning, inventory management, and material requirements planning (MRP).
• Demonstrated ability to perform complex planning activities while following established processes and procedures.
• Strong analytical and critical thinking skills with the ability to evaluate production constraints and develop effective solutions.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across multiple departments and organizational levels.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, and experience working with ERP/MRP systems.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and changing business demands in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Ability to support established quality, safety, and security requirements.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within aerospace and defense, electronics manufacturing, telecommunications, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.
• APICS/ASCM CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent certification.
• Experience using ERP systems such as Epicor, SAP, Oracle, IFS, or equivalent manufacturing software.
• Familiarity with AS9100, ISO 9001, or similar quality management systems.
• Experience supporting capacity planning, demand forecasting, and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes.
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.

Physical Requirements

• Must be able to sit or stand for extended periods and frequently perform computer-based work.
• Regular use of computers, telephone, and Microsoft Teams is required.
• Primarily an office-based role located within a manufacturing environment.
• Occasionally walk through production, warehouse, receiving, and test areas while following all required safety procedures and PPE requirements.
• Must possess sufficient visual acuity to review schedules, reports, and ERP system data.
• Occasionally lift, carry, or move materials weighing up to 20 pounds.

Some positions may require the ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) security clearance. While not all roles require an active clearance at the time of hire, applicants must be eligible for clearance under federal guidelines, and employment may be contingent upon successful completion of a government background investigation.