Planning Specialist

Description Planning Specialist Wooddale Illinois $80K-85K plus bonus Position Summary: The Planning Specialist manages purchase order and sales order accuracy within Epicor, reporting to the Planning Manager. This role partners closely with Supply Chain buyers, Engineering, and Production to confirm pricing, lead time, and quantity on incoming orders, keeps order data clean and reconciled across systems, and expediting requests and execution. No direct reports. Areas of impact: Purchase order management: verify and confirm pricing, lead time, and quantity on incoming PO's, and serve as the key point of contact for buyers. Sales order maintenance: enter and maintain open sales orders with proper dating, close out orders once shipped, and reconcile open orders between Epicor and NetSuite. Cross-functional coordination: partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, and Production on new part creation, MOM requests, and Program/VMI parts. Expedite and deferral management: review deferral/expedite reports, update or cancel orders once approved by the Planning Manager, and attend daily expedite meetings. Planning department support: assist the Planning Manager with day-to-day administrative tasks, including record-keeping and office supply PO's. Key Competencies: Strong communication skills for coordinating across departments and with buyers. High attention to detail with a focus on data accuracy across systems. Ability to balance big-picture priorities with a strong sense of urgency. Strong organizational skills to track multiple open orders and follow-ups. Team player who follows instruction well and works independently when needed. Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent required. 5+ years of experience in a similar planning, purchasing, or order management role. Experience working within an ERP system (Epicor preferred) and reconciling data across platforms such as NetSuite. Proven ability to manage multiple open orders and PO's simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Familiarity with manufacturing/distribution supply chain and order-to-cash processes. To Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: We appreciate your role in helping connect good people to great jobs. Please understand that Optimas does not accept unsolicited CVs or resumes from agencies. We are not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited CVs or resumes and explicitly reserve our right to contact candidates presented in this manner. Equal Opportunity Employer: Optimas OE Solutions provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Optimas OE Solutions complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.