Production and Planning Manager – Bioprocess Systems

Asahi Kasei Bioprocess America, Inc. sells Planova® virus removal filters and develops and manufactures related bioprocess equipment for the biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical market.

About the role

The Production and Planning Manager – Bioprocess Systems leads and coordinates the assembly and wiring of fluid management process equipment. This role focuses on production leadership, planning, and cross-functional alignment to ensure systems are delivered safely, on time, at quality, and at cost. The Production Manager drives execution through a team of welders, assembly technicians, and electrical technicians by establishing clear priorities, aligning resources, and removing barriers. A critical component is maintaining tight integration with Project Management to align production capacity with the project pipeline, proactively manage constraints, and optimize throughput.

Responsibilities

• Production Leadership & Direction
  • Lead, coach, and develop the systems assembly team, ensuring clear accountability, role clarity, and performance expectations
  • Drive execution through leads and technicians rather than direct hands-on assembly work
  • Establish a structured, organized production environment, including 5S standards and effective use of tools and workspace
  • Promote a strong culture of safety, quality, and continuous improvement
• Production Planning & Execution
  • Own production planning and scheduling for systems builds based on project demand and available capacity
  • Translate engineering designs (2D/3D) into executable production plans through the team
  • Identify and proactively mitigate risks to schedule, labor constraints, or material availability
  • Partner with Supply Chain, Project Management, Engineering, and Quality to remove bottlenecks and maintain flow
• Project Management Integration
  • Partner closely with Project Management to align production schedules with the project pipeline and customer delivery commitments
  • Forecast departmental turnaround of expected tasks and deliverables for project plan creation and updating
  • Prioritize work and assign resources across active projects
  • Identify gaps in capacity and secure temporary or contract labor as needed
  • Provide clear, real-time communication on production status, risks, and constraints
  • Act as the primary operations interface for execution planning and fulfillment alignment
• Capacity Management & Inventory Strategy
  • Continuously assess production capacity and forecast future resource needs based on backlog and pipeline visibility
  • Communicate when excess capacity exists and proactively recommend building standard systems or subassemblies to stock
  • Replace hands-on inventory management with system-level planning and coordination to ensure materials support production schedules
• Communication & Cross-Functional Leadership
  • Serve as a key communication bridge between production, Project Management, Engineering, Quality, and Leadership
  • Effectively communicate with all levels of the organization—from shop floor technicians to executive leadership
  • Lead daily/weekly production reviews, planning meetings, and escalation discussions
  • Translate complex and shifting priorities into clear, actionable direction for the team
• Team Management, Quality, and Safety
  • Manage and develop a growing team of skilled technicians and/or leads across multiple disciplines
  • Establish individual development plans and support skill progression within the team
  • Drive engagement and ownership through clear connection of daily work to company goals
  • Ensure accurate and transparent reporting of quality and safety issues
  • Apply company policies, support performance management processes, and maintain positive employee relations
  • Promote company values (Challenge, Creativity, Sincerity, Wisdom, Curiosity, Growth, Passion, Responsibility)
• Additional Duties and Responsibilities
  • Support standardization efforts for system builds where applicable
  • Contribute to operational strategy discussions related to capacity, footprint, in-house vs. sub-contracted capabilities, and scalability
  • Lead or participate in continuous improvement initiatives across Operations

Requirements

• Technical certificate, associate’s degree, or bachelor’s degree
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing, equipment assembly, or similar production environments, with strong preference for electro-mechanical integrated systems manufacturing
• 5+ years of leadership experience with direct team responsibility
• Demonstrated experience in production planning, scheduling, and resource allocation
• Utilize existing data to make decisions
• Strong cross-functional collaboration experience, preferably with Project Management teams
• Familiarity with Quality Management Systems (ISO 9001:2015 preferred) and cGMP environments
• Safety-oriented mindset

Skills

• Exceptional communicator with the ability to engage effectively across all levels of the organization
• Strong leadership and team development capability
• Highly organized with the ability to manage competing priorities
• Proactive problem solver with a focus on execution and results
• Adaptable and capable of managing regularly shifting production demands and priorities
• Customer-focused and team-oriented mindset
• Experience in engineered-to-order or capital equipment manufacturing (Preferred)
• Lean manufacturing / continuous improvement experience (Preferred)
• Project management software experience (Preferred)

Physical Demands and Environmental Conditions

• Regular presence in a temperature-controlled production environment
• Regular exposure to welding, assembly, wiring, and testing activities requiring proper PPE
• Hours: 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM, one shift, Monday through Friday
• Ability to lift 45 lbs as needed

Pay

The base compensation range for this role is $90,000–$120,000. Base compensation is influenced by factors including, but not limited to: time in the role, previous experience, skills, knowledge, performance, work requirements, internal equity, and business/economic conditions.

Schedule

One shift, Monday through Friday, 6:00 AM to 3:00 PM.