Production Planner

About the role

A very well respected national food organization is looking to hire a new Production Planner for its flagship manufacturing site to help propel the business into its next phase of growth. The role will develop and manage production schedules within a fast‑paced, 24/7 manufacturing environment, using SAP to align production capacity, materials, inventory, labor, and customer demand while partnering with Manufacturing, Procurement, Logistics, Quality, Operations, and Supply and Demand teams. The planner will support a Plant Director in delivering a turnaround program for the facility and help springboard the business to its next level of growth, including developing a world‑class team and selecting and implementing new machinery, tools, systems, manufacturing practices, and employee succession planning.

Responsibilities

• Build, manage, and optimize production schedules within SAP to support customer demand and operational objectives.
• Continuously evaluate forecasts, capacity constraints, inventory levels, and supply chain conditions to ensure effective production planning.
• Coordinate materials, labor resources, equipment, and inventory to maintain uninterrupted manufacturing operations.
• Oversee inventory transactions, material consumption, stock accuracy, and work‑in‑progress (WIP) activities across the facility.
• Identify and mitigate risks related to shortages, excess inventory, production bottlenecks, and schedule disruptions.
• Develop recovery and contingency plans to address equipment downtime, supply interruptions, and expedited customer requirements.
• Collaborate closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics, and Quality teams to drive performance and customer satisfaction.
• Monitor and support achievement of key manufacturing metrics, including OEE, Schedule Adherence, Shift Adherence, and Production Attainment.
• Provide guidance and mentorship to junior planners while serving as a key resource for SAP planning tools and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with GMP, food safety, quality, and workplace safety standards within a manufacturing environment.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree, or APICS certification in Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience in production planning, inventory management, and materials planning within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems, with SAP experience highly preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and data‑driven planning tools.
• Demonstrated analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making capabilities.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence cross‑functional teams.

Pay

$80,000 to $100,000 base salary, plus bonus eligibility.

Benefits

Strong company benefits package.