Production Scheduling Planner

Job Description

The Production Scheduling Planner is responsible for developing, executing, and continuously optimizing production schedules for a high-volume candy packing facility. This role ensures alignment between demand, capacity, and material availability while maintaining strict adherence to food safety, allergen control, and perishability standards.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a rolling Master Production Schedule (MPS) aligned with forecasts, orders, and capacity constraints.
• Sequence production to optimize throughput, minimize changeovers, and manage allergen transitions.
• Firm, release, and adjust jobs to ensure accurate execution on the floor.
• Rapidly respond to changes in demand, materials, or production performance.
• Execute daily scheduling activities within Ross ERP and PlanetTogether ensuring data accuracy and system alignment.
• Publish and communicate production schedules to operations and stakeholders.
• Manage materials and packaging using FEFO (First-Expired, First-Out).
• Maintain integrity of MRP signals, work orders, and inventory transactions.
• Monitor shortages, excess, and expiring inventory to minimize waste.
• Coordinate closely with Procurement and Warehouse to ensure material readiness.
• Partner with Operations, Procurement, Sales, and Warehouse teams to align priorities and resolve constraints.
• Communicate risks, delays, and schedule changes proactively.
• Schedule production to prevent allergen cross-contact and ensure proper sanitation sequencing.
• Support compliance with GMP, HACCP, and SQF/BRC standards.
• Monitor KPIs such as schedule adherence, OTIF, downtime, and inventory health.
• Identify and drive improvements in scheduling, system usage, and material flow.

Execution Responsibilities

• Review, validate, and maintain MRP jobs (inside and outside frozen horizon).
• Firm, sequence, and align jobs in Ross ERP and PlanetTogether (PT).
• Schedule personnel strategically to maintain productivity and operational efficiency.
• Ensure schedule accuracy (Need Date vs. Schedule Date) and release jobs.
• Identify and resolve material shortages and production constraints.
• Maintain frozen horizon integrity (remove obsolete jobs, firm required orders).
• Monitor inventory (FEFO, expiring, excess) and material availability.
• Run and review key reports (Inventory, Material Requirements, Production Schedule).
• Resolve scheduling exceptions (late/early jobs, >8-hour activities, out-of-horizon jobs).
• Address demand gaps (demand without supply) and balance inventory plans.
• Review forecast exceptions and adjust plans accordingly.
• Validate system data (missing templates, message logs, errors).
• Review upcoming 4-week schedule to ensure readiness and alignment.
• Monitor expiring and leftover inventory to support FEFO compliance.
• Review key system reports (SQL-based), including:
  • Inventory by Day
  • Material Requirements
  • Production Schedule / Job distribution
• Conduct forward-looking review of all jobs within the next 4-week horizon to ensure readiness and alignment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Food Science, or related field (preferred).
• High school diploma with some accredited level coursework in related discipline is required.
• 3 to 5 years in production scheduling or planning within food, beverage, or CPG manufacturing is required.
• Experience with Ross ERP (preferred).
• Experience with PlanetTogether or similar APS systems (preferred).
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (PivotTables, formulas, data analysis) is required.
• Regulatory Knowledge: GMP, HACCP, and food safety standards.

Key Success Factors

• Execution Discipline: Strong daily management of MRP, schedules, and system data.
• Inventor Control: Effective FEFO management and waste reduction.
• Responsiveness: Adaptation to production and demand changes.
• Systems Expertise: Proficient use of Ross ERP and planning tools to drive accuracy and efficiency.

Benefits

The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements, in addition to a full range of generous medical, financial, and/or other benefits (including 401(k) eligibility and various paid time off benefits, such as vacation, sick time, and parental leave), dependent on the position offered. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an employee receives an offer of employment. If hired, employee will be in an “at-will position” and the Company reserves the right to modify base salary (as well as any other discretionary payment or compensation program) at any time, including for reasons related to individual performance, Company or individual department/team performance, and market factors.

See’s is an EOE See’s will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable local, state or federal law (including San Francisco Ordinance #131192 and Los Angeles Municipal Code 189.00).