Workforce Optimization Scheduler

Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and long-term labor schedules aligned with production requirements.
• Optimize workforce capacity by aligning staffing schedules with real time production requirements and equipment availability, including creating and offering open shift opportunities to address workflow constraints and maintain operational continuity.
• Maintain cross-functional alignment between Production, Supply, Maintenance, Logistics, and HR to ensure workforce optimization strategies support production forecasts and operational scheduling demands.
• Manage UKG Advanced Scheduler components—including schedule patterns, schedule groups, skills, and forecasting—and integrate scheduling data with ERP/MRP platforms (SAP, Oracle) to generate accurate workforce assignments for all labor dependent departments.
• Develop and analyze labor KPIs, workforce trends, and seasonal needs to support operational decision making and future planning.
• Ensure labor scheduling complies with USDA, OSHA, FDA, HACCP, and sanitation requirements while maintaining an equitable distribution of overtime and extra work opportunities to minimize strain and unnecessary labor costs.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives aimed at increasing operational efficiency and reducing waste.

Minimum Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.
• 2 - 3+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, production planning, or workforce scheduling.
• Proficiency with UKG Scheduler or equivalent WFM system.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle).
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage tight deadlines in a fast paced, high-volume environment.
• Demonstrated analytical capability and ability to support operational efficiency.
• Expertise in production scheduling and workforce management.
• Strong technical and analytical skills including advanced Excel modeling.
• Knowledge of USDA, FDA, HACCP, OSHA, and labor regulation.
• Understanding of poultry or food operations and multistage processing workflows.
• Strong time management, adaptability, and attention to detail.

Preferred Education and Experience

• 3–5 years of experience in food, agriculture, or poultry manufacturing.
• HACCP knowledge or certification.
• Experience with Microsoft Power BI for analytics.