Production Planning Manager

SUMMARYExperienced Planning Manager responsible for leading production planning, scheduling, materials planning, and inventory activities within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Works cross-functionally to balance customer demand, production capacity, material availability, and inventory needs while improving planning accuracy, operational efficiency, and on-time delivery.RESPONSIBILITIES• Develop and adjust production schedules based on demand, available capacity, inventory levels and changing business priorities.• Forecast material and production needs using customer requirements, historical demand and operational data.• Coordinate raw material and component availability to support manufacturing schedules and reduce potential shortages.• Monitor raw material, work-in-process and finished goods levels; identify opportunities to improve inventory balance and reduce excess.• Maintain accurate planning information within ERP/MRP systems, including manufacturing orders and core production data.• Coordinate inventory counts, review discrepancies and support corrective actions that improve inventory accuracy.• Work closely with production and other internal teams to communicate priorities, schedule changes, constraints and delivery risks.• Lead planning discussions and proactively identify capacity issues, material constraints or other factors that could affect output.• Analyze planning, inventory and production performance; maintain reports and key metrics used to support decision-making.• Drive continuous improvement across planning, scheduling, materials management and inventory-control processes.• Lead, coach and support team members involved in planning and inventory activities.QUALIFICATIONS• Prior management experience leading teams and processes within a manufacturing or operations environment.• Strong background in production planning, forecasting, scheduling, materials planning and inventory control.• Working knowledge of manufacturing capacity, material requirements and supply chain coordination.• Experience using ERP/MRP systems; familiarity with established manufacturing planning platforms is preferred.• Strong Excel and reporting skills with the ability to interpret production, demand and inventory data.• Analytical, organized and proactive approach to resolving shortages, competing priorities and changing deadlines.• Strong communication and cross-functional leadership skills with a customer-focused sense of urgency.• High attention to detail and a continuous-improvement mindset.BENEFITS• Direct-hire leadership opportunity with ownership over key planning and inventory processes.• Annual performance review process with eligibility for a company-performance-based bonus.• Retirement benefits that include an employer-matching savings plan and an employer-supported pension program.• Opportunity to influence production efficiency, inventory optimization and planning improvements across manufacturing operations.• Visible cross-functional role with exposure to operations, inventory, customer requirements and broader supply chain decision-making.