Planning Manager

Purpose  

• Responsible for leading the Planning function, including demand planning, production planning, material requirements planning, inventory planning, and scheduling activities. The role ensures alignment between customer demand, manufacturing capacity, material availability, and business priorities to support on-time delivery, optimized inventory levels, and operational performance.

Location

•  This position is full-time on campus. It is not a remote work position. 

• Manages the daily activities of production planning team.

• Coordinates with Manufacturing and Supply Chain leadership to maintain an integrated planning and control process that balances production priorities, material availability, capacity constraints, and customer requirements.

• Analyzes demand requirements to identify production and supply bottlenecks and recommends actions for resolution, including establishing and maintaining lead times, lot sizes and safety stocks.

• Responsible for leading demand planning activities, validating demand forecasts, and driving proactive procurement decisions to ensure material availability, optimize inventory levels, and support business growth and operational performance.

• Leads cross-functional planning discussions to support Sales and Operations Planning, capacity reviews, material readiness, production sequencing, and prioritization of customer and business requirements.

• Directs production planning to ensure on time availability of products to fill customer orders and on time shipments.

• Coordinates with Purchasing to communicate updated material requirements, priorities, delivery needs, and changes in demand for purchased goods and materials.

• Identifies material availability risks, production constraints, and demand changes early, escalating issues and driving mitigation plans with Purchasing, Manufacturing, Engineering, and Operations as needed.

• Evaluates and recommends actions to improve on time delivery performance to the internal and external customer.

• Reviews and improves department processes to increase productivity to eliminate “waste”.

• Trains employees, directs work to the appropriate personnel, conducts performance reviews and addresses and resolves complaints in accordance with OII’s policies and applicable laws.

• Creates, implements, monitors, and communicates Planning and Production Control measurements and KPIs, including schedule adherence, material availability, on-time delivery support, forecast accuracy, inventory performance, and planning effectiveness.
• Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position has supervisory responsibilities.

REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, or Supply Chain Management with emphasis in supply chain/business/quantitative analysis or equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of 10 years' experience scheduling in a complex fabrication and assembly environment supporting operations with multi-product manufacturing and cross-functional planning responsibility.

• Minimum 10 years’  experience using ERP and MRP systems to support planning, scheduling, material management, inventory control, and reporting. 

• Minimum 10 years’ experience with a Supply and Demand environment including forecasts, receipt and deliver processes, inventory reports, accuracy validation procedures, cycle counts and audit procedures is preferred.

DESIRED

• Master’s degree.

• Oracle Fusion experience.

• Strong written and oral communication skills.

• Professional Certification from APICS and/or ISM is desirable. 

• Excellent negotiating, contract management, communication (verbal and written) and organizational skills.

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, ERP systems, MRP planning tools, data analysis, and reporting tools is a plus.

• Ability to work with cross-cultural organizations and groups.

• Strong demonstrated critical thinking and logic skills with proven track record of success in a complex production and assembly LEAN environment.

• Proven project leadership and team participation skills.

   

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Other Characteristics

• Knowledge of appropriate steps to analytical problem solving. 

• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships. 

• Ability to work in a team environment, remaining attentive to ideas, recognizing responsibilities, and actively participating with others to accomplish assignments and achieve desired goals.

• Treats others fairly and with respect.

• Knowledge of department policies, rules, regulations, business goals, vision, organizational structure, culture, philosophy, operating principles and values, etc.

• Ability to establish and maintain project priorities.

• Seeking new learning experiences.

• Identifies what needs to be done and acts before being asked or required.

Working Conditions

• Almost exclusively indoors during the day and occasionally at night. 

• Occasional exposure to airborne dust in the work place. 

• Work surface is stable (flat).

Benefits Statement 

We offer a comprehensive and competitive benefits package. Employee benefits vary by role, however, may include Health and Wellness, Mental Health, Retirement Savings, Life and Disability, Paid Maternity and Parental Leave, Paid Time Off, Tuition Reimbursement, and an Employee Assistance Program.