Job Details

Why You'll Love This Job

We are seeking an experienced Senior Demand Planner and Production Scheduler to develop and execute our integrated demand and supply planning processes across our multi-location organization. This critical role will manage kit assembly planning, and ensure all materials are available and on-time in accordance with build schedules and customer commitments.
As the system owner for our material forecasting and production planning solution, you will bridge the gap between sales forecasts, customer demand, production capacity, and supplier capabilities. You will use statistical forecasting models, collaborate cross-functionally through our teams, and leverage advanced planning tools to optimize inventory levels while maximizing customer service and minimizing carrying costs.
This role requires both strategic thinking and tactical execution-from using statistical demand models and facilitating weekly meetings to monitoring daily production schedules, monitoring material constraints, and resolving supply chain disruptions in real-time.
Responsibilities

Demand Planning & Forecasting

• Analyze historical data, customer backlog, and customer forecasts to develop accurate demand plans across all product categories and locations
• Work closely with Sales, Operations, and Finance to coordinate cross-functional reconciliation activities on significant variances and refine forecast models to reflect updated assumptions
• Manage contractual commitments, ensuring system accuracy and reconciliation between forecasts and actual customer orders
• Document and retain history of planning assumptions with audit trails for forecast changes
• Assess impact to materials availability and production schedules from customer sales opportunities that may affect demand over and above the plan

Production Scheduling

• Develop build plans for the Manufacturing team and manage load leveling and bottleneck scheduling utilizing theory of constraints (TOC) for more accurate scheduling
• Execute planning runs to generate purchase orders, transfer orders, and production orders based on demand, lead times, and inventory policies
• Utilize multi-level Bill of Materials (BOM) explosions to calculate component requirements for manufactured finished goods and kit assemblies
• Analyze and action exception messages (expedite, de-expedite, cancel, reschedule) to respond to changing demand and supply conditions
• Create and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) for assembled items, balancing customer demand with production capacity

Inventory Management & Multi-Location Planning

• Manage inventory levels by collaborating with Program Managers, Purchasing, and Inventory teams to ensure timely material availability, minimizing shortages and excesses
• Manage dual-use components that serve both direct sales and production requirements, ensuring proper allocation and prioritization
• Review material shortages, stock outages, and safety stock levels while working with Purchasing, Inventory team, and Manufacturing to meet customer requirements
• Implement and maintain expiration and shelf-life management rules to ensure FEFO (First Expired, First Out) compliance and minimize waste for time-sensitive products
• Further develop existing processes or procedures to improve current days of inventory and cash flow cycles

Performance Measurement & Continuous Improvement

• Develop metrics to monitor forecast errors at all levels of the process and ensure root-cause analysis and corrective actions are completed
• Provide insights and recommendations to improve planning efficiency, responsiveness, and forecast accuracy

System Ownership & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the system owner for our demand planning and production scheduling software, ensuring optimal configuration and utilization
• Collaborate and maintain effective communication with all cross-functional team members including Sales, Operations, Purchasing, Finance, and Management
• Ensure schedules are created and reported in a timely fashion to assure assembling commitments are met and quality objectives and on-time delivery are accomplished

Perform lead responsibilities which may include training, assigning and/or reviewing work, providing guidance, and overseeing workflow
Skills & Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Operations, Engineering, Logistics, Business Administration, or related field

Experience Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of experience in demand planning, production planning, forecasting, and supply chain analytics
• Minimum 5 years working in planning tools/software and ERP systems
• 2-5 years of demonstrated experience in fast-paced manufacturing environments
• Experience with Bill of Materials (BOM) structures, routing, work centers, and manufacturing lead times

Technical Skills & Knowledge
Required:

• Knowledge and experience working in Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems - NetSuite strongly preferred; SAP, Oracle, Epicor also valued