Operations Planner

Forge Your Future with Us:


At Forge Biologics, we believe in turning bold ideas into life-changing realities. Our mission is simple yet powerful: to enable access to life-changing gene therapies and help bring them from ideas into reality. We partner with scientists, physicians, biotech and pharma innovators, and patient communities - all united by one goal: improving lives. If you're driven by purpose and excited to make a tangible impact, this is where your journey begins.


Our team works out of The Hearth, a state-of-the-art, 200,000-square-foot cGMP facility in Columbus, Ohio. Here, you won't just watch innovation happen - you'll be part of it. Whether you're scaling AAV manufacturing, collaborating on cutting-edge therapies, or supporting complex technical projects, you'll play a key role in bringing hope to patients with genetic diseases.


What sets Forge apart is our culture of H.O.P.E. We are hardworking , showing up each day with determination and grit. We are open , creating a space where ideas flow freely and every voice is valued. We are purpose-driven , with every task directly tied to changing lives. And we are engaged , energized by the challenges we face and the milestones we achieve together.


At Forge, your growth matters. We're committed to helping you expand your skills, take on new challenges, and develop your career through mentorship, hands-on learning, and opportunities for advancement. Our people are our greatest investment, and we're proud to see team members grow with us.


If you're ready to use your talent to help deliver hope to patients around the world, join us - and be part of something bigger than yourself.


About The Role:


The Operations Planner is responsible for developing, maintaining, and optimizing integrated production schedules to support gene therapy manufacturing operations. This role ensures alignment across Clinical and Commercial GMP Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Plasmids, Process Development, Sales, Finance, and Program Management while balancing capacity constraints, material availability, and regulatory requirements in a highly controlled, yet constantly evolving, environment.


Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage master production schedules (MPS) for gene therapy manufacturing and corresponding support activities.

• Translate clinical and commercial demand forecasts into feasible manufacturing plans considering cleanroom capacity, equipment availability, labor, and campaign strategies.

• Coordinate closely with Manufacturing, Quality, Supply Chain, MSAT, and Project Management to ensure schedule adherence and rapid issue resolution.

• Monitor material readiness (critical raw materials, single-use components, vectors, etc) and proactively identify supply risks impacting production timelines.

• Lead short- and long-range capacity planning to support pipeline growth, tech transfers, and scale-up activities in order to advise the Commercial team on available openings for new clients

• Manage and communicate schedule changes driven by deviations, investigations, equipment downtime, resource limitations, or other applicaple constraints.

• Analyze planning performance metrics (e.g., schedule adherence, capacity utilization, on-time delivery, days of supply, inventory turns, etc) and drive continuous improvement initiatives.

• Maintain accurate planning data within ERP/MRP systems (Netsuite, SmartSheets, PowerBI and customized excel tools).

• Create process appropriate SOPs and Work Instructions, as it relates to planning accountabilities and update existing documentation, with a Continuos Improvement mindset.

• Participate in S&OP / IBP processes, scenario modeling, and risk mitigation planning.

• Listens attentively to internal departments and team members to relay information, responsibilities, and policies respectfully, effectively, and clearly

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Life Sciences, or related field

• 3+ years of experience in Operations Planning, Production Planning, or Materials Planning within a manufacturing facility

• Strong understanding of manufacturing environments and regulated production workflows

• Comfortable in a fast paced and ever changing organization, where ambiguity of process exists

• Experience planning complex, multi-step processes with long lead times and constrained capacity

• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and advanced Excel or equivalent planning tools

• Strong analytical, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills

• Commited to working in a team environment and supporting business in a respectful manner

Preferred Skills:

• Experience in cell and gene therapy, viral vectors (AAV, lentivirus), or similar manufacturing

• Familiarity with patient-specific or small-batch manufacturing models

• APICS certification (CPIM / CSCP) or similar

• Experience with capacity modeling and scenario planning tools

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change or new ones may be assigned.


Work Environment and Physical Demands


Role resides in an office setting, with potential to be hybrid, based on mastery of role responsibilities and pertinent business needs.

Forge Biologics is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to building an inclusive and diverse workforce. Forge Biologics, provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.


We've Got You Covered:


At Forge Biologics, we believe our people deserve to be taken care of - in and out of the workplace. We've built a comprehensive compensation and benefits package designed to help you thrive, grow, and feel valued every step of the way:


Health from day one

• Health, dental and vision insurance start your first day - with 90% of premiums covered for you and your family.

Time to recharge

• A competitive paid time off plan - because rest fuels innovation.

• 12 weeks of fully paid parental leave so you can focus on family when it matters most.

Rewarding your impact

• Annual bonus opportunities for all full-time team members.

• 401(k) with company match to help you plan for the future.

• Special employee discounts, including childcare and dependent care savings.

Your wellness, supported

• Onsite fitness facility at The Hearth.

• Mental health counseling and financial planning services through our Employee Assistance Program.

• Employer-paid short and long-term disability coverage to protect your peace of mind.

Fuel for your workday

• A fully stocked kitchen with free snacks and beverages - we keep you energized and ready for what's next.

Grow with us

• Ongoing professional development resources, training, and mentorship programs to help you build your care and grow within Forge.