Planner/Scheduler

Job Description

Job Description

Master Production Planner/Scheduler

Job Description

This role oversees end-to-end production planning and master scheduling within a fast-paced manufacturing environment. The Master Scheduler develops and maintains production schedules, balances customer demand with available capacity, and ensures that delivery commitments are consistently met. The position uses data-driven analysis to optimize workflow, enhance schedule adherence, and support continuous improvement across production, materials, and capacity planning.

Responsibilities

• Develop, manage, and maintain master production schedules that support both project-based and recurring production work.
• Monitor short-term and long-range capacity requirements across manufacturing operations to ensure resources align with demand.
• Build and maintain scheduling flexibility to accommodate changing customer demands while minimizing disruptions to committed production schedules.
• Coordinate production priorities with cross-functional teams to maximize efficiency and resource utilization.
• Analyze workload distribution across critical production areas and identify potential capacity constraints.
• Implement planning strategies that create capacity reserves to support fluctuating order volumes and urgent customer requirements.
• Evaluate production performance and recommend schedule adjustments when necessary to maintain service levels.
• Execute and review Material Requirements Planning (MRP) processes to ensure timely procurement of raw materials and components.
• Support inventory planning by aligning material availability with production demand and minimizing shortages or excess stock.
• Collaborate with Sales, Customer Service, Purchasing, and Operations teams to understand customer requirements and delivery expectations.
• Proactively identify scheduling risks that could impact on-time delivery and develop mitigation strategies.
• Monitor production progress against the plan and communicate schedule changes and impacts to key stakeholders.
• Coordinate daily shop floor production sequencing and work order releases to keep operations running smoothly.
• Utilize scheduling and planning tools, including ERP systems, to prioritize manufacturing activities and optimize workflow.
• Track schedule attainment metrics and analyze variances between planned and completed production activities.
• Apply analytical and problem-solving skills to improve planning processes and overall operational effectiveness.
• Participate in process improvement initiatives focused on forecasting accuracy, communication, scheduling efficiency, and production performance.
• Identify opportunities to leverage technology, reporting tools, and automation to enhance planning capabilities and decision-making.
• Use Microsoft Office and other analytical tools to prepare reports, analyze data, and communicate insights to stakeholders.
• Support purchasing, logistics, and inventory management activities as they relate to planning and scheduling requirements.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in production planning, scheduling, manufacturing operations, or a related discipline, with a minimum of three years of experience.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Excellent organizational abilities with exceptional attention to detail in managing complex schedules and data.
• Ability to analyze complex data sets and make informed, data-driven decisions.
• Experience tracking and managing scheduling metrics and performance indicators, including schedule attainment and capacity utilization.
• Demonstrated problem-solving and critical-thinking capabilities in a manufacturing context.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments in a fast-paced manufacturing setting.
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems for planning, scheduling, and material management.
• Practical knowledge of production planning, production scheduling, and material planning processes.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications for data analysis, reporting, and communication.
• Experience with scheduling and planning tools, including MRP and related systems.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Business, Supply Chain, Project Management, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience with data visualization and analytical tools such as Power BI is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with advanced planning systems, ERP platforms, or AI-driven planning tools is a plus.
• Background in supply chain, logistics, purchasing, or inventory management is beneficial.
• Experience with continuous improvement initiatives related to planning, scheduling, and forecasting is an advantage.
• Project management experience or exposure to project-based production environments is helpful.
• Ability to leverage technology, reporting tools, and automation to enhance planning and scheduling effectiveness.

Work Environment

This position operates within a dynamic, fast-paced manufacturing environment that requires close coordination with Production, Sales, Customer Service, Purchasing, and Operations teams. The role focuses heavily on planning and scheduling activities using ERP systems, MRP processes, and analytical tools such as Microsoft Office and, where available, data visualization platforms like Power BI. The Master Scheduler reports to the Purchasing & Planning Manager and does not have direct supervisory responsibilities. The work involves frequent interaction with shop floor personnel and office-based stakeholders to monitor production progress, adjust schedules, and communicate changes. The environment emphasizes continuous improvement, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration to support reliable delivery performance and efficient use of resources.

This is a Contract to Hire position based out of Neenah, WI.

The pay range for this position is $30.00 - $30.00/hr.

Eligibility requirements apply to some benefits and may depend on your job classification and length of employment. Benefits are subject to change and may be subject to specific elections, plan, or program terms. If eligible, the benefits available for this temporary role may include the following: • Medical, dental & vision • Critical Illness, Accident, and Hospital • 401(k) Retirement Plan – Pre-tax and Roth post-tax contributions available • Life Insurance (Voluntary Life & AD&D for the employee and dependents) • Short and long-term disability • Health Spending Account (HSA) • Transportation benefits • Employee Assistance Program • Time Off/Leave (PTO, Vacation or Sick Leave)

This is a fully onsite position in Neenah,WI.

This position is anticipated to close on Aug 17, 2026.

Aston Carter provides world-class corporate talent solutions to thousands of clients across the globe. Specialized in accounting, finance, human resources, talent acquisition, procurement, supply chain and select administrative professions, we extend the capabilities of industry-leading companies. We draw on our deep recruiting expertise and expansive network to meet the evolving needs of our clients and talent community with agility and excellence. With offices across the U.S., Canada, Asia Pacific and Europe, Aston Carter serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® Platinum Award winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.