Master Scheduler

Job Description
Master Scheduler

Location: United States Hybrid (operations-driven)

Position Overview

The Master Scheduler is a senior manufacturing planning leader responsible for bringing discipline, realism, and credibility to the Master Production Schedule (MPS) within a complex manufacturing environment. This role owns end-to-end schedule governance and serves as the single point of accountability for aligning customer demand, material availability, production capacity, and inventory objectives.

Beyond technical scheduling, this position is a planning leadership role. The Master Scheduler leads and develops a team of Planner Buyers, drives cross-functional decision-making, and acts as a trusted operational authority across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams. Success in this role requires the confidence to challenge assumptions, surface risks early, and make data-driven decisions under pressure.

This is not a transactional planning position. It is a senior execution role critical to delivery performance, inventory health, and operational credibility.

Important Notice

Applicants must have legal authorization to work in the United States.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 7+ years of hands-on experience in Master Scheduling and Production Planning within complex manufacturing environments
• Proven leadership experience managing and developing planner, buyer, or supply chain teams
• Direct supervisory experience with accountability for performance and results
• Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems in manufacturing
• Advanced Excel and data analysis capabilities
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional decision-making in fast-paced operations
• Excellent communication and influence skills at both shop-floor and leadership levels

Required Knowledge and Technical Expertise

• Master Production Scheduling (MPS) and capacity planning
• Production planning, materials planning, and procurement alignment
• Manufacturing workflows, lead times, and constraint management
• Inventory management and demand planning principles
• Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) fundamentals
• KPI-driven environments including OTIF, schedule adherence, inventory turns, and capacity utilization
• BOM structures and engineering change management

Key Objectives of the Role

• Establish and maintain a stable, executable Master Production Schedule that manufacturing can trust
• Create clear alignment between demand, capacity, materials, and inventory strategy
• Transition the planning and buying organization from reactive firefighting to proactive execution
• Bring ownership, accountability, and structure to scheduling and procurement activities

Primary Responsibilities

Master Scheduling and Execution

• Own, develop, and govern the Master Production Schedule (MPS), ensuring it is realistic, achievable, and aligned with operational constraints
• Identify and proactively resolve capacity, material, labor, or engineering constraints before they impact delivery
• Maintain high data integrity and planning accuracy within ERP/MRP systems
• Ensure production plans reflect real-world conditions, not theoretical assumptions

Leadership and Team Development

• Lead, coach, and supervise a team of four Planner Buyers
• Establish clear priorities, performance expectations, and accountability
• Develop team capability in forward planning, decision-making, and execution discipline
• Drive a culture of ownership: "This is our schedule, and we stand behind it."

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Act as a key operational authority across Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Sales
• Lead fact-based discussions to align competing priorities and resolve conflicts
• Represent scheduling and procurement leadership in S&OP, capacity reviews, and operational meetings
• Support new product introductions (NPI) and engineering changes, ensuring planning and material readiness

Performance and Continuous Improvement

• Monitor and drive improvement across key KPIs, including schedule adherence, on-time delivery (OTIF), inventory turns, and capacity utilization
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across scheduling, planning, and buying processes
• Surface risks early with clear recommendations, not excuses

Leadership Competencies and Behavioral Traits

• Strong people leadership with a coaching and development mindset
• Strategic thinker with a bias for execution
• High accountability and ownership orientation
• Confident decision-maker under pressure
• Analytical, structured, and solutions-oriented
• Comfortable challenging misaligned demand, capacity, or priorities
• Continuous improvement mindset focused on measurable results

Work Environment and Expectations

• Hybrid role, with on-site presence driven by operational needs
• Requires high visibility and engagement with manufacturing and supply chain teams
• Best suited for leaders who prefer being close to the operation, not managing from a distance

What the Company Offers

• Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
• Opportunity to work in an international, growing, and innovative manufacturing organization
• Professional development and long-term career growth opportunities
• Collaborative, performance-driven culture focused on operational excellence

Our client is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, veteran status, disability status, or any other applicable characteristics protected by law.