Dispatcher

Job Description

Job Description

Description:

Job Title: Dispatcher
Reports To: Operations Manager
Division/Department: GHM/Operations
Level of Work: Level I

Position Summary:  

Under the general supervision of the Production Lead or their designee, the Dispatcher uses dispatch reports and prioritized schedules to anticipate work center requirements. Through close liaison with department leads, the Dispatcher monitors work center status and keeps designated personnel informed of issues impacting production. The Dispatcher performs a variety of clerical and coordination duties to ensure the accuracy of information and the timely distribution of materials and appropriate paperwork to work centers.

Key Results Areas by level of work:  

Level I: Quality – Complete and accurate work performed efficiently

Production Quality and Efficiency

• Routinely reviews dispatch reports and prioritized schedules to anticipate production requirements.
• Ensures travelers, burn/nest lists, drawings, and other required documentation are accurate and distributed to the appropriate work centers.
• Monitors traveler status, completed operations, past-due items, and incorrect entries to support accurate and timely production.
• Facilitates the movement of materials and parts in the proper sequence to support production schedules and minimize delays.
• Maintains accurate records and promptly communicates production constraints, material delays, and scheduling concerns.

Follow Instructions – Oral and/or Written

• Follows established procedures, production schedules, work instructions, and direction from the Production Lead or their designee.
• Communicates priorities and sequencing requirements to individual work centers.
• Maintains required files and records and prepares regular or special reports as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the manager or their designee.

Safety and Housekeeping

• Follows established safety policies and procedures while performing dispatch and material-handling activities.
• Ensures excess materials are properly stored or returned to the warehouse.
• Maintains organized work areas and material levels to minimize space restrictions and support safe, orderly operations.
• Wears required personal protective equipment (PPE) and follows applicable safety requirements.

Continuous Improvement Suggestions

• Identifies and communicates opportunities to improve dispatch processes, material flow, documentation accuracy, and production efficiency.
• Remains receptive to feedback and suggestions from team members and other departments.
• Communicates recurring issues or potential improvements to the appropriate personnel.

Professional Development

• Demonstrates initiative, a positive attitude, and a willingness to learn new processes and responsibilities.
• Cross-trains and assists in other departments performing dispatch functions as needed.
• Seeks opportunities to expand knowledge of production processes, scheduling, and applicable ERP/MRP systems.

Job Duties:

• Routinely reviews dispatch reports to anticipate production requirements.
• Distributes travelers, burn/nest lists, and drawings to work centers as materials are requisitioned to ensure operations are completed on time.
• Monitors traveler status, observing completed operations, past-due items, and incorrect entries. Regularly audits travelers and closes operations as required.
• Keeps the Production Lead informed of constraints, material delays, incorrect labor entries, and deviations from the production plan.
• Expedites material delays or stockouts with the appropriate departments.
• Informs the Production Lead and Operations Manager of parts or materials that may be required or are no longer necessary.
• Facilitates the movement of parts into, within, and out of the department according to the proper sequence of operations. Distributes materials or information to work centers as needed to ensure timely completion of operations.
• Ensures excess materials are properly stored or returned to the warehouse.
• Uses dispatch reports and schedules to discuss the sequence of events and production priorities with individual work centers.
• Maintains required files and records and prepares regular or special reports upon request.
• Cross-trains and assists in other departments performing dispatch functions.
• Observes safe work practices and maintains material levels to minimize space restrictions and maintain order.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the manager or their designee.

Qualifications

To qualify for this position, an individual must possess the knowledge, training, experience, and abilities required.

Education and Training

• High school diploma or GED/BOCES required.

Experience

• Experience in planning or warehouse activities is preferred.
• Exposure to ERP/MRP software is preferred.

Skills:

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:

• Ability to interpret technical specifications, drawings, and component bills of materials.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Professional communication skills when interacting by phone, email, and other communication methods.
• High attention to detail, with strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimal direction as a motivated self-starter and contribute effectively within a team-oriented culture.
• Ability to use a variety of measuring tools, such as a tape measure, straight edge, caliper, and square.

Physical and Mental Demands

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Physical demands: While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is primarily required to sit, stand, walk, stoop, and bend. Required to speak and communicate clearly with others.  Must wear necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) as required by company policy.  
• Mental demands: While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is required to read, write, analyze data and reports, exercise judgment, develop plans, procedures and goals, present information to others and work under pressure.
• Work Environment: While performing the duties of this position, the incumbent is also exposed to high level of manufacturing and equipment noise. Duties are performed indoors in a manufacturing environment with temperature changes. Exposure to hazardous materials, fumes or airborne particles and moving mechanical parts with vibration. A majority of duties are performed indoors in a manufacturing environment with temperature changes. Additional duties will require outdoor operations (travelling throughout campus utilizing utility vehicles/carts) and other operational duties performed outdoors intermittently

Work Authorization

Must be able to work in the U.S without sponsorship. 

This job description is not all-inclusive but serves as a general guideline of the current needs of the position. It may be modified at the discretion of management to meet current business needs. Experience and education requirements are the primary basis for awarding the position; however, substitutions that are essentially equivalent may be made as they relate to the essential functions, duties, and responsibilities of the position.