Production Planner

Client: Life Science Company Title: Production Planner 3 Location: Carlsbad, CA Rates: $35 -$40 Duration: 12 Months (Contract to Hire) Benefits: The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, short-term disability insurance, paid parking/public transportation, (paid time , paid sick and safe time , hours of paid vacation time, weeks of paid parental leave, paid holidays annually - AS Applicable) Job Summary The Production Planner is responsible for supporting production planning activities to ensure material availability, production continuity, and on-time delivery. This role combines production planning with strong analytical skills to support data-driven decision-making, identify improvement opportunities, and optimize planning processes. Key Responsibilities Develop and maintain production plans to support customer demand and manufacturing schedules. Monitor and maintain planning parameters, including safety stock, reorder points, lead times, lot sizes, and MRP settings. Analyze production, inventory, and supply chain data to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities. Generate reports and dashboards to support Production Planning and Operations. Collaborate with Manufacturing, Purchasing, Warehouse, and Supply Chain teams to resolve material and capacity constraints. Support root cause analysis for production shortages, late orders, and planning exceptions. Maintain planning master data and ensure data accuracy within ERP systems. Drive continuous improvement through data analysis and process optimization. Required Qualifications Bachelor degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or supply chain management 3+ years’ of experience in supply chain management, production planning, or purchasing Strong understanding of MRP and production planning principles. Advanced MS Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, Power Query, advanced formulas, and data analysis. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and support decision-making. Experience working in a manufacturing environment. Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills. Desired Skills & Competencies Detail-oriented with strong attention to accuracy and data integrity. Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and follow-through. Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks. Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively. Excellent written and verbal communication skills across all organizational levels. Customer service mindset with a commitment to supporting internal and external customers. Team player with strong cross-functional collaboration skills. Ability to make data-driven decisions using sound business judgment. Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on process optimization. Adaptable to changing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. High level of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to quality. Eagerness to learn new systems, tools, and business processes. Preferred Qualifications Experience with SAP (S/4HANA or ECC), particularly PP, MM, or Supply Chain modules. MBA APICS CPIM certification. Experience with Power BI, Tableau, or similar data visualization tools. SQL experience, including writing and troubleshooting queries. Experience with Palantir Foundry or similar analytics platforms. Day-to-Day Responsibilities Production Planning: Informing the production team on what to manufacture and in what quantities. Supply & Demand Balancing: Monitoring schedules, checking material availability, and assessing production capacity. Communication: Coordinating daily with the production team and providing regular updates to customer service. System Maintenance: Keeping planning parameters updated within SAP and checking monthly forecasts to adjust capacity. Data Analysis: Conducting regular reporting and data analysis to support planning functions. Required Skills: Strong understanding of MRP (Material Resource Planning) Advanced Ms Excel (Pivot tables, power queries, formulas) Manufacturing environment experience Analytical and problem-solving skills Strong communication skills Preferred Skills: SAP experience (High priority/strongly preferred) APICS CPIM certification (strongly preferred) Data visualization (Power BI, Tableau) Palantir Foundry Ideal Candidate Profile The ideal candidate is a production planning specialist who can hit the ground running with SAP and MRP systems. They should be comfortable in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and possess the analytical skills necessary to interpret complex data for production scheduling. While procurement or warehouse backgrounds are noted, the core focus must be on production planning.