Production Planner

Production Planning And Scheduling Manager

Full time role at a growing CPG company in southern NJ. Competitive salary, bonus eligible, and comprehensive benefits!

About Our Client

My client is a small to midsize CPG Manufacturing company. Food industry, USDA and SQF facility.

Job Description

Production Planning & Scheduling *Develop and manage daily and weekly production schedules based on demand forecasts, raw material availability, and plant capacity. *Release and manage production work orders, ensuring accurate BOMs, yields, and labor standards. *Adjust production plans in real time to address shortages, downtime, quality holds, or operational constraints. *Coordinate sequencing to optimize changeovers, shelf life, and product freshness.Raw Material & Yield Management *Ensure availability and proper allocation of raw materials, packaging, and consumables to support production plans. *Monitor planned vs. actual yields and material usage; investigate variances and drive corrective actions. *Support yield optimization initiatives while maintaining product quality and compliance. Inventory Control & Traceability *Maintain accurate inventory across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods in coolers, freezers, and staging areas. *Enforce FIFO/FEFO, lot control, organic segregation (if applicable), and full traceability. *Plan and lead cycle counts and support physical inventory activities. *Manage held, obsolete, or condemned inventory in compliance with USDA requirements.Capacity Planning & Analytics * Build and maintain manual capacity models for production lines, labor, and critical equipment * Identify bottlenecks and throughput constraints in an environment with inconsistent preventive maintenance * Re-plan around unplanned downtime, contractor availability, and premium labor costs * Avoid weekend production where possible while maintaining customer service commitments * Use historical and real-time data to support trade-off decisions between cost, service, and shelf lifeCross-Functional Coordination & Customer Support *Collaborate with procurement to align incoming raw materials with production needs. *Partner with operations, quality, and warehouse teams to ensure smooth execution of production schedules. *Support customer fulfillment by validating available-to-ship inventory and identifying risks to service. *Investigate shortages, misallocations, or production shortfalls and implement recovery plans.Systems, Data & Reporting *Maintain production and inventory data in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), ensuring accurate transactions and records. *Maintain item masters, BOMs, routings, and production parameters. *Generate reports and dashboards for production performance, yields, scrap, and KPIs- build and refine planning tools, trackers, and analytical views in Excel, Google Sheets, Tableau, and Salesforce *Ensure data accuracy to support cost accounting, forecasting, and decision-making.Compliance, Audits & Continuous Improvement *Ensure production planning activities comply with USDA, SQF, HACCP, and food safety requirements. *Support internal, regulatory, and customer audits. *Lead root-cause analysis related to production variances, inventory discrepancies, and process breakdowns. *Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, yield, and service.

The Successful Applicant

Qualifications *5-7 years of production planning or scheduling experience in food manufacturing (meat or protein industry strongly preferred) *Proven experience planning in environments with AND without automated scheduling systems *Advanced Excel and Google Sheets proficiency required (scenario modeling, pivot tables, complex formulas, trackers) *Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and production planning tools and custom or personalized WMS *Ability to move seamlessly between multiple systems while maintaining data integrity *Strong analytical, organizational, and cross-functional communication skills. * Bachelor's degree in operations/supply chain Operations, or related experience in same industry * Strong communication skills, both written and verbal * Strong continuous improvement skills and ability to research problems and develop solutions * Ability to produce ad-hoc reporting, as needed * Production Planning Modules experience a plus * Ability to communicate clearly and concisely to team and across different departments of the business * Experience in collecting, analyzing, and presenting data * Ability to read, understand and follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring compliance by staff * Ability to multitask and meet deadlines * Ability to work in a team environment and interact with all levels of staff * Ability to maintain a safe work environment

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary ranging from $85,500 to $105,000 USD.
• Comprehensive benefits package, including 401k matching, health insurance, and paid time off (PTO).
• Opportunities for growth and professional development within the CPG Manufacturing industry.
• A supportive and collaborative work environment

Job Summary

Sector: Procurement & Supply Chain

Sub Sector: Production Planning

Industry: FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods)

Location: Penns Grove

Contract Type: Permanent