Production Planner

Ascendo Resources is currently partnering with a fast-growing, privately held food manufacturing company specializing in organic protein products. Our partner is experiencing sustained double-digit growth and is investing in its supply chain and planning capabilities to support expansion.We are seeking a hands-on Production Planner who thrives in highly manual planning environments, enjoys building schedules from the ground up, and can confidently manage complexity without relying on automated planning systems.Role OverviewThe Production Planner will own daily and weekly production schedules across refrigerated and frozen manufacturing operations. This role partners closely with inventory, operations, warehouse, quality, and logistics teams to align demand, capacity, raw materials, and execution " while constantly adjusting plans in real time.Key ResponsibilitiesBuild and manage daily and weekly production schedules based on demand forecasts, inventory levels, and capacityRelease and manage production work orders, including BOM accuracy, yields, and labor standardsAdjust schedules in real time due to downtime, shortages, quality holds, or operational constraintsCoordinate sequencing to optimize shelf life, freshness, and changeoversEnsure raw material, packaging, and consumable availabilityTrack planned vs. actual yields; investigate variances and drive corrective actionsMaintain accurate inventory across raw, WIP, and finished goods with full traceabilityEnforce FIFO / FEFO, lot control, and regulatory requirementsBuild and maintain manual capacity models for labor, lines, and equipmentIdentify bottlenecks and re-plan around downtime and labor constraintsSupport customer fulfillment by validating available-to-ship inventoryProduce planning, yield, and KPI reporting using Excel, Google Sheets, and BI toolsSystems & ToolsAdvanced Excel & Google Sheets (required - heavy modeling and trackers)ERP / MRP systemsWMS platformsCRM and reporting tools (Salesforce, Tableau, Redzone, i3PL, or similar)Qualifications5+ years of production planning or scheduling experience in food manufacturingMeat, protein, or perishable goods experience strongly preferredProven experience planning with and without automated scheduling systemsStrong understanding of shelf life, yield management, and capacity constraintsExcellent analytical, organizational, and cross-functional communication skillsWork EnvironmentFull-time, on-site role in Pedricktown, NJExposure to cold or refrigerated production environments as neededOccasional schedule flexibility required to support production deadlinesWhy Join?Competitive base salary + bonusStrong benefits and PTO packageStable, growth-oriented manufacturing environmentHigh-impact role with visibility across operations