Master Scheduler

Job Description

Job Description

 

About the Company:

At SureFire, our mission is to build the best illumination tools, suppressors, and tactical products no matter the cost to enhance the safety and performance of those who go into harm's way on our behalf. We also provide these same, no-compromise products to our civilian customers who demand the ultimate in quality, innovation, and performance. We strive to continuously expand our business, product line, workforce, and expertise to preserve our place as the premier provider of these cutting-edge products. To achieve this, we will continually expand the depth and quality of the SureFire brand by refining, expanding, and enhancing our product line, and always aspiring to improve our service and professional relationships. We nurture this culture of excellence in everything we do, and treat everyone we deal with employees, customers, and vendors in a fair and ethical manner. We're proud of the quality we produce and the people who produce it, and we're looking for talented individuals who want to make a real impact.

About the Role:

The Master Scheduler plays a critical role in the manufacturing industry by developing, maintaining, and optimizing the master production schedule to ensure efficient use of resources and timely delivery of products. This position requires close collaboration with production, procurement, engineering, and sales teams to align manufacturing capabilities with customer demand and inventory targets. The Master Scheduler is responsible for analyzing production capacity, lead times, and material availability to create realistic and achievable schedules that minimize downtime and maximize throughput. By proactively identifying potential bottlenecks and schedule conflicts, the Master Scheduler helps to mitigate risks and supports continuous improvement initiatives. Ultimately, this role ensures that manufacturing operations run smoothly, meet quality standards, and contribute to overall business objectives and customer satisfaction.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Facilitate the monthly S&OP meeting to ensure sales forecasts, customer demand, and plant capacity are fully synchronized.
• Partner cross-functionally with Sales and Commercial teams to drive consensus demand forecasting, analyzing historical run-rates, seasonality, and order trends to refine baseline projections.
• Differentiate and manage demand plans across Make-to-Order (MTO) and Make-to-Stock (MTS) product lines, ensuring accurate alignment between firm backlogs, pipeline opportunities, and production capabilities.
• Analyze outlier demand and order spikes, collaborating with Sales to evaluate deal probability, customer delivery expectations, and lead-time constraints to avoid operational disruptions.
• Identify chronic forecast variance, bias, and trends by product family, providing actionable data insights to help sales leadership optimize forecast accuracy.
• Serve as the key operational bridge between Sales and Supply Planning, translating commercial demand adjustments into actionable master production and procurement schedules.
• Develop and maintain the master production schedule based on sales forecasts, customer orders, and inventory levels.
• Monitor production progress and adjust schedules as necessary to address delays, equipment issues, or changes in demand.
• Analyze capacity constraints and material availability to optimize scheduling and minimize production downtime.
• Communicate schedule changes and updates to relevant stakeholders to ensure transparency and effective execution.
• Utilize ERP and scheduling software to track production status, generate reports, and support decision-making.
• Identify and implement process improvements to enhance scheduling accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Support demand planning and inventory management efforts by providing timely and accurate scheduling data.
• Maintain good attendance and punctuality.
• Maintain a positive and respectful attitude; cooperate with co-workers, management, internal and external customers, etc.
• Work safely at all times and report any unsafe conditions or injuries to your supervisor or manager immediately
• Other duties, as assigned.

Competencies - To perform the job successfully, the candidate should demonstrate the following:

1. Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations.
2. Interpersonal Skills - Focuses on solving conflict, not blaming; Remains open to others' ideas and tries new things.
3. Written Communication / Oral Communication - Writes clearly and informatively; Edits work for spelling and grammar; Presents numerical data effectively; Able to read and interpret written information; Speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; Listens and gets clarification; Responds well to questions; Demonstrates group presentation skills; Participates in meetings.
4. Teamwork - Balances team and individual responsibilities; Exhibits objectivity and openness to others' views; Gives and welcomes feedback.
5. Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; Exhibits sound and accurate judgment; Supports and explains reasoning for decisions; Includes appropriate people in decision-making process; Makes timely decisions.
6. Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; Uses time efficiently; Plans for additional resources; Sets goals and objectives; Organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; Develops realistic action plans.
7. Diversity - Demonstrates knowledge of EEO policy; Shows respect and sensitivity for cultural differences; Promotes a harassment-free environment.
8. Ethics - Treats people with respect; Keeps commitments; Inspires the trust of others; Works with integrity and ethically; Upholds organizational values.
9. Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; Reacts well under pressure; Accepts responsibility for own actions; Follows through on commitments.
10. Safety and Security - Observes safety and security procedures; Determines appropriate action beyond guidelines; Reports potentially unsafe conditions; Uses equipment and materials properly.
11. Attendance/Punctuality - Is consistently at work and on time; Ensures work responsibilities are covered when absent; Arrives at meetings and appointments on time.
12. Dependability - Follows instructions, responds to management direction; Takes responsibility for own actions; Keeps commitments; Commits to long hours of work when necessary to reach goals. Completes tasks on time or notifies appropriate person with an alternate plan.

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Certification in APICS CPIM (Certified in Production and Inventory Management) or CSCP (Certified Supply Chain Professional) preferred.
• Proven experience leading demand consensus reviews and forecast reconciliation within an established S&OP/IBP framework.
• Strong proficiency in demand planning methodologies, statistical baseline analysis, and separating recurring run-rate demand from one-time surge orders.
• Hands-on experience balancing Make-to-Order (MTO) contracts and Make-to-Stock (MTS) replenishment strategies against supply chain capacity and lead times.

• Strong cross-functional facilitation and communication skills, with a track record of challenging assumptions and guiding commercial teams toward realistic operational forecasts.

• Experience with Lean Manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies is a plus.

• Knowledge of manufacturing processes and capacity planning in discrete or process manufacturing.
• Proficiency with scheduling software and ERP systems such as Epicor or equivalent.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively collaborate with diverse teams.

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Operations Management, Business, or related fields and/or up to 6 years relevant work experience preferred.

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to perform calculations utilizing algebra and fractions.

Computer Skills

• Must be proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook).
• Proficient in Microsoft Access and Epicor preferred
• Knowledge of MRP system is a plus.

Physical Demands

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

• On-site presence required for real-time equipment operation, hands-on production oversight, and safety supervision
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds.
• While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel and talk or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to reach with hands and arms.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Pay Range The hiring range for this role is $85,000 to $105,000. The hiring range is a reasonable estimate of the base pay range for this position at the time of posting. Pay is based on a number of factors which may include job-related knowledge, skills, experience, business requirements, and geographic location.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet.
• In this position you will be exposed to following Environment conditions:
  • Work near moving mechanical part