Master Scheduler

Our client, an established U.S. manufacturer of electrical wire and cable products, is seeking a Master Scheduler to lead production planning across five manufacturing facilities near DeKalb, Illinois. This role will own the master production schedule, with an initial focus on the company’s copper manufacturing operation. The Master Scheduler will translate customer demand, forecasts, machine capacity, labor, and material availability into realistic production plans that improve throughput, reduce downtime, and support on-time delivery. This is a highly visible individual contributor role for an experienced manufacturing planner who can bring structure to a complex, multi-plant production environment. The right person will not simply maintain schedules. They will help strengthen the company’s production control and scheduling processes. The Environment The company manufactures electrical wire and cable products used by electric utilities, telecommunications providers, electrical distributors, and original equipment manufacturers. Its products support power transmission and distribution infrastructure across the United States. The manufacturing process involves continuous, multi-step operations rather than traditional assembly. Production runs may include drawing, stranding, cladding, and other interdependent processes that must be carefully sequenced to maximize machine utilization and control scrap. The Master Scheduler will work closely with plant leadership, procurement, sales, operations, and production teams across five facilities located within approximately 45 minutes of DeKalb. Key Focus Areas Own and maintain the master production schedule across five manufacturing facilities. Develop production plans based on customer orders, forecasts, machine capacity, labor, inventory, and material availability. Maintain a detailed focus on the copper operation while providing scheduling oversight across all facilities. Sequence production runs to minimize changeovers, downtime, and scrap while maximizing throughput. Balance customer priorities with plant capacity and operational constraints. Lead daily production and scheduling meetings involving multiple manufacturing locations. Identify capacity constraints, material shortages, and scheduling risks before they affect customer delivery. Adjust production plans quickly when equipment failures, labor issues, material delays, or changing customer requirements occur. Partner with procurement to align material availability with production requirements. Work with sales and operations to establish realistic delivery expectations and address changing priorities. Support advanced capacity planning and the company’s sales, inventory, and operations planning process. Analyze production data and scheduling performance to identify opportunities for improvement. Help develop and standardize production control and scheduling processes across the organization. Maintain accurate scheduling, planning, and inventory information within the ERP/MRP system. Provide clear visibility into production priorities, constraints, and schedule changes. What Success Looks Like Success in this role includes: A realistic, stable production schedule aligned with customer demand and plant capacity. Improved on-time delivery and stronger communication around production commitments. Better coordination among production, procurement, sales, and plant leadership. Reduced machine downtime, changeovers, scrap, and schedule disruptions. Increased throughput across continuous, multi-step manufacturing operations. Stronger production control and scheduling processes across all five facilities. Production risks identified and addressed before they affect customers. Consistent, accurate use of ERP and planning data to support decisions. Candidate Profile Five or more years of master scheduling, production planning, or production control experience in a manufacturing environment. Experience managing complex production schedules across multiple plants or manufacturing operations. Direct experience in continuous or process-oriented manufacturing is required. Experience in metals, wire and cable, extrusion, rolling, drawing, stranding, cladding, or another complex manufacturing process is strongly preferred. Experience sequencing production runs to reduce downtime, control scrap, and improve throughput. Strong understanding of advanced capacity planning and sales, inventory, and operations planning processes. Experience developing or improving production control and scheduling processes. Experience leading daily production meetings involving multiple facilities or operating teams. Proficiency with ERP and MRP systems. Experience with QAD is preferred. Strong Microsoft Excel and Microsoft 365 skills. Ability to evaluate competing production priorities and make practical scheduling decisions. Strong analytical, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills. Ability to influence cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority. Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, operations, engineering, business, or a related field is preferred. Candidates without a degree may be considered based on directly relevant manufacturing planning experience. Ability to work on-site in DeKalb, Illinois. Ability to travel locally among five manufacturing facilities located within approximately 45 minutes of DeKalb. Must be authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship. About Index Search Index Search is an executive and professional search firm exclusively focused on manufacturing, distribution, and industrial technology. 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