Manager, Planning

Job Description

Job Description

The future of aerospace and defense starts here. 

Ursa Major was founded to revolutionize how America and its allies access and apply high-performance propulsion, from hypersonics to solid rocket motors, satellite maneuvering and launch. We design and deliver propulsion and defense systems that solve the most urgent and critical national security demands. 

At our Berthoud, Colorado campus, we design and build advanced liquid rocket engines using modern manufacturing methods, vertically integrated teams, and a culture that values ownership, urgency, and high‑quality hardware. If you thrive in a fast‑paced, hands‑on environment where your work directly impacts real hardware and real missions, you'll fit right in.

Role Overview

We are looking for a Planning Manager to build and lead our component‑level demand, supply, and capacity planning function. This people‑leader role owns consensus demand and its accuracy metrics, rough‑cut capacity planning (RCCP) with Operations, and production of a constrained, feasible supply plan by segment ahead of every Executive SIOP.

You'll manage a growing team of planners and be responsible for demand planning accuracy, supply plan alignment and adherence, and capacity visibility.

What You'll Do

Demand Planning & Forecast Accuracy

• Lead the team to publish a demand plan by segment every SIOP cycle, aligned to the company calendar.
• Own consensus demand and the demand accuracy metric at the segment level.
• Baseline forecast accuracy and bias, then set and drive improvement targets; monitor MAPE, bias, and related metrics.

Rough‑Cut Capacity Planning & Feasible Supply Plans

• Model capacity, constraints, and material availability to determine what the system can actually produce via the RCCP.
• Produce constrained, feasible supply plans that are signed off before each Executive SIOP and aligned with real capacity, lead times, and material constraints.
• Partner with Operations and Manufacturing to resolve capacity bottlenecks and trade‑offs (e.g., resequencing, overtime, outsourcing).

Plan Adherence & Execution Discipline

• Define and track plan adherence metrics (e.g., schedule adherence to supply plan) for each segment; baseline and set improvement targets.
• Work with Operations and Programs to address root causes of non‑adherence and drive behavior change.
• Validate planning outputs against ERP/master data; trace MRP anomalies to root cause and work with data owners to correct them instead of relying on workarounds.
• Ensure plans respect validated order lead times; prevent commitments outside agreed lead‑time assumptions and correct when assumptions change.
• Build controls (validity checks, root‑cause analysis, corrective actions) into planning routines to reduce error and increase agility. 

Team Leadership & Cross‑Functional Integration

• Manage and develop a team of planners
• Act as a player‑coach by carrying planning responsibility
• Integrate segment‑level outputs (demand, supply, capacity) into the broader SIOP cadence, partnering closely with Planning Operations and analytics teammates.
• Prepare executive‑facing materials (dashboards, slide decks, summaries) that make complex planning data understandable and actionable for leadership.

In‑Year Planning, Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the transition of available‑to‑promise and other key planning logic out of spreadsheets and into Odoo, eliminating spreadsheet‑validated commitments.
• Identify process and data gaps within planning operations and commercial operations; drive improvements with a focus on automation and reduced manual work.

What You'll Bring

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field.
• Significant experience in demand planning, supply planning, and capacity planning within a manufacturing environment (aerospace or defense preferred).
• Experience owning forecast accuracy metrics and leading planning cycles.
• Demonstrated ownership of forecast accuracy metrics and consensus demand processes.
• Hands‑on experience with RCCP and constrained supply planning with Operations.
• People‑leadership experience managing planners or analysts (3–6+ direct reports) in a cross‑functional environment.
• Experience working with ERP planning data and master data (e.g., MRP, ATP, lead times) in a regulated or complex manufacturing context.

Preferred Qualifications

• Certifications or training in production planning, supply chain, or operations (e.g., APICS/ASCM CPIM, CSCP, or similar).
• Experience moving planning logic out of spreadsheets and into ERP or other advanced tools.
• Experience in high‑volume, high‑mix, or engineer‑to‑order environments.
• 2+ years of experience in planning, machining production control, shop scheduling, or related roles.
• Experience operating within a SIOP/IBP framework and feeding outputs into executive forums.
• Familiarity with order lead‑time validation, available‑to‑promise logic, and ERP planning data (Odoo experience a plus).
• Aerospace or defense manufacturing experience is helpful but not required; candidates from other manufacturing industries are encouraged to apply.

Colorado law requires us to tell you the base compensation range of this role, which is $120,000 - $151,000, determined by your education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities. What we can't  quantify for you are the exciting challenges, supportive team, and amazing culture we enjoy. 

Classification: Full-time Exempt

Benefits Include: (Please note, Interns are not eligible for benefits)

• Unlimited PTO - Vacation, Sick, Personal, and Bereavement
• Paid Parental and Adoptive Leave
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance
• Tax Advantage Accounts (HSA/FSA)
• Employer Paid Short and Long Term Disability, Basic Life, AD&D
• Additional Benefit Options Including Voluntary Life and Emergency Medical Transport
• EAP Program
• Retirement Savings Plan - 401k with Company Match
• Equity Grants in the Company

How To Apply: 
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply by filling out the application below and clicking "Submit Application". This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will remain open until filled or adjusted based on the volume of applicants.

NOTE: Research suggests that women and BIPOC individuals may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who believes they have the skills and the drive necessary to succeed here to apply for this role.

Must be a U.S. Person (this includes U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents).

Eligibility to obtain and maintain a U.S. Security Clearance. 

We're an equal-opportunity employer. You will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

No outside recruiters, please.