Manager, Production Planning

Production Planning Manager

MP Materials (NYSE: MP) is rebuilding American industrial capability for a new era of autonomy, robotics, and electrification. We are the only U.S. company with a fully integrated rare earth supply chain—from mining and refining to advanced metal and magnet manufacturing. Our products include both the critical materials used to make permanent magnets and the finished magnets themselves—enabling next-generation technologies in robotics, automation, aerospace, transportation, defense, and energy systems. These materials are the foundation of physical AI—the convergence of computation, movement, and control.

We hire ambitious, mission-driven people who want to tackle complex challenges and shape the future of strategic industries. Our culture is rooted in teamwork, resiliency, and integrity, with a deep commitment to operational excellence and national purpose. MP is rapidly evolving from a materials producer into a leading U.S. manufacturer—and our people are driving that transformation.

The Production Planning Manager leads the development and execution of production plans that efficiently convert raw materials into finished goods. This role is responsible for meeting customer delivery requirements, optimizing inventory, and maximizing manufacturing asset utilization.

Success in this position will be measured through schedule adherence, inventory accuracy, material availability, labor planning effectiveness, WIP levels, and timely communication of production constraints, all to support safe and reliable plant operations. The Manager serves as a key link between Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Procurement, Logistics, and Customer Service teams to ensure operational plans are aligned with customer demand and business objectives.

The role leads a team of Production Planners and Planning Specialists and is accountable for delivering production plans that balance service levels, inventory targets, capacity constraints, labor availability, and operational performance.

Position Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain short-, medium-, and long-term production plans that align customer demand with manufacturing capacity
• Set team priorities, and establish clear planning standards for Production Planners and Planning Specialists
• Create and manage production schedules to meet customer commitments, inventory targets, and operational objectives
• Balance production requirements across manufacturing assets to maximize throughput and minimize operational disruptions
• Monitor schedule adherence and coordinate adjustments based on changing demand, production performance, or supply constraints
• Analyze capacity requirements and identify opportunities to improve asset utilization
• Integrate maintenance outages, shutdowns, and labor availability into production plans; communicate capacity, staffing and service impacts to affected stakeholders

Finished Goods & Customer Delivery Planning:

• Ensure production plans support customer service and on-time delivery objectives
• Coordinate with Logistics, Customer Service, and Supply Chain teams to align finished goods availability with customer demand
• Manage finished goods inventory levels to support service requirements while minimizing excess inventory
• Identify and mitigate risks that could impact customer deliveries

Materials Planning & Inventory Management:

• Oversee raw material and component planning activities to support uninterrupted production
• Optimize material consumption and inventory levels while minimizing waste and excess inventory
• Partner with Procurement and Supply Chain teams to ensure material availability
• Monitor inventory performance and implement actions to improve inventory turns and inventory accuracy

WIP Management:

• Monitor and manage work-in-process inventory throughout the manufacturing process.
• Identify bottlenecks and constraints impacting production flow.
• Drive initiatives to improve throughput, reduce cycle times, and optimize inventory levels.
• Ensure visibility of WIP performance through reporting and key metrics.

Continuous Improvement & Analytics:

• Analyze planning performance and implement process improvements
• Utilize ERP, MRP, and planning systems to improve schedule effectiveness and planning accuracy
• Develop and maintain key performance indicators and performance dashboards that provide timely visibility into schedule adherence, capacity, inventory, service, and planning accuracy.
• Support Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives across the planning organization

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Business, Manufacturing, or a related field
• 7+ years of production planning, supply chain, operations planning, or manufacturing experience in a large-scale industrial or process manufacturing environment.
• 3+ years of progressive leadership experience managing managers and large planning organizations.
• Experience supporting complex manufacturing processes that convert raw materials into finished goods.
• Demonstrated success managing production, capacity, material, labor, and inventory planning activities.
• Experience coordinating maintenance outages, shutdowns, or turnaround planning in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience with ERP, MRP and supply chain planning systems, preferably SAP

Desired Qualities:

• APICS CPIM, CSCP, or CLTD certification
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt

MP Materials is Proud to be an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Underrepresented groups/Women/Disabled/Veterans are encouraged to apply. Candidates whose disabilities make them unable to meet the position's requirements will still be considered qualified if they can perform the essential functions of the job with reasonable accommodation.

Your Right to Work

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment verification document form upon hire.

For Assistance with Application

Alternative methods of applying for employment are available to individuals unable to submit an application through this site because of a disability. Contact Human Resources Department at View phone number on click.appcast.io; dial 7 when prompted for HR; 1700 South Pavilion Center Dr. 8th Floor, Las Vegas, NV 89135 to discuss reasonable accommodation.