Senior Production Planner

Senior Production Planner

The Senior Production Planner is the operational leader of the planning function and a key partner to the Director of Supply Chain in transforming planning from a reactive, expediting-driven process into a disciplined, system-driven capability.

This role owns the Master Production Schedule (MPS), capacity planning, and planning system integrity in a low-volume, high-mix engineered manufacturing environment. The Senior Production Planner ensures alignment between demand, supply, and capacity, enabling reliable execution, improved material availability, and stable production flow.

The role serves as the bridge between strategy and execution, translating SIOP outputs into actionable plans while driving continuous improvement in planning processes, data accuracy, and cross-functional coordination.

Core Responsibilities

1. Master Production Scheduling & Execution Ownership

· Own and manage the Master Production Schedule (MPS) to meet customer delivery commitments while optimizing capacity and flow

· Drive schedule stability and adherence, minimizing disruption from last-minute changes

· Identify risks early and implement mitigation plans to protect OTD

2. Capacity Planning & Constraint Management

· Lead rough-cut and detailed capacity planning (RCCP) across key resources

· Identify bottlenecks and constraints; recommend actions (overtime, outsourcing, process improvements)

· Develop scenario models to support decision-making and trade-offs

3. Planning System Discipline (Critical Upgrade Area)

· Own MRP health and data integrity, including lead times, order policies, BOM accuracy in partnership with engineering

· Drive closure of MRP exception messages with urgency and accountability

· Reduce reliance on manual workarounds and expediting

4. SIOP / S&OP Execution

· Translate SIOP outputs into executable production and material plans

· Represent planning in cross-functional forums; provide capacity insights, risk assessments, and scenario-based recommendations

· Ensure alignment between demand, supply, and operational constraints

5. Material Availability & Cross-Functional Coordination

· Partner with procurement and supply chain to ensure material readiness for production

· Escalate and resolve supply risks, particularly for long-lead and critical components

· Align closely with:

o Operations (execution and constraints)

o Engineering (changes impacting supply or scheduling)

o Project management (customer commitments)

6. Inventory & Flow Optimization

· Support initiatives to improve inventory turns, WIP reduction, and lead time compression

· Balance service levels with working capital objectives

· Drive improvements in planning parameters and stocking strategies

7. Continuous Improvement & Standard Work

· Establish and maintain standard work for planning processes

· Lead initiatives to improve schedule stability, planning accuracy, lead time reliability

· Support lean material flow and supply chain transformation efforts

8. Systems, Reporting & Analytics

· Serve as ERP/MRP power user and subject matter expert

· Develop and maintain dashboards for: schedule adherence, OTD performance, capacity utilization, and inventory metrics

· Provide data-driven insights to leadership

Qualifications & Requirements

Required

· Bachelor's degree in supply chain, engineering, or operations

· 7+ years in production planning within engineered or high-mix manufacturing

· Deep expertise in: MRP / ERP systems, capacity planning, production scheduling

· APICS CPIM or CSCP (or in progress)

Preferred

· MBA

· Experience in capital equipment or engineered-to-order environments

· Experience supporting SIOP/S&OP processes

· Credentials in lean or project management

Skills & Competencies

· System thinker who understands end-to-end supply and demand dynamics

· Expert-level analytical skills with the ability to build, interpret, and communicate complex planning models and scenario analyses.

· Advanced Microsoft Excel skills (pivot tables, dynamic arrays, Power Query); experience with advanced planning and scheduling (APS) tools a significant plus.

· Deep knowledge of manufacturing planning concepts: MRP, RCCP, S&OP, SIOP, kanban, lean scheduling, and inventory optimization.

· Strong leadership and influencing skills — able to drive alignment across operations, sales, procurement, and finance without direct authority.

· Excellent written and verbal communication; experienced presenting planning scenarios and recommendations to senior leadership.

· Detail-oriented but able to operate at a systems level

· Relentless focus on execution, accuracy, and accountability