Production Planning Manager

A globally prominent and rapidly growing industrial manufacturer seeks to hire an experienced Production Planning Manager for its large manufacturing operation Northwest of Knoxville, TN. Reporting directly to the General Manager, this high-visibility leadership role will oversee the facility's production planning, forecasting, scheduling, and production control activities. The position will lead a sizable, multi-layered organization, including approximately 10 direct reports, and will play a critical role in aligning customer demand with manufacturing capacity, optimizing production flow, and ensuring on-time delivery. This is a permanent, direct-hire opportunity.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the facility's Production Planning and Scheduling organization, establishing performance expectations, improving planning processes, and ensuring accountability across the team.
• Oversee master production scheduling, translating customer orders and forecasts into executable manufacturing plans that optimize capacity, resource utilization, throughput, and on-time delivery.
• Develop and maintain short- and long-term production forecasts and capacity plans, evaluating equipment capabilities, labor requirements, tooling availability, and manufacturing constraints to support current and anticipated demand.
• Serve as a primary liaison between customers and internal manufacturing teams, communicating production schedules, delivery commitments, changing requirements, and potential disruptions.
• Monitor production performance, inventory levels, manufacturing yields, and schedule adherence, proactively identifying bottlenecks and adjusting production plans to meet output, delivery, and financial objectives.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Tooling, and other functional leaders to coordinate production priorities, improve material and equipment readiness, and implement continuous improvements in planning accuracy and manufacturing efficiency.

Required Qualifications:

• Associate's or bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Business, or a related discipline OR equivalent relevant experience.
• Substantial experience in production planning, master scheduling, or production control within a complex industrial manufacturing environment, including demonstrated success in a leadership or management capacity.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production forecasting, capacity planning, inventory management, and the coordination of resources across multiple production departments.
• Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems and other planning tools to manage production schedules, analyze manufacturing data, and improve operational performance.
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams, collaborate effectively across multiple functions, and communicate with customers and senior leadership regarding production priorities, capacity constraints, and delivery commitments.

Our client offers a highly competitive portfolio of insurance and retirement benefits along with clear opportunities for advancement and other attractive perks. Relocation assistance is available for especially qualified individuals outside of the immediate geographic area.