Senior Manager Production Planning and Scheduling

Senior Manager Production Planning and Scheduling

iAutomation is seeking a highly driven and results-oriented Senior Manager, Production Planning & Scheduling to lead production planning, scheduling, capacity management, and operational coordination across our manufacturing operations.

This leadership role is responsible for developing and executing integrated production plans that align customer demand, manufacturing capacity, material availability, and labor resources to achieve operational and financial objectives. The position serves as the central link between Sales, Project Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Manufacturing, ensuring customer commitments are met while maximizing throughput, efficiency, and profitability.

The successful candidate will possess strong leadership capabilities, exceptional analytical skills, and a passion for operational excellence. This role offers significant visibility across the organization and provides a pathway toward broader Operations and Supply Chain leadership responsibilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Own the Master Production Schedule (MPS) and oversee all production planning and scheduling activities.
• Develop and maintain short-term and long-term production plans that balance customer demand, labor capacity, material availability, and operational constraints.
• Drive schedule attainment and execution across manufacturing operations while ensuring alignment with customer delivery commitments.
• Establish and maintain finite-capacity planning processes to optimize resource utilization and throughput.
• Partner with Manufacturing leadership to identify constraints, resolve bottlenecks, and improve workflow efficiency.
• Lead daily, weekly, and monthly planning reviews to ensure alignment between operational priorities and business objectives.
• Manage backlog prioritization and production sequencing to maximize revenue attainment and customer satisfaction.
• Develop capacity models and labor forecasts to support business growth and operational scalability.

Operational Performance & Execution

• Monitor and drive performance against key operational metrics, including:
• On-Time Delivery (OTD)
• Schedule Adherence
• Revenue Attainment
• Capacity Utilization
• Throughput
• Labor Efficiency
• Inventory Performance
• Backlog Health
• Material Readiness
• Work-in-Process (WIP)
• Lead root-cause analysis and corrective actions for schedule misses, material shortages, capacity constraints, and customer delivery risks.
• Ensure visibility of operational risks and implement mitigation plans proactively.

Supply Chain & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate closely with Supply Chain and Purchasing teams to ensure material readiness and support production requirements.
• Participate in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and demand planning activities to align demand forecasts with operational capabilities.
• Support inventory optimization initiatives while maintaining service-level expectations.
• Partner with Engineering and Project Management to ensure new product introductions, engineering changes, and customer projects are effectively integrated into production schedules.
• Establish strong communication channels across Operations, Sales, Project Management, Engineering, and Finance.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop the Production Planning and Scheduling team.
• Establish clear performance expectations, accountability, and development plans for team members.
• Build organizational capability through standardized planning processes, training programs, and succession planning.
• Foster a culture of ownership, urgency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Operations leadership and executive management.

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Lead initiatives to improve planning accuracy, schedule effectiveness, operational visibility, and execution discipline.
• Implement Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies to eliminate waste and increase productivity.
• Drive ERP and MRP process optimization, data integrity, and planning system effectiveness.
• Develop standardized planning processes, dashboards, and reporting tools that support operational decision-making.
• Support ISO 9001 requirements and ensure planning processes align with quality system standards.
• Leverage data analytics to identify trends, improve forecasting accuracy, and drive business performance.

Strategic Leadership

• Provide executive-level reporting and recommendations related to production capacity, labor requirements, delivery performance, operational risks, and growth opportunities.
• Support annual operating plans, budgeting activities, and long-range strategic planning initiatives.
• Participate in enterprise-wide initiatives focused on operational scalability, digital transformation, and business growth.
• Contribute to the development of future operational and supply chain strategies.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Operations Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or related field.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in production planning, manufacturing operations, supply chain, or related disciplines.
• 3+ years of leadership experience managing teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of Master Production Scheduling (MPS), Capacity Planning, MRP, and Production Control methodologies.
• Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems to manage complex manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated success balancing customer demand, production capacity, labor resources, and material availability.
• Advanced analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and cross-functional collaboration abilities.

Preferred

• APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP) or equivalent.
• Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma certification.
• Experience in high-mix, low-volume or engineered-to-order manufacturing environments.
• Experience supporting S&OP, inventory planning, procurement, or broader supply chain functions.
• ISO 9001 experience

Salary Range : $136,500 – $155,900 annually. This range reflects the expected base pay for this position in Massachusetts and is based on internal equity and the established job family compensation structure. Actual compensation may vary based on experience, qualifications, and performance.

The successful candidate will gain exposure to strategic planning, inventory management, procurement partnership, operational excellence, and executive decision-making while helping shape the future growth of a rapidly expanding industrial automation organization.

This role provides a unique opportunity for a high-performing leader to broaden their business impact and develop the skills and experience necessary for future expanded leadership opportunities.

Please email your resume to View email address on click.appcast.io.

• Principals ONLY – No Third-Party Recruiters

iAutomation Supports Equal Opportunity Employment & Diversity.

Equal Opportunity Employer This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.