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My client is a global leader in engineered technical ceramics who operates more than 50 manufacturing, sales, and research facilities worldwide, serving industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical, semiconductor, and energy. With over 400 proprietary ceramic formulations, my client delivers high-performance components designed to meet the most demanding technical challenges. They prioritize close collaboration with customers, providing tailored solutions from material selection through to manufacturing. Committed to innovation and operational excellence, my client continues to advance materials science to make the world measurably better.

We are searching for a senior Manager of Production Planning who will manage production planning and inventory control functions maximizing plant resources to meet or exceed planned results in inventory levels and operating costs. Coordinate and expedite the flow of work and materials within or between departments and manufacturing unit(s) according to production schedule to provide exceptional service to customers. Coordinate monthly S&OP planning process within the supply planning function to ensure plants can communicate requirements to achieve forecasted demand.

Responsibilities

• Manage the production planning functions, including development, maintenance, and execution, of the master production schedule and maximize plant resources to meet demand. Organize and coordinate various sections of manufacturing. Follow up performance against estimates.
• Manage effective and service-oriented planning functions to ensure that correct procedures are established and adhered to achieve the maximum return possible on customer orders, while continually improving responsiveness, reliability, and service. May coordinate inside sales activities with customer service staff.
• Manage site inventory including raw materials, work in process, and finished goods. Responsible for optimizing inventory levels to support customer demand fulfillment. Generate regular reporting of inventory, highlighting inventory health to drive continuous improvement.  
• Coordinate the monthly S&OP supply review process for the business unit ensuring capacity or staffing constraints are understood and communicated effectively.  
• Lead the supply planning strategy and analysis of multi-site manufacturing, supporting the business unit product management decisions on longer term production allocation, optimizing costs and capacity.   
• Instrumental in continuous improvement activities through research, benchmarking, and identification of improved methods or tools to increase efficiency.
• Audit inventory transactions and data entry of daily cycle counts.
• Review and analyze reports, records and directives, and confer with managers/supervisors to obtain data required for planning activities, such as new commitments, status of work in progress, and problems encountered.
• Supervise the maintenance of purchase orders/invoices/receiving records system and may prepare instructions regarding purchasing systems and procedures.
• Provide clarification to employees on issues pertaining to department processes, interpretation of product specifications, technical drawings, and purchase orders.

Qualifications

• BS in Science, Engineering, Supply Chain or Business discipline required; MBA preferred
• 7 years of production planning experience.
• Functional/Technical Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:
• Analytical skills; able to create and utilize spreadsheet models tracking demand, supply, and inventory, including multiple scenarios.
• Data savvy: able to quickly merge data from multiple sources, manipulate it, and present it intelligibly to explain the situation (i.e., tell the story).
• Strong communication skills
• Comfortable working cross functionally, both internally and externally
• Able to create concise email and PowerPoint communications.
• Develop comprehensive knowledge of customer products, data, terminology, and needs.
• Develop knowledge of manufacturing processes, lead-times, and strategies.
• Supply chain planning knowledge around MRP, inventory models, etc.
• Highly proficient in MS Office tools, Power BI, and other data or visualization tools is a plus.
• Able to work successfully with people across the US, Europe, and Asia including evening meetings with Asia.

Perks

• Compensation up to $120,000 – $140,000 + 10% Bonus
• Comprehensive Benefits (Health, dental, vision, life insurance coverage, etc.)
• 401k match program