Production Planning Specialist

Job Title:

Production Planning Specialist

Start Date:

ASAP
Job Type: Contract-to-Hire
Pay Rate: $45/hr

Schedule:

Hybrid (Cary, NC)

The Production Planning Specialist is responsible for coordinating toller production activities to ensure alignment with demand priorities and planning cycles. This role manages daily and weekly production schedules, monitors execution, and proactively resolves issues related to capacity, material availability, and logistics. Working cross-functionally with supply planning, procurement, material scheduling, inventory management, and logistics teams, the consultant ensures timely material readiness, accurate ERP updates, and seamless intercompany transfers.

The position also tracks toller performance and supports continuous improvement initiatives to enhance production efficiency and reliability.

• Owns toller coordination, ensuring production scheduling aligns with FF&P planners and demand priorities while maintaining adherence to frozen periods and committed production slots.
• Coordinates daily/weekly production plans with tollers, ensuring smooth execution by tracking output, resolving scheduling conflicts, and mitigating production delays. Works closely with FF&P planners to align production priorities.
• Monitors production execution, proactively identifying and addressing issues related to toller capacity, material shortages, or unexpected disruptions. Escalates unresolved risks to supply planning and procurement teams.
• Ensures material availability by aligning with the Material Scheduler to confirm AI, co-formulants, and packaging readiness for planned production runs. Collaborates with suppliers and logistics teams to ensure timely deliveries.
• Tracks and reports toller inventory levels, working with the Inventory Manager to identify potential shortages, excess stock, or discrepancies at toller sites.
• Feeds production output data into ERP systems, ensuring visibility of completed batches and enabling accurate intercompany transfer orders, stock movements, and replenishment planning.
• Collaborates with Logistics & Distribution, ensuring timely execution of intercompany transfers for finished goods and AI. Aligns on outbound logistics, transportation planning, and carrier coordination to facilitate seamless material movement.
• Provides input on toller performance, tracking adherence to schedules, production efficiency, and issue resolution. Supports continuous improvement initiatives in collaboration with supply planning and procurement teams.

• 3-5 years planning / scheduling experience, ideally APICS certified.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling and material availability, including alignment with planning cycles, toller capacity constraints, and frozen periods.
• Experience managing production planning with tollers or internal production, ensuring timely execution and issue resolution in outsourced environments.
• Excellent problem-solving skills for resolving operational issues under tight timelines, such as capacity bottlenecks, material shortages, and unexpected production delays.
• Strong communication skills for cross-functional coordination, engaging with supply planners, material planners, logistics, and tollers to align on production priorities and resolve conflicts.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment, balancing production schedules, material readiness, and logistics.
• Comfortable working with ERP and planning tools to input and track toller production data, ensuring accurate system updates for material movements and transfers.
• Proficiency in English and local toller language.

EOE/F/M/D/V