Master Scheduler

Brad Foote Gear Works is hiring a Master Scheduler to join our team in Cicero, IL. The Master Scheduler role is a decision-making role, not clerical; it will require deep manufacturing understanding and includes Executive visibility and ownership of plant-wide scheduling performance. Given the level of this role, the selected individual will have the ability to influence capacity and capital planning decisions and have a direct impact on customer delivery performance.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

* Develop and maintain the Master Production Schedule (MPS) across all product lines and work centers

* Balance demand, capacity, and material availability to create executable schedules

* Establish schedule policies including time fences, frozen zones, and planning horizons

* Lead the monthly Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) process

* Facilitate cross-functional consensus on demand, supply, and capacity plans

* Provide executive-level reporting on: demand vs. capacity gaps; backlog health; revenue forecast alignment

* Drive decisions on outsourcing, overtime, and capital investment needs

* Conduct detailed capacity analysis by work center, machine, and labor skill set

* Identify and manage constraints (machining centers, heat treat, inspection, etc.)

* Develop mitigation strategies: load leveling, alternate routings, subcontracting

* Partner with Operations on bottleneck elimination

* Drive system discipline and data accuracy (BOMs, routings, calendars)

* Lead continuous improvement of scheduling tools (finite scheduling systems, Advanced Planning & Scheduling (APS))

* Partner with Sales on realistic promised dates and backlog prioritization

* Work closely with Supply Chain to ensure material availability

* Coordinate with Production / Operations for schedule execution and issue resolution

* Collaborate with Finance on inventory targets and working capital

* Track and improve key KPIs: On-time delivery), schedule adherence, lead time reduction

* Lead root cause analysis on schedule misses and systemic issues

* Drive Lean / CI initiatives related to flow, batching, and planning efficiency

* All other duties as assigned

* 7+ years of production scheduling experience in a complex machining or discrete manufacturing environment

* Demonstrated expertise in finite capacity scheduling across constrained resources (machines, labor, outside processing)

* Deep understanding of multi-level BOMs, routings, and shop floor execution

* Strong ERP/APS capability (TCM, SAP, Oracle, or equivalent), with the ability to audit and improve system scheduling logic

* Proven ability to balance demand vs. capacity and drive executable schedules in a high-mix, low-volume environment

* Hands-on knowledge of machining operations (CNC, grinding, gear cutting, or similar)

* Experience coordinating with unionized production teams and frontline supervisors

* Advanced analytical skills (Excel, Power BI, or equivalent) with ownership of KPIs such as OTD, schedule adherence, and WIP

* Ability to perform rapid scenario planning and schedule recovery in response to disruptions

* Strong cross-functional leadership skills-able to align production, engineering, supply chain, and sales