Production Planner

Location: Penns Grove

This role is responsible for developing production schedules that align with demand forecasts, inventory levels, and operational capacity. Client Details My clieny is a small to midsize CPG Manufacturing company. Food industry, USDA and SQF facility. Description Production Planning & Scheduling
* Develop and manage daily and weekly production schedules based on demand forecasts, raw material availability, and plant capacity.
* Release and manage production work orders, ensuring accurate BOMs, yields, and labor standards.
* Adjust production plans in real time to address shortages, downtime, quality holds, or operational constraints.
* Coordinate sequencing to optimize changeovers, shelf life, and product freshness. Raw Material & Yield Management
* Ensure availability and proper allocation of raw materials, packaging, and consumables to support production plans.
* Monitor planned vs. actual yields and material usage; investigate variances and drive corrective actions.
* Support yield optimization initiatives while maintaining product quality and compliance. Inventory Control & Traceability
* Maintain accurate inventory across raw materials, WIP, and finished goods in coolers, freezers, and staging areas.
* Enforce FIFO/FEFO, lot control, organic segregation (if applicable), and full traceability.
* Plan and lead cycle counts and support physical inventory activities.
* Manage held, obsolete, or condemned inventory in compliance with USDA requirements. Capacity Planning & Analytics
* Build and maintain manual capacity models for production lines, labor, and critical equipment
* Identify bottlenecks and throughput constraints in an environment with inconsistent preventive maintenance
* Re-plan around unplanned downtime, contractor availability, and premium labor costs
* Avoid weekend production where possible while maintaining customer service commitments
* Use historical and real-time data to support trade-off decisions between cost, service, and shelf life Cross-Functional Coordination & Customer Support
* Collaborate with procurement to align incoming raw materials with production needs.
* Partner with operations, quality, and warehouse teams to ensure smooth execution of production schedules.
* Support customer fulfillment by validating available-to-ship inventory and identifying risks to service.
* Investigate shortages, misallocations, or production shortfalls and implement recovery plans. Systems, Data & Reporting
* Maintain production and inventory data in CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce), ensuring accurate transactions and records.
* Maintain item masters, BOMs, routings, and production parameters.
* Generate reports and dashboards for production performance, yields, scrap, and KPIs- build and refine planning tools, trackers, and analytical views in Excel, Google Sheets, Tableau, and Salesforce
* Ensure data accuracy to support cost accounting, forecasting, and decision-making. Compliance, Audits & Continuous Improvement
* Ensure production planning activities comply with USDA, SQF, HACCP, and food safety requirements.
* Support internal, regulatory, and customer audits.
* Lead root-cause analysis related to production variances, inventory discrepancies, and process breakdowns.
* Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, yield, and service. Profile Qualifications
* 5-7 years of production planning or scheduling experience in food manufacturing (meat or protein industry strongly preferred)
* Proven experience planning in environments with AND without automated scheduling systems
* Advanced Excel and Google Sheets proficiency required (scenario modeling, pivot tables, complex formulas, trackers)
* Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems and production planning tools and custom or personalized WMS
* Ability to move seamlessly between multiple systems while maintaining data integrity
* Strong analytical, organizational, and cross-functional communication skills.
* Bachelor's degree in operations/supply chain Operations, or related experience in same industry
* Strong communication skills, both written and verbal
* Strong continuous improvement skills and ability to research problems and develop solutions
* Ability to produce ad-hoc reporting, as needed
* Production Planning Modules experience a plus
* Ability to communicate clearly and concisely to team and across different departments of the business
* Experience in collecting, analyzing, and presenting data
* Ability to read, understand and follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), ensuring compliance by staff
* Ability to multitask and meet deadlines
* Ability to work in a team environment and interact with all levels of staff
* Ability to maintain a safe work environment Job Offer Competitive salary ranging from $85,500 to $105,000 USD. Comprehensive benefits package, including 401k matching, health insurance, and paid time off (PTO). Opportunities for growth and professional development within the CPG Manufacturing industry. A…