Senior Manufacturing Planning Specialist

Senior Manufacturing Planning Specialist

Location:

Scottsdale, AZ

Employment Type:

Contract

Industry: Defense

Compensation: $38.99/ hour

We're seeking a Senior Manufacturing Planning Specialist to support production and material planning activities for complex, high-technology products. In this role, you'll serve as a key liaison between manufacturing, engineering, supply chain, and program teams, driving material planning strategies, production scheduling, proposal support, and process improvements that ensure operational success.

• Work on advanced technologies supporting critical national defense and mission-focused programs.
• Partner with highly skilled engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, and program management teams.
• Take ownership of strategic production planning and material management initiatives.
• Gain exposure to sophisticated manufacturing environments, complex supply chains, and cutting-edge technologies.

This position is ideal for a supply chain or manufacturing planning professional who enjoys solving complex operational challenges. You'll play a vital role in ensuring production readiness, material availability, forecasting accuracy, and continuous process improvement while supporting highly advanced products and technologies.

Acara is a premier recruiting and workforce solutions provider-we help companies compete for talent. With a legacy of experience in various industries worldwide, we partner with clients, listen to their needs, and customize visionary talent solutions that drive desired business outcomes. We leverage decades of experience to deliver contingent staffing, direct placement, executive search, and workforce services worldwide.

• Represent production and material planning on concurrent engineering and program teams.
• Develop, compile, maintain, and monitor production schedules to support manufacturing requirements.
• Create and manage complex bill of material (BOM) structures within material planning and ERP systems.
• Develop labor and material forecasts to support manufacturing operations, capacity planning, and proposal activities.
• Analyze demand signals, material requirements, inventory levels, and supply risks to ensure production continuity.
• Partner with supply chain teams and suppliers to resolve delivery challenges, shortages, and material issues.
• Identify process improvements and implement best practices to improve planning performance and operational efficiency.
• Monitor planning metrics and communicate material readiness, risks, and recovery plans to leadership.

• 2+ years of experience in manufacturing planning, material planning, supply chain, procurement, production control, or operations within a manufacturing environment.
• 2+ years of experience managing and maintaining complex Bills of Material (BOMs), including single-level, multi-level, phantom, and costed BOM structures.
• 2+ years of experience working with Engineering BOMs (EBOMs) and Manufacturing BOMs (MBOMs), including BOM roll-up methodologies and ERP integration.
• 2+ years of experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems for material planning, demand management, inventory control, procurement, and production scheduling.
• 2+ years of experience supporting proposal development, labor estimating, material estimating, forecasting, or basis of estimate (BOE) preparation.
• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, Manufacturing, or a related field; or Master's degree.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate demand signals, identify supply risks, and develop practical solutions.
• Experience developing Basis of Estimates (BOEs) for labor and material proposals.
• Understanding of labor estimating methodologies, resource planning structures, and labor categories.
• Experience interpreting RFPs, Statements of Work (SOWs), and Contract Data Requirements Lists (CDRLs) and translating requirements into planning and procurement strategies.
• Ability to perform cost-volume analysis, develop proposal narratives, and present material proposal packages to stakeholders.
• Advanced knowledge of material planning tools, procurement processes, and supply chain execution.
• Experience managing purchase orders, supplier expedites, shortage resolution, and supply recovery plans.
• Strong understanding of MRP/ERP logic, demand management, inventory planning, and material flow optimization.
• Experience developing and reporting KPIs, planning metrics, and supply chain performance dashboards.
• Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM), product costing, or program controls.
• Ability to mentor junior planners and drive process improvements across planning and supply chain functions.

• Upon offer of employment, the individual will be subject to a background check.
• Overtime:
  May be required based on program schedules and business needs.
• Lifting Requirements:
  Ability to perform the physical…