Production Planner

Job Summary: 

The Production Planner is responsible for coordinating, scheduling, and overseeing all aspects of production and packaging to ensure timely fulfillment of customer demand. This role ensures efficient workflow between departments, optimizes resource allocation, maintains inventory accuracy, and supports adherence to quality and regulatory standards. The ideal candidate is highly organized, analytical, and experienced in nutraceutical or manufacturing environments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules based on sales forecasts, inventory levels, and operational capacity.
• Coordinate production and packaging activities to ensure deadlines and order fulfillment targets are met in a timely manner.
• Prioritize work orders and allocate resources to maximize output and operational efficiency.
• Monitor progress of production and packaging runs and adjust schedules as needed.
• Act as the primary liaison between Production, Packaging, Quality Assurance, Procurement, and Warehouse teams.
• Communicate schedule changes, material shortages, equipment issues, and capacity constraints promptly.
• Collaborate with procurement to ensure timely availability of raw materials, packaging components, and labels.
• Maintain accurate inventory levels of raw materials, WIP, and finished goods.
• Track product yields, batch records, and production performance metrics.
• Review and validate work orders, consumption, and production entries in ERP and planning reports.
• Forecast material requirements based on sales trends and production planning cycles.
• Ensure production and packaging activities adhere to cGMP, FDA regulations, and internal SOPs.
• Work with QA to manage batch documentation, deviations, and quality holds.
• Support audits, inspections, and process improvement initiatives.
• Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in production and packaging processes.
• Recommend and implement workflow improvements and capacity enhancements.
• Analyze performance data to drive operational improvements.
• Report and present to leadership in monthly KPI meetings.

Qualifications and skills:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field preferred.
• 3+ years of production planning experience in nutraceutical, food, pharmaceutical, or manufacturing environments.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g. SAP, Fishbowl, etc.).
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, packaging operations, and inventory control.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities.
• Effective communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficient in Excel and planning tools.
• Knowledge of cGMP and FDA regulatory requirements.
• Ability to stand, walk, or be on the production floor for extended periods.
• Ability to lift up to 25 lbs as needed.
• Work in a manufacturing environment with exposure to machinery and controlled substances.

Job Type: Full-time