Demand Planning & Production Scheduling Manager

About US

We are a mid-sized food manufacturing company

Job Title: Demand Planning & Production Scheduling Manager

Salary: $110 to $140k per year

Role Summary

The Demand Planning & Production Scheduling Manager is responsible for owning forecast accuracy, demand consensus, and master production schedule integrity across all sites.

This role ensures demand signals are translated into stable, executable production plans aligned with capacity, material availability, and business growth targets.

The role acts as the backbone of S&OP, driving plan discipline and preventing reactive firefighting within operations.

Core Responsibilities

Demand Planning Ownership

• Develop statistical and collaborative forecasts.
• Reviewing Historical sales trends.
• Lead Demand Review process within monthly S&OP.
• Consolidate inputs from Sales, Finance, and Operations.
• Improve forecast accuracy and reduce bias.
• Analyze seasonality, promotions, new launches, and customer trends.
• Maintain rolling 12–18-month demand outlook.
• Present monthly and annual demand forecast and analyses during S&OP meetings with Senior Management.

Master Production Scheduling (MPS)

• Own the Master Production Schedule across all manufacturing sites.
• Translate demand plan into executable weekly and monthly schedules.
• Align production with:
• Capacity constraints
• Labor availability
• Changeover optimization
• Material availability
• Protect schedule stability.
• Minimize last-minute schedule changes.
• Drive schedule adherence discipline with Operations.

Capacity & Constraint Management

• Model site capacity scenarios (2-shift vs 3-shift, OEE assumptions).
• Identify bottlenecks (line capacity, labor, packaging constraints).
• Present capacity gap analysis to Senior SCM.
• Support long-term capacity planning and investment decisions.

Inventory Planning Alignment

• Align production plan with inventory strategy.
• Define safety stock parameters in coordination with Senior SCM.
• Prevent excess inventory build.
• Develop and implement shorth-term and long-term supply plans.
• Support working capital objectives.

S&OP Leadership Support

• Lead Supply Review in monthly S&OP cycle.
• Prepare supply-demand gap scenarios.
• Present trade-offs (capacity, overtime, outsourcing).
• Document decisions and ensure execution alignment.
• Ensure S&OP decisions are reflected in master schedule.

Data & Systems Optimization

• Improve forecasting models and statistical tools.
• Support and enhance Demand Caster planning configuration.
• Standardize planning process by eliminating manual work and using Demand Caster.
• Eliminate manual planning spreadsheets.
• Develop automated demand and production dashboards.
• Improve planning data governance.

Leadership Profile / Competencies

Analytical Rigor

• Strong quantitative skills.
• Advanced Excel / ERP planning tools.
• Scenario modeling capability.

Cross-Functional Influence

• Strong ability to challenge Sales assumptions.
• Confident facilitator of Demand Review.
• Able to hold Operations accountable to schedule.

Structured Thinking

• Systems mindset.
• Long-term view (12–18 months).
• Process discipline.

Communication Strength

• Can present planning risks clearly to Senior SCM and Director.
• Comfortable escalating structural gaps.

Skills

• 7+ years in demand planning / production planning within manufacturing.
• Experience managing master production scheduling.
• Strong S&OP exposure.
• Experience in multi-site manufacturing environment preferred.
• ERP planning module experience (MS Dynamics preferred).
• Strong statistical and analytical capability.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, Operations, or related field.

We are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals and are dedicated to a fair and accessible hiring process. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

Notice to Applicants: This posting represents an active vacancy. AI-enabled recruitment tools may be used to assist with parts of the applicant screening process, but all evaluations and hiring decisions are made by our hiring team