Production Planner

SUMMARY

The Production Planner is responsible for developing, implementing, and managing production plans that align with Price Chopper’s overall business goals. This role ensures efficient scheduling, optimal resource utilization, and collaboration across functional teams to meet customer demand while upholding high standards of quality and safety.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define and execute comprehensive production planning strategies that align with business objectives and operational goals.
• Develop and implement a robust resource planning process to ensure optimal staffing levels and skill sets are available to meet production demands.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain to forecast labor needs and optimize scheduling.
• Lead the development of production schedules based on demand forecasts, capacity constraints, and inventory levels.
• Ensure that all production schedules are efficient, cost-effective, and focused on customer satisfaction.
• Oversee planning and optimization of work centers to maximize throughput and minimize downtime.
• Analyze work center capacity and implement effective scheduling and dispatching strategies.
• Integrate resource planning, production planning, and work center planning into cohesive operational plans.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to monitor the effectiveness of production planning, with a focus on schedule attainment.
• Collaborate with operations, engineering, quality, supply chain, and finance teams to ensure cross-functional alignment.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives in operational planning, identifying opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service levels.
• Stay abreast of latest developments in production planning methodologies and evaluate new tools and strategies for implementation.
• Other duties may be assigned.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management or a related field preferred.
• 6–8 years of progressive experience in production planning within the food manufacturing industry.
• Strong knowledge of high-volume fresh food manufacturing processes and quality implications of scaled production.
• HACCP trained with experience in GFSI audits and solid understanding of FDA/USDA policies and OSHA regulations.
• Proven experience implementing effective production planning strategies in a multi-unit environment.
• Proficiency in ERP systems and advanced planning and scheduling (APS) software.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to identify opportunities through analytics.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across various teams and departments.