Senior Production Planner

About the Company:

At Japs-Olson (JO), we believe a career should be more than a job—it should be an opportunity to create a lasting impression. As a trusted leader in direct mail and commercial printing for over a century, JO is proud to be an employer of choice in the Twin Cities, empowering our team to solve problems creatively within a culture of collaboration and growth.

Whether you're a recent graduate eager to launch your career, seeking meaningful work that aligns with your values, or a seasoned professional ready to share your expertise, JO is a place where your contributions can make a difference. We offer competitive benefits, career advancement opportunities, and a commitment to work-life balance, all within a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to grow and succeed.

Join JO, where progress is celebrated, people are uplifted, and your ideas can make a difference every day.

Position Summary:

The Senior Production Planner leads complex scheduling efforts, capacity planning, and workflow optimization for direct mail production. This role serves as a strategic partner to operations leadership, providing insights on cost control, efficiency gains, and long-term resource planning. The Senior Planner also mentors junior team members and supports broader operational initiatives.

Primary Job Responsibilities:

• Lead planning for all projects by maintaining the Master Capacity Planner (MCP) and developing the master production schedule.
• Convert production schedule into time-phased loads by department while balancing machine hours, crews, shifts, and overtime to minimize changeovers, bottlenecks, and costs while keeping jobs on time. 
• Develop and maintain a rolling production forecast integrating sales pipeline data, upcoming campaigns, and recurring program patterns.
• Use the SIOP process with a 45-day view to analyze material needs based on forecasted demand and coordinate with Purchasing and Warehouse to ensure availability.
• Collaborate across functional teams to resolve schedule conflicts, improve throughput, and support KPIs.
• Analyze labor, equipment, and material costs to support operational decision-making.
• Coach and mentor production planners; standardize planning processes where possible.
• Provide reporting on performance metrics, schedule adherence, and improvement opportunities to senior leadership.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in operations management, business administration, or related field; or equivalent work experience in lieu of a degree.
• 5 years of experience in production planning, with demonstrated leadership or high-level planning responsibilities.
• Prior experience in printing, direct mail, or manufacturing highly preferred.
• Advanced planning and organizational skills with a strategic, forward-thinking approach.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Deep experience with ERP systems and operational reporting tools.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, capable of effectively communicating with diverse teams and stakeholders.
• Proven track record of managing complex workflows and tight deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Solid understanding of business dynamics and customer needs.

JO is an equal employment opportunity employer. All employees and applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance.

The pay range listed reflects typical compensation based on market data, generally between the 25th and 75th percentile for similar roles. Where you land within that range depends on your experience, skills, and qualifications. Our recruiters will keep you in the loop throughout the process, so you know where you stand. We’re committed to fair and open conversations every step of the way.

Salary : $86,000 - $108,000