Materials Planning Manager

The Materials & Planning Manager leads all production planning, materials management, and material‑flow activities for Regal Rexnord’s Downers Grove, IL plant. This role manages a team of planners, owns master scheduling and capacity‑based planning, and ensures the seamless coordination of demand, supply, and manufacturing capacity to meet customer commitments. The manager establishes strategy and standard work for planning processes, governs ERP parameters, and partners cross‑functionally with Operations, Procurement, Quality, Engineering, Customer Service, and Finance to achieve site targets for OTD, revenue, cost, inventory turns, and schedule adherence. Success requires deep theoretical and hands‑on planning expertise, strong people leadership, and demonstrated ability to improve flow, data integrity, and decision velocity in a dynamic aerospace manufacturing environment. Success in this role requires expert‑level analytical and ERP capabilities, strong business acumen, and the ability to influence and lead cross‑functional teams. The Materials & Planning Manager drives continuous improvement, leads major initiatives, mentors direct reports, and shapes planning policies, standards, and long‑term operational strategies.

This position is in-person located in Downers Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

Key Accountabilities

• Production Planning & Scheduling
• Own and enhance all production planning and scheduling processes to ensure standard work is documented and executed by direct reports
• Drive metric ownership for OTD, plan attainment, schedule adherence, revenue/cost objectives, inventory turns, and past‑due reduction
• Lead daily/weekly tier meetings to ensure scheduling actions are understood, executed, and documented
• Lead SIOP discussions on capacity constraints, forecast variability, and demand changes and translate outcomes into executable build plans
• Analyze backlog and create an achievable monthly shipment plan; communicate risks and trade‑offs to site leadership and commercial teams
• Own the Master Production Schedule and Capacity‑Based Planning process to ensure level loading and viable capacity plans

• Data Management & Reporting
• Generate reports and dashboards to communicate material constraints, planning metrics, and order status
• Lead system enhancements, process digitization, and reporting/visualization (e.g., KPI dashboards) to improve planning reliability and decision making
• Design and deploy automated inventory practices: E&O analysis, MRP parameter health checks, and routine optimization of lead times, order quantities, and safety stocks
• Develop advanced analytical tools, dashboards, and data models that support executive‑level visibility and strategic decision‑making

• Risk Identification & Escalation
• Serve as primary escalation point for high‑priority orders and long‑lead items; align recovery plans across Operations and Customer Service
• Identify chronic planning or scheduling issues and develop sustainable corrective actions

• Continuous Improvement
• Lead kaizen events, value‑stream mapping, and material flow optimization projects
• Lead multi‑value stream continuous improvement initiatives focused on scheduling optimization, material flow, and process standardization
• Ensure strict adherence to quality and safety requirements while supporting 6S deployment and sustainment

• Leadership & Organizational Development
• Provide day‑to‑day leadership for planners and materials team members by setting targets, cascading goals, conducting performance reviews, and building career development plans
• Serve as a subject‑matter resource for junior planners and provide training on planning processes, ERP navigation, and data best practices

• Strategic Planning & Cross‑Functional Alignment
• Partner with Engineering and Operations in long-term capacity planning, equipment justification, and footprint optimization
• Manage labor planning and work schedules to flex and rebalance manpower across departments to maintain material flow and schedule adherence

Job Requirements:

• Restrictions imposed by federal export control laws may limit this job opportunity to candidates who are a ‘U.S. Person’, which includes U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. permanent residents, individuals granted asylum in the United States, and refugees in the United States, or who otherwise can qualify for a license that permits them to hold the position
• Bachelor’s degree (preferably Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, or a related technical field)
• Minimum 8 years of relevant experience in manufacturing, supply chain, or MRP/ERP environments (preferably in a high mix, low volume industry)
• Minimum 3 years of people leadership in a warehouse or manufacturing environment (leading hourly and salaried associates)
• Inventory management or materials planning experience with multiple ERP/MRP systems (SAP, Oracle, Infor, Microsoft Dynamics, etc.)
• Experience leading SIOP processes, capacity planning, and forecasting fundamentals
• Demonstrated success improving OTD and inventory turns, reducing past due, and stabilizing planning parameters
• Expert-level proficiency in Excel (lookups, pivot tables, basic analysis), data modeling, and analytical tools
• Strong analytical skills and demonstrated ability to troubleshoot complex scheduling or inventory problems
• Deep understanding of lean methodologies, root‑cause analysis (e.g., 5‑Why, Fishbone), and continuous improvement tools
• Extensive experience leading cross-functional teams, driving complex problem resolution, and presenting over to leadership
• Ability to meet moderate physical demands (frequent handling of average‑weight material; occasional heavy items) in support of Gemba/warehouse engagement

Preferred Qualifications:

• APICS / ASCM certification (CPIM or CSCP) or progress toward certification is a plus
• Experience managing multiple product lines or complex, multi‑stage manufacturing environments is a plus
• Experience in aerospace or other highly regulated manufacturing environments is a plus
• Familiarity with APS tools, digital planning technologies, or automation solutions is a plus
• Experience with experience with BI tools is a plus

Compensation Details:

$115,000 - $140,000

The salary range provided is intended to display the value of the company's base pay compensation for all statewide locations across the United States. Salary is dependent on a multitude of factors, including but not limited to the physical worksite location, candidate's skill set, level of experience, education and internal peer compensation comparisons.

Compensation and Benefits:

In addition to gaining invaluable experience and having the opportunity to create a legacy, the dynamic leader we seek will be rewarded with:

• Competitive Base Salary
• Matching 401(k) contribution
• Comprehensive benefits package including:
• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Short- and Long-Term Disability insurance
• Life, Critical Illness, and Accident insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical and Dependent Care)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Educational reimbursement