Production Planner

Black Bear Talent is seeking a Production Planner for our client in Harrisonburg. This is a direct hire position responsible for planning, scheduling, and coordinating production activities to ensure the efficient utilization of manufacturing resources, the availability of raw materials, and the achievement of production targets.

This role works closely with the Production, Procurement, Logistics, and Supply Chain teams to optimize inventory levels, maintain uninterrupted production flow, and support customer service objectives in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate will possess strong analytical skills, the ability to manage multiple priorities, and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain daily, weekly, and monthly production schedules based on customer demand, production capacity, and material availability.
• Plan and schedule production lines to maximize efficiency while meeting quality, safety, and delivery requirements.
• Manage raw material, packaging, and finished goods inventory to maintain optimal stock levels.
• Monitor inventory levels and recommend actions to prevent shortages, excess stock, and production disruptions.
• Operate and maintain MRP processes to ensure accurate material planning.
• Utilize Microsoft Excel as the primary planning and MRP support tool, maintaining planning models, reports, and production schedules.
• Collaborate closely with Procurement, Warehouse, and Production departments to ensure timely material availability.
• Monitor production progress, identify scheduling constraints or bottlenecks, and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Analyze production performance and inventory data, providing reports and recommendations to improve planning accuracy and operational efficiency.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing planning processes, inventory management, and production performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
• Previous experience in Production Planning, Supply Chain, or Manufacturing Planning, preferably within the food manufacturing industry.
• Strong knowledge of inventory management and supply chain processes.
• Experience working with Material Requirements Planning (MRP) systems.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including formulas, PivotTables, data analysis, and reporting.
• Experience in production scheduling within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational and time management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic production environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Microsoft Dynamics, Oracle, or similar).
• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Familiarity with food industry regulations, quality standards, and traceability requirements.

At Black Bear Talent we’re not just about filling a space. We partner with you to find the right fill for your needs. Our number one goal is to find you the career candidate and building the relationship with the employer as your trusted source for staffing and direct hires