Master Planner

Master Planner Department: Operations Reports To: Director of Operations Classification: Full-Time, Exempt Salary Range: $85,000$100,000 Position Summary The Materials & Planning Manager is responsible for overseeing the company's materials planning, purchasing, inventory management, and production planning functions to ensure that materials and resources are available to support customer demand and production requirements. This position develops and maintains the master production schedule, oversees purchasing activities, manages inventory levels, coordinates supplier relationships, and works closely with Production, Sales, Engineering, Quality, Warehouse, and Finance to ensure the efficient flow of materials throughout the organization. The Materials & Planning Manager provides leadership and direction to the Purchasing & Planning Coordinator and is responsible for establishing priorities, monitoring performance, resolving material and scheduling issues, and continuously improving the company's planning and purchasing processes. Essential Responsibilities Production Planning & Scheduling Develop, maintain, and communicate the master production schedule based on customer demand, inventory levels, production capacity, material availability, and established priorities. Coordinate production requirements with Production Management to ensure schedules are realistic and achievable. Review customer orders, forecasts, backlog, inventory, and production capacity to establish appropriate production priorities. Identify potential production constraints and develop solutions before they affect customer deliveries. Materials Planning & MRP Oversee material requirements planning and ensure materials are available when needed for production. Review MRP reports and planning recommendations and make appropriate adjustments based on business requirements. Establish and maintain appropriate lead times, reorder points, minimum/maximum quantities, safety stock, and other planning parameters. Monitor material availability and identify potential shortages or supply risks. Coordinate with Production and Warehouse to ensure material requirements are understood and addressed. Inventory Management Establish and monitor inventory targets to support production while minimizing excess inventory. Monitor inventory accuracy and work with Warehouse and Accounting to resolve discrepancies. Review slow-moving, excess, and obsolete inventory and recommend appropriate actions. Support cycle-counting and inventory-control programs. Leadership & Supervision Supervise, train, and develop the Purchasing & Planning Coordinator. Establish daily and weekly priorities and assign work based on business needs. Monitor employee performance and provide regular feedback and coaching. Conduct performance reviews and address performance issues in accordance with company policies. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business, Operations, Manufacturing, or a related field preferred. 5+ years of experience in materials management, production planning, purchasing, supply chain, or a related manufacturing environment. Previous supervisory or management experience preferred. Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems and manufacturing planning processes. Experience developing and maintaining master production schedules. Strong understanding of inventory management and purchasing practices. Experience managing supplier relationships and resolving delivery issues. Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills. Excellent organizational and time-management skills. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. Ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments.