Position Overview
Ultimate Staffing Services is actively seeking an experienced Production Planner to join their client's team in Newark, California. The Production Planner will be responsible for leading the end-to-end production planning, scheduling, and inventory management function within a high-mix manufacturing environment. This role will translate customer demand and forecasts into executable production and capacity plans while balancing service levels, operational constraints, and working capital objectives.
Responsibilities
- Own and continuously improve production planning, scheduling, and inventory control processes.
- Develop, maintain, and optimize daily, weekly, and monthly master production schedules against capacity.
- Establish and govern planning policies and parameters such as lead times, lot sizes, safety stock, and calendars.
- Translate customer demand and forecasts into executable production and capacity plans.
- Balance capacity, labor, equipment, and material constraints across operations.
- Identify, evaluate, and manage bottlenecks, constraints, and load leveling opportunities.
- Analyze and recommend actions related to overtime vs. outsourcing, make vs. buy decisions, and capacity expansion or shift changes.
- Prepare and present risks, trade-offs, and recommendations to plant and senior management.
- Own performance of raw material, WIP, and finished goods inventory.
- Drive inventory optimization aligned with working capital and cash targets.
- Partner with Procurement to manage supplier lead times, MOQs, and supply risks.
- Drive Lean, Kaizen, and system improvements in planning and production execution.
- Serve as the primary planning interface with Manufacturing, Sales, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, and Logistics.
- Support new product introductions (NPI) with capacity, material, and planning readiness.
- Ensure planning practices comply with quality systems, safety standards, and internal controls.
- Communicate plans clearly and effectively to shop floor teams and leadership.
- Perform other tasks as assigned by direct report.
Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Business, or related field. A Master's degree or professional certification is a plus.
Experience
- Eight to ten years of experience in production planning, manufacturing, or supply chain within packaging, manufacturing, or engineered products.
- Strong experience working with technical and engineering teams. Knowledge of packaging materials is seen as a plus.
- Able to work with others both inside the company and with suppliers.
- Ability to work on a variety of demands simultaneously.
Languages
- Fluent in English.
- Ability to communicate well with others through written and verbal skills.
- Able to make effective and persuasive presentations in various situations.
Skills and Competences
- Able to make effective and persuasive presentations to employee groups and management.
- Ability to respond under pressure situations with clear and decisive action.
Required Work Hours
Monday - Friday, 1st Shift
Benefits
The position offers a competitive salary range of $80,000 to $100,000 per year, commensurate with experience and qualifications.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, age, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, or military or veteran status. We consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with state and local laws, including the California Fair Chance Act, City of Los Angeles' Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.