Manager, Material, Planning & Forecasting

gategroup•Newark, NJ

8d•$90,000 - $95,000

About The Position

The Manager, Material, Planning & Forecasting improves forecasting, planning, and scheduling activities within the business unit using the ERP system. The role supports the hub or region through transparent controls that help units continuously improve material costs and ensure ERP processes are followed. It works cross-functionally with all departments to complete planning activities. The successful candidate is data-driven, detail-oriented, able to turn data into information for business decisions, and comfortable leading performance and opportunity discussions with peers and management. The position supports multiple units and reports directly to the Director, Supply Chain. It has 0–10 direct reports and is exempt. The role is based in a front office and also requires work on the operations floor, with 10% travel. The position is full-time.

Requirements

At least 3 years of work experience in a lean manufacturing environment, preferably in data management, operational planning, information systems, operational KPI follow-up, or finance controlling.
APICS Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM).
Advanced knowledge of Excel, Word, Outlook, Access, and SharePoint.
Good knowledge of ERP systems and their basic functionality.
Sound knowledge of production planning, labor planning, standard costing, and daily reporting.
Very good knowledge of lean manufacturing environments.
Ability to work autonomously and under pressure with tight deadlines.
Strong communication skills.
Staff planning and rostering skills.
Self-motivated and proactive.
Flexible, change-minded, and willing to learn and implement new processes and procedures.
Fluent written and spoken English.

Nice To Haves

A degree in Business or Economics, preferably focused on production planning.
Knowledge of a second language.

Responsibilities

Analyze historical volume trends and adjust the forecasting model.
Ensure ERP data is correct and work center assignments are complete.
Keep master production schedules and kitchen-ready times up to date.
Manage customer load factors in the ERP system.
Ensure unit staff complete material transfers and withdrawals.
Manage stowage functionality within the unit and serve as the unit’s ERP super user.
Train unit end users as needed.
Manage Supply Chain MRP to ensure data validity and transparency of material movement.
Support and optimize planning and controlling processes to help operations achieve KPI targets.
Revise medium-term Master Production Schedules to support effective labor and material planning.
Link operational organizations across regional units with the Operations Planning & Controlling team for planning and forecasting activities.
Support implementation of production and material-flow process changes, new business, and productivity improvements.
Develop and update material-flow policies and procedures, and assist with related training materials.
Partner with operations leaders to plan manpower adjustments in a seasonal business.
Validate process Standard Times and connect the data to efficiency improvement opportunities.
Generate, deploy, and maintain Master Production Schedules for all departments, including production boards and Operations Visual Information Systems.
Participate in menu and BOM review, validation, and correction.
Maintain a Customer Matrix for schedule and product-cycle change information.
Prepare data before cycle changes.
Generate and maintain material tagging and production guidelines.
Create daily work allocations and variable production schedules by work cell.
Generate material requisitions for each work cell every 90 minutes.
Support daily production-order generation.
Support the CI Team with standard workstation setup generation and maintenance.
Improve forecast accuracy.
Own daily OPC meetings covering forecast accuracy, customer changes, data management, and material management topics such as waste, yield, and over-portioning.
Validate and maintain weekly MIS data, including planned worker minutes and volumes.
Own the cycle-change key-event schedule.