Manager, Planning

Curtiss-Wright Corporation

11d•$145,000 - $160,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Planning is responsible for leading the production planning function to ensure alignment between customer demand, manufacturing capacity, material availability, and inventory objectives. This role establishes planning strategy, owns the Master Production Schedule (MPS), and ensures disciplined execution of planning processes that support on-time delivery, inventory optimization, and business performance. The Manager, Planning provides leadership to the Planning team, and works cross-functionally with Operations, Program Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Sales, and Quality. The role ensures planning decisions support both customer commitments and internal efficiency while enabling continuous improvement and organizational maturity. Establishes and maintains positive working relationships within assigned teams and with all departments. Responsible for maintaining correct inventory levels to meet customer demand requirements with added measure to maintain inventory to support a Build to Stock (B2S) program managed by the Standard Product Program Manager (SPPM). This position will spend 50% or more of the time on the floor smoothening out production plans, work center capacity/loads, optimizing inventory allocations, prioritizing incoming inspections, assembly inspections, stockroom picking and external parts supply to ensure sustainability to production plan adherence. ESCO offers a 4/40 work schedule (M – Thu) along with normal option of 5/40 schedule (M – Fri). This role is fully on-site at the Aston, PA facility.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Industrial/Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field (preferred).
7–10+ years of progressive experience in production planning, master scheduling, or supply chain roles within a manufacturing environment.
Prior experience leading or managing planning teams.
Advanced knowledge of production planning, master scheduling, MRP, and capacity planning.
Strong ERP experience (e.g., Syteline, Infor M3, or equivalent).
Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills; able to interpret complex planning data and trade-offs.
Strong leadership, coaching, and team development capabilities.
Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive alignment without direct authority.
Strong communication skills (written, verbal, and presentation).
Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement mindset.
Ability to balance customer service, operational efficiency, and working capital objectives.
Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, routings, work centers, and material flow.
This position requires that the person must have an ability to think ahead and plan over a 6-12 months planning horizon with high consistency.
This position requires that the person be a highly organized individual.
Must be able to manage multiple tasks and/or priorities and easily adapt to changing situations.
Technical skills in manufacturing processes and methods including flow, layout, assembly and production equipment.
Extensive knowledge of Planning concepts, manufacturing capacity, work center routing & Capacity Planning, various assembly products, production standards and efficiency optimization tools is desirable to function efficiently in the position.
Person must possess strong analytical skills, data evaluations and interpretations and demonstrated focus on Planning control process and Lean Manufacturing concepts.
Experienced in developing planning policies and work center structure in ERP systems.
Excellent computer skills; proficient in analytical tools, proficient in Microsoft Excel, Power Point and Word.
Must have the ability to learn new software quickly and teach others.
Must be a US Citizen.

Nice To Haves

APICS/ASCM CPIM or CSCP certification preferred.
Experience working in an engineered-to-order and/or mixed make-to-order / built-to-stock environment preferred.

Responsibilities

Own and lead the development, maintenance, and governance of the Master Production Schedule (MPS).
Establish short- and long-range production planning strategies (weekly, monthly, and 6–12-month horizons).
Align capacity plans, staffing strategies, and inventory targets with business objectives and demand forecasts.
Lead planning input into Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and execution review meetings.
Ensure planning processes effectively support both Make-to-Order programs and Built-to-Stock (B2S) programs managed by the Standard Product Program Manager (SPPM).
Engage in processing ECO’s, releasing Rework mo’s for various projects, represents planning participation in DMR/MDR process, represents planning participation in daily GEMBA/production walk, represent planning in various projects run by Project managers.
Collaborate with the SPPM to ensure B2S demand, inventory targets, and monthly build plans are fully integrated into the MPS.
Define and monitor planning KPIs including schedule adherence, on-time delivery, inventory turns, capacity utilization, and working capital performance.
Oversee ERP/MRP planning parameters, policies, and system discipline to ensure data integrity and effective planning outputs.
Lead cross-functional issue resolution related to capacity constraints, material shortages, schedule conflicts, and delivery risks.
Sponsor and prioritize continuous improvement initiatives focused on planning accuracy, material flow, scheduling effectiveness, and ERP utilization.
Develop, coach, and evaluate planning team members; establish training plans and performance expectations.
Communicate planning performance, risks, and opportunities to operations leadership and executive stakeholders.