Planning Manager

Carrier • Athens, GA

12d • $96,000 - $192,000

About The Position

The Planning Manager is responsible for leading the end-to-end material planning organization to ensure uninterrupted material flow that supports production schedules, customer commitments, inventory objectives, and business performance. This role provides leadership for Material Planners, Supplier Readiness/Expediting, and Materials Risk Management while driving excellence in MRP execution, supplier performance, supply assurance, planning processes, and risk mitigation.

Requirements

• Materials Planning and MRP expertise
• Supply Chain Risk Management
• Supplier Performance Management
• Inventory Management
• Data Analytics and KPI Management
• ERP/MRP System Knowledge
• Cross-Functional Leadership
• Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Strategic Thinking
• Operational Execution
• Team Development
• Change Leadership
• Continuous Improvement
• Customer Focus
• Accountability
• Bachelor's degree
• 7+ years of materials, warehouse, logistics, or supply chain experience
• 3+ years of experience influencing teams through reporting and risk management, with hands-on expertise in inventory management, transportation, lean operations, and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Logistics, Operations
• Experience working in a manufacturing/industrial environment
• Lean Six Sigma experience or certification
• Experience with Windchill, JDE, or LeanDNA

Responsibilities

• Lead the material planning organization to ensure uninterrupted supply of purchased materials.
• Drive execution of MRP, replenishment processes, and purchase order management.
• Establish planning standards, governance, and work processes across all planners.
• Ensure alignment between SIOP, MPS, MRP, Clear-to-Build, S&OE, and production execution.
• Lead shortage management activities and drive proactive recovery plans.
• Monitor material availability and escalate risks before production impact occurs.
• Lead supplier readiness and expediting activities for critical materials.
• Oversee high-risk supplier escalations and recovery actions.
• Drive supplier commitment management, past-due PO recovery, and shipment visibility.
• Coordinate cross-functional actions to resolve supply constraints.
• Reduce premium freight through proactive supplier management and planning discipline.
• Own enterprise visibility to constrained materials, long lead-time parts, and supply chain risks.
• Establish risk identification processes and mitigation strategies.
• Drive reporting and communication of supply risks to leadership.
• Ensure contingency plans are developed and executed for critical shortages.
• Monitor supplier lead time variability and global supply chain disruptions.
• Balance inventory levels with service requirements and working capital objectives.
• Partner with Inventory Control to improve inventory health and accuracy.
• Drive reduction of excess, obsolete, and slow-moving inventory through planning actions.
• Ensure planning decisions support inventory turns and supply chain optimization.
• Lead planning activities supporting service level and production goals.
• Partner with Manufacturing, Operations, Procurement, Logistics, Engineering, and Program Management.
• Lead planning support for launch activities, schedule changes, customer demand shifts, and recovery plans.
• Facilitate planning discussions within S&OE and operational review forums.
• Provide planning recommendations that balance demand, supply, capacity, and inventory objectives.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across planning processes and systems.
• Lead and develop Material Planners, Supplier Readiness/Expediting Lead, and Materials Risk Analyst.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability measures.
• Develop team capabilities in planning, analytics, supplier management, and risk mitigation.
• Build succession plans and support career development.
• Foster a culture of safety, ownership, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.

Benefits

• Health Care Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision; Wellness incentives
• Retirement Benefits
• Time off and Leave: Paid vacation days, up to 15 days; paid sick days, up to 5 days; paid personal leave, up to 5 days; paid holidays, up to 13 days; birth and adoption leave; parental leave; family and medical leave; bereavement leave; jury duty leave; military leave; purchased vacation
• Disability: Short-term and long-term disability
• Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment
• Tax-Advantaged Accounts: Health Savings Account; Health Care Spending Account; Dependent Care Spending Account
• Tuition Assistance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager