Plant Production Planner

Jennmar•Richmond, VA

25d•Onsite

About The Position

The Production Planner owns the plant production planning and scheduling process to support the safe, efficient, and timely execution of manufacturing operations. The role establishes production priorities, balances plant capacity, allocates resources, and resolves operational challenges affecting quality, productivity, inventory, and customer commitments. As the primary liaison among cross-functional teams, the planner provides operational leadership over production readiness and ensures materials, equipment, and documentation are aligned with manufacturing objectives. The role is accountable for production schedule integrity and partners with onsite department managers to optimize site performance. The position works in a heavy industrial manufacturing environment, with exposure to dust, noise, extreme temperatures, and moving machinery. Work may take place indoors or outdoors and may occasionally involve confined spaces or elevated areas. Required personal protective equipment includes a hard hat, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, and steel-toe boots.

Requirements

Associate degree in Operations Management, Manufacturing, Engineering Technology, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent manufacturing experience is considered.
Five or more years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, production planning, scheduling, supply chain, precast concrete manufacturing, or a related industrial environment.
Demonstrated ability to independently manage production schedules and make operational decisions in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Strong understanding of production planning methodologies, capacity planning, inventory control, and manufacturing workflows.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office, particularly Excel and Outlook.
Experience using ERP, MRP, production scheduling, and inventory management systems.
Ability to interpret production drawings, manufacturing documentation, and technical specifications.
Ability to pass pre-employment drug/alcohol screening and background check.

Nice To Haves

Knowledge of precast concrete manufacturing processes.
Continuous improvement experience, such as Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.

Responsibilities

Own the plant production planning and scheduling process, aligning manufacturing activities with customer commitments, plant capacity, and business objectives.
Establish production priorities and sequencing based on labor availability, equipment capacity, material readiness, quality requirements, and delivery schedules.
Make day-to-day operational decisions about production schedules, resource allocation, and workflow adjustments to maximize efficiency and on-time delivery.
Lead production planning and backlog review meetings to align onsite cross-functional teams.
Verify that drawings, approvals, materials, tooling, labor resources, and documentation are in place before manufacturing begins.
Identify production constraints and operational risks, implement corrective actions within the role’s scope, and escalate issues requiring broader leadership involvement.
Procure project-specific materials, components, and supplies, coordinating with vendors and internal stakeholders to support the production schedule.
Develop, maintain, and adjust production schedules to optimize plant capacity, meet customer commitments, and respond to changing priorities.
Communicate production priorities, schedule changes, operational risks, and recovery plans to plant leadership and cross-functional stakeholders.
Partner with Plant Management to develop capacity plans, improve operational performance, and optimize production efficiency.
Identify and lead process improvements in production planning, scheduling accuracy, inventory management, throughput, and on-time delivery.
Recommend and implement process improvements that strengthen operational performance, standardize planning practices, and support business objectives.