Senior Operational Planner

ASML•San Diego, CA

12d•Onsite

About The Position

The Sr. Operational Planner is responsible for planning, coordinating, and optimizing production activities across one or multiple work centers. This role ensures alignment with Planning & Delivery (P&D) requirements while balancing capacity, material availability, and operational constraints to meet delivery and business objectives. The Senior Operational Planner drives cross-functional alignment, and plays a key role in improving planning processes, tools, and performance. Close collaboration with Procurement, Manufacturing, Engineering, P&D, Program Management, and Quality is essential. This is an on-site role, Monday through Friday, with regular presence required in production and cleanroom environments to support operations, drive decisions, and enable issue resolution.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Logistics, Business, Production Management, Engineering, or a related field.
Minimum 4–6 years of experience in production planning, supply chain, or logistics in a manufacturing environment.
Strong experience working with ERP systems (Oracle preferred) and understanding of data structures impacting planning.
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel, including: XLOOKUP, Advanced Pivot Tables and data modeling, Data analysis, scenario modeling, and reporting automation.
Deep understanding of production planning concepts: MRP, capacity planning, demand/supply balancing, Lean Manufacturing, Kanban, and JIT.
Proven experience driving process improvements, data accuracy initiatives, or cost/efficiency optimization projects.
Experience working in a cross-functional, fast-paced manufacturing environment with competing priorities.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to translate data into actionable decisions.
Excellent communication and influencing skills across multiple organizational levels.
Ability to work independently with limited supervision while managing complex planning scenarios.
Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration capabilities.
High level of ownership, accountability, and decision-making within scope.
Ability to prioritize strategically and manage multiple high-impact topics simultaneously.
Proactive, structured, and solution-oriented mindset.
Adaptability and willingness to lead through ambiguity and change.
Ability to rapidly learn and apply new systems, tools, and processes.

Nice To Haves

APICS CPIM or CSCP certification strongly preferred.
Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Spotfire, Power BI) is a plus.

Responsibilities

Own and manage the end-to-end production plan for assigned scope, ensuring alignment with MRP requirements, capacity constraints, and customer delivery commitments.
Plan, monitor, and optimize production work orders across multiple work centers to improve WIP flow, cycle time, and inventory balance.
Lead production review meetings and actively drive discussions on build status, constraints, and recovery planning.
Proactively identify risks related to material shortages, capacity gaps, or schedule instability, and lead mitigation strategies across functions.
Drive prioritization and allocation decisions by performing advanced impact analysis and providing clear recommendations to stakeholders.
Ensure material readiness and coordinate closely with Procurement and Materials teams to mitigate supply chain risks.
Lead implementation of engineering changes, including planning for scrap, rework, and logistical coordination while minimizing operational disruption.
Develop, maintain, and automate advanced reporting and dashboards (Excel, BI tools) to improve visibility on capacity, material, and delivery performance.
Act as a key point of contact for escalations related to planning, ensuring timely resolution and clear communication to stakeholders and management.
Identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives (process, system, or data quality) to enhance planning efficiency and accuracy.
Mentor and support junior planners, providing guidance on planning strategies, tools, and problem-solving approaches.
Lead or support cross-functional projects related to capacity planning, system improvements, or operational excellence initiatives.
Present insights, risks, and recommendations to management with clear, data-driven narratives.
Perform other duties as assigned.