Full Job Description
Planning & Control Manager
Position Overview
We are seeking a highly accountable, detail-oriented leader to mentor and develop our team of Customer Account Managers while overseeing critical business forecasting, enterprise project reviews, and cost analysis. This leader will serve as the central coordinator for cross-functional project flow, customer alignment, planning and scheduling performance, and enterprise-level program management standards.
This position is a strategic role responsible for synchronizing operations, customer requirements, planning teams, cost analysts, and business forecasting. The ideal candidate demonstrates exceptional organizational leadership, clear communication, strong analytical capability, and the discipline to manage complex multi-team workflows while driving accountability across all departments.
This position ensures the company maintains disciplined project flow, accurate forecasting, robust cost control, and consistently high customer satisfaction. They anchor critical business operations and provide oversight that ensures work moves efficiently from customer demand through manufacturing and delivery. Their leadership is essential to maintaining enterprise alignment, financial accuracy, and operational readiness.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership of Customer Account Managers (CAMs)
Manage and develop a team of CAMs who serve as the primary interface with customers.
• Ensure the team effectively:
o Expedites internal activities to meet customer expectations.
o Validates system data for accuracy in scheduling, forecasting, and production flow.
o Drives product flow and overall project lifecycle for their assigned customers.
• Provide coaching, performance expectations, and structured feedback to elevate execution standards across the team.
• Maintain alignment with Project Management Office expectations and enterprise practices outlined by the company
Facility Forecast Maintenance
• Own and manage the monthly business forecast including:
o Order lines planned for shipment.
o Revenue & Invoicing forecasts and monitoring performance.
• Deliver timely reporting of forecast accuracy, risk conditions, recovery plans, and contributing drivers.
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Finance, and Scheduling to ensure forecast integrity.
• Align forecast outputs with PMR review expectations.
Planning & Scheduling Team Leadership
• Lead the Planning & Scheduling Team, responsible for:
o Product releases and work order routing.
o Coordination of manufacturing schedules across multiple departments.
o ERP system updates and accuracy.
o Printing and distribution of release packages.
• Maintain a disciplined scheduling cadence that ensures product flow remains optimized across all cost centers as well as development projects.
• Drive high standards of ERP data integrity and timely schedule updates.
Financial Performance Oversight
• Oversee facility's PMO, including:
o Project reviews covering cycles for project health, schedule, and margin tracking, as required.
o EAC (Estimate at Completion) reviews to validate actual cost, forecast cost, and future-state production costing.
• Manage the team responsible for cost build-ups using:
o Historical reported costing.
o Current production costing.
o Improved future-state assumptions.
• Facilitate regular review meetings:
o Monitor EAC performance.
o Direct margin adjustments when necessary.
o Summarize and report out findings to leadership.
• Ensure all cost studies meet expectations and support enterprise financial accuracy.
Critical Path Management & Cross-Functional Flow
• Monitor critical path items daily and work to resolve challenges impeding schedule, customer delivery, or production flow.
• Partner across departments including Operations, Engineering, Quality, Scheduling, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure flow continuity.
• Provide clear communication, rapid escalation when required, and direct problem-solving leadership.
Qualifications & Competencies
Required Skills
• Proven leadership experience managing Project Managers or similar customer-facing technical teams.
• Strong analytical skills with experience in forecasting, cost management, or program financials.
• Proficiency in ERP systems, production scheduling, and cross-department coordination.
• Exceptional verbal communication skills; able to lead meetings, deliver clear direction, and present forecast or cost data confidently.
• Highly organized, capable of managing multiple workstreams and tight deadlines.
• Comfortable driving accountability and maintaining high standards across multiple functions.
Personal Traits
• Strong ownership mindset: takes responsibility for both team performance and business results.
• Structured, disciplined, and attentive to detail in managing large volumes of data, deadlines, and cross-functional actions.
• Collaborative but assertive - able to challenge teams appropriately to ensure commitments are met.
• Forward-thinking and able to anticipate scheduling issues, customer needs, and cost drivers.
Preferred Experience
• Experience with PMO structures, project reviews (PMR/MOR), cost forecasting, and EAC management.
• Prior experience leading scheduling or planning teams preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of defense, heavy industrial, or engineered-to-order production.
• Familiarity with PMO tools, KPIs, and cross-functional review processes.
Note: This position requires access or potential access to Unclassified Naval Nuclear Propulsion Information, which is Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals (NOFORN) data. Therefore, to meet NOFORN requirement, you will have to provide proof of US Citizenship and attest that you do not have dual citizenship. Acceptable proof of US Citizenship is a US Passport, US Birth Certificate or Naturalization Certificate.
This specification is intended to indicate the kinds of tasks and levels of work difficulty that will be required of positions that will be given this title and shall not be construed as declaring what the specific duties and responsibilities of any particular position shall be. It is not intended to limit or in any way modify the right of any supervisor to assign, direct, and control the work of employees under his/her supervision. Ability to competently perform all the essential duties of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation, demonstrated commitment to effective customer service delivery, and the ability to work productively as a member of a team or work group are basic requirements of all positions at Fairbanks Morse Defense
Fairbanks Morse Defense offers a competitive benefits package including but not limited to, medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurances, and 401k retirement plan with employer match. In addition, we offer paid time off, paid holidays, paid parental leave, and tuition reimbursement.
