The Sr Program Planner is responsible for leading production planning activities for complex customer programs by developing and maintaining executable manufacturing plans that optimize material availability, production capacity, inventory performance, and on-time delivery. This role serves as the planning subject matter expert for assigned programs, providing technical leadership in production readiness, capacity planning, New Product Introduction (NPI), engineering change implementation, schedule optimization, and recovery planning.
Working collaboratively with Master Scheduling, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Production Control, and Program Management, the Senior Program Planner develops planning strategies that balance customer demand, manufacturing capacity, material availability, and factory execution conditions while supporting operational efficiency, customer commitments, and continuous improvement.
Essential Functions:- Lead production planning activities for assigned customer programs by developing and maintaining executable manufacturing plans that support customer commitments and operational objectives.
- Analyze Material Requirements Planning (MRP) recommendations, approved demand requirements, capacity constraints, inventory levels, and material availability to optimize production planning and manufacturing readiness.
- Evaluate production capacity, WIP status, inventory conditions, and material constraints to identify planning risks and develop recovery recommendations that minimize disruption to production schedules.
- Coordinate planning activities for New Product Introduction (NPI), engineering changes, product transfers, and manufacturing readiness to support successful product launches and transitions.
- Collaborate with Purchasing, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Production Control, and Program Management to resolve complex material shortages, scheduling conflicts, and production constraints affecting the production plan.
- Analyze Bills of Material (BOMs), engineering documentation, planning parameters, and demand changes to ensure accurate production planning, material readiness, and schedule alignment.
- Review production performance, schedule attainment, inventory utilization, WIP status, and execution constraints to identify planning impacts and recommend corrective actions or plan adjustments.
- Lead planning activities for critical customer requirements, material shortages, changing priorities, and schedule recovery by developing planning scenarios, recommended priorities, and recovery options.
- Generate and communicate production planning reports, schedule forecasts, capacity analyses, inventory assessments, and operational performance metrics to support management decision-making.
- Serve as the planning subject matter expert by mentoring Program Planners, providing technical guidance, and supporting cross-functional planning initiatives.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on production planning, schedule adherence, inventory optimization, ERP/MRP effectiveness, planning accuracy, and manufacturing efficiency.
- Ensure planning activities align with organizational procedures, customer requirements, engineering documentation, and established manufacturing processes.
Competencies:- Advanced Production Planning: Ability to lead production planning activities for complex customer programs while balancing customer demand, material availability, manufacturing capacity, and operational requirements.
- Master Scheduling: Ability to support Master Production Schedule (MPS) execution by aligning program planning requirements with established production priorities and capacity constraints.
- Material Requirements Planning (MRP): Ability to analyze and optimize MRP recommendations, planning parameters, and material requirements to support production continuity.
- Capacity Planning: Ability to evaluate manufacturing capacity, resource availability, and operational constraints to develop executable production plans and identify planning risks.
- Production Execution Alignment: Ability to evaluate production status, WIP, schedule attainment, and manufacturing constraints and incorporate execution conditions into planning decisions and recovery recommendations.
- Demand Analysis: Ability to analyze approved customer demand, forecast requirements, and priority changes to assess production and schedule impacts.
- Bills of Material (BOM) Management: Ability to analyze BOM structures, engineering documentation, and planning parameters that support accurate production planning and manufacturing readiness.
- Supply Chain Analytics: Ability to analyze planning performance, operational metrics, inventory trends, and manufacturing data to support informed decision-making.
- Inventory Strategy: Ability to evaluate inventory requirements, improve inventory utilization, identify excess inventory risk, and support production continuity.
- Problem Solving: Ability to identify complex planning issues, evaluate operational impacts, and develop effective planning solutions and recovery strategies.
- Technical Leadership: Ability to mentor Program Planners, provide technical guidance, and serve as a planning subject matter expert for assigned programs and cross-functional initiatives.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with Master Scheduling, Purchasing, Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Production Control, Program Management, and Supply Chain to achieve planning objectives.
- Continuous Improvement: Ability to lead initiatives that improve production planning, schedule adherence, ERP/MRP effectiveness, inventory optimization, planning accuracy, and manufacturing efficiency.
- Technical Proficiency: Advanced proficiency using ERP/MRP systems, Microsoft Office applications, planning software, production reporting tools, and Microsoft Excel.
Qualifications: - Education:
- Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Business Administration, Operations Management, Logistics, Industrial Engineering, or a related field preferred.
- Certifications:
- ASCM Certified in Planning and Inventory Management (CPIM), preferred
- ASCM Certified Supply Chain Professional (CSCP), preferred
- Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, preferred
- Experience:
- Minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in production planning, master scheduling, materials planning, production control, or supply chain planning within a manufacturing environment.
- Electronics Manufacturing Services (EMS) experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated experience supporting complex manufacturing programs, New Product Introduction (NPI), engineering change implementation, and production scheduling.
- Advanced experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems for production planning, capacity planning, and material management.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, Bills of Material (BOMs), work order management, inventory planning, and capacity planning.
- Demonstrated ability to analyze production data, identify operational risks, and develop effective planning solutions.
- Proven ability to mentor planning personnel and support cross-functional planning initiatives.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Microsoft Office applications.
Physical Requirements:- Ability to stand and/or walk for extended periods during the work shift.
- Ability to sit for extended periods while performing computer-based work.
- Ability to use a computer, keyboard, mouse, telephone, and other office equipment for prolonged periods.
- Ability to communicate effectively in person, by telephone, and through electronic communication methods.
- Ability to occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, and lift office materials up to 25 pounds.
- Ability to visually review documents, reports, spreadsheets, and computer displays with or without corrective lenses.
- Ability to move throughout office and production areas as business needs require.
- Ability to wear and properly utilize required personal protective equipment (PPE) and ESD protection devices.
Mental Requirements:- The employee is required to exercise sound judgment, analytical thinking, and problem-solving skills in a professional business environment.
- The role requires the ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities, manage competing deadlines, interpret and analyze information, and make decisions consistent with organizational objectives.
- Employees must effectively communicate with internal and external stakeholders, maintain confidentiality where appropriate, and adapt to changing business needs.
- The position requires sustained concentration, attention to detail, and the ability to work independently while maintaining productivity and accuracy.
Work Environment: - Work is performed in a combination of professional office, electronics manufacturing, remote, and travel-based environments.
- Responsibilities may require regular interaction with production areas, exposing employees to moderate noise levels, fluctuating temperatures, production equipment, soldering operations, automated machinery, and general manufacturing activity.
- Duties may involve extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, bending, computer-based work, and occasional lifting or movement of materials consistent with job responsibilities. Employees entering production or controlled areas are required to follow all environmental, safety, ESD, quality, and equipment-handling procedures, including the use of SMTC-provided ESD-safe items where applicable.
- The role also requires travel between company locations, customer sites, or other business-related destinations as needed, as well as the ability to maintain a safe and secure remote workspace with reliable internet access when working remotely.
- Employees must remain attentive and compliant with all operational, safety, quality, confidentiality, and company policy requirements across all work environments.
Travel: 0-10% of the time based on business needs.Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
