Production Planning Manager

DeKalb Health; Whitby; On-site; CAD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

ACR, based in Whitby, Ontario, is seeking a Production Planning Manager to lead site‑level planning, scheduling, purchasing, and inventory optimization. You will align demand, capacity, and materials while driving continuous improvement and schedule discipline across the plant.

Reporting to the Director of Operations, the role requires 3–5 years in manufacturing with Lean CI leadership, a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering or related field, and strong cross‑functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field preferred.
• 3 to 5 years of experience in manufacturing or operations with hands-on continuous improvement responsibility.
• Proven experience leading Lean or operational improvement initiatives in a plant environment.
• Experience working across multiple sites or supporting network-level initiatives preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Master Production Scheduling & Execution for the plant across short- and mid-term horizons (daily, weekly, monthly).
• Supply, Capacity & Demand Alignment with network planning strategies.
• Purchasing & Material Coordination to support the production schedule and manage inventory.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration between manufacturing, supply chain, commercial, and planning teams.
• Performance Management & Continuous Improvement through KPIs and process improvements.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Continuous improvement

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Leadership / coaching

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering or related field

Job description

• Location 125 Consumers Dr,Whitby, ON, L1N 1C4,Canada
• Base Pay $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 / Year
• Job Category Production Planning, Supply & Demand, Production Scheduling
• Employee Type FT Exempt

Description

Unbox Your Potential: Our customers see us as the industry Leader for trusted, high quality food service essentials and supply chain solutions – and our employees see the value in what they do each day. We’re looking for a Production Planning Manager – are you ready to explore your career with us?

The Production Planning Manager is responsible for planning within the local production facility including production planning, purchasing, and inventory planning. This role serves as the primary site-level owner of short and midterm planning, ensuring alignment between customer demand, available capacity, material supply, and operational constraints.

Reporting directly to the Director of Operations, the Production Planning Manager works closely with the Master Planning Manager (dotted line) to align site plans with network level supply, capacity, and demand strategies. This role is critical in balancing service, inventory, and asset utilization while driving schedule discipline and continuous improvement across the plant.

How you'll make an impact in this role:

Master Production Scheduling & Execution

• Accountable for activities related to production schedule for the plant across short- and mid-term horizons (daily, weekly, monthly).
• Ensures alignment of demand signals, forecasts, and customer requirements into feasible production schedules that balance capacity, labor, and material availability.
• Monitor schedule adherence and proactively resolve issues related to capacity constraints, material shortages, or operational disruptions.
• Lead daily and weekly scheduling reviews to ensure alignment across production, purchasing, and operations.

Supply, Capacity & Demand Alignment

• Partner with the Corporate Master Planning Manager to align site level- plans with network supply, capacity, and demand strategies.
• Identify capacity risks, bottlenecks, or imbalances and develop mitigation plans in collaboration with plant leadership.
• Support rough-cut and finite capacity planning activities, including scenario analysis for volume changes, new business, or mix shifts.
• Ensure planning assumptions (lead times, lot sizes, cycle times, safety stock) are accurate and maintained in planning systems.
• Lead and develop a small team responsible for production scheduling, purchasing, and planning activities.
• Establish clear roles, priorities, and performance expectations for the team.
• Coach and mentor team members to strengthen planning capability, analytical rigor, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and data driven-decision making.

Purchasing & Material Coordination

• Oversee purchasing and material planning activities to ensure raw materials and components support the production schedule.
• Ensure timely procurement aligned with production requirements while managing inventory levels and working capital.
• Coordinate closely with suppliers and internal stakeholders to resolve shortages, expedites, or supply disruptions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the primary planning interface between manufacturing, supply chain, commercial, and corporate planning teams.
• Support new business introductions, volume changes, and customer commitments by assessing capacity and scheduling feasibility.
• Provide clear visibility and communication on schedule changes, risks, and trade-off’s to plant and corporate leadership.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Track and report key planning and execution of KPIs, including schedule adherence, service (OTIF), inventory, and capacity utilization.
• Identify opportunities to improve planning processes, system usage, and schedule stability.
• Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives related to planning, scheduling, and material flow.

Requirements

What you'll need to be successful in this role:

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field preferred.
• Equivalent manufacturing experience with demonstrated CI leadership will be considered.
• 3 to 5 years of experience in manufacturing or operations with hands-on continuous improvement responsibility.
• Proven experience leading Lean or operational improvement initiatives in a plant environment.
• Experience working across multiple sites or supporting network-level initiatives preferred.
• Strong working knowledge of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ability to map, analyze, and redesign processes end-to-end.
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to translate metrics into action.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and coaching skills.
• Comfortable influencing without authority and working cross-functionally.
• High level of personal accountability, urgency, and bias for execution.

Summary

Expected Compensation

The expected salary range is $90,000 - 100,000 annually with a 10% annual bonus incentive. Consistent with applicable law, compensation will be determined based on the skills, qualifications, and experience of the applicant along with the requirements of the position. ACR reserves the right to modify this pay range at any time. ACR offers a competitive total rewards package inclusive of health and financial wellness benefits, fringe benefits, paid time off, and an annual bonus program.

Equal Opportunity Statement:

ACR is an Equal Opportunity Employer that recruits and hires qualified candidates without regard to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, disability, or veteran status.

Statement on use of Artificial Intelligence:

ACR utilizes AI as part of the application and resume review process. An ACR employee is validating the results and is ultimately making the decision.