Operational Scheduler

Novartis; Fatih; On-site; TRY 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Novartis is seeking an Operational Scheduler to optimize manufacturing planning, scheduling, and resource coordination. The role focuses on delivering on-time production, efficient use of resources, and compliant execution across multiple departments.

You will work closely with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Manufacturing Support to balance priorities and improve plant performance. English proficiency required in a GMP environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, production planning, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience working in GMP-regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, capacity planning, and operational execution.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain short- and medium-term production schedules aligned with business priorities and customer demand.
• Review manufacturing plans and identify capacity constraints, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Coordinate production activities to ensure optimal utilization of personnel, equipment, and materials.
• Monitor schedule adherence and proactively manage deviations and operational disruptions.
• Support launch activities and production campaigns to ensure timely execution.
• Act as the main point of coordination between Production, Supply Chain, Warehouse, Quality, and Engineering functions.
• Facilitate daily operational planning meetings and communicate schedule changes to stakeholders.
• Ensure production resources are allocated effectively to support manufacturing requirements.
• Support business continuity planning and operational readiness.
• Provide operational support for manufacturing processes and production execution.
• Participate in troubleshooting activities, root cause investigations, and CAPA implementation.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, efficiency, and schedule reliability.
• Support technology transfers and implementation of new manufacturing processes when required.
• Maintain production planning and scheduling data within S4HANA/MES systems.
• Support development and optimization of Electronic Batch Records (EBR) and manufacturing workflows.
• Ensure compliance with Data Integrity, CSV, and digital manufacturing requirements.
• Generate and analyze performance reports to support decision-making.
• Ensure all planning and scheduling activities comply with GMP, HSE, and company requirements.
• Support inspection and audit readiness.
• Participate in deviation investigations and change control activities.
• Ensure timely escalation of quality, compliance, and supply-related risks.

Skills

Production Planning & Scheduling

Manufacturing Operations

Capacity Planning

GMP & Quality Systems

Root Cause Analysis

CAPA Management

Change Control

Risk Management

Lean Manufacturing

Six Sigma

Process Improvement

Manufacturing Systems (MES/ERP)

Data Integrity

Supply Chain Coordination

Production Performance Analysis

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or related

Tools

MES/ERP

Job description

Band

Level 3

Job Description Summary

We are looking for a highly motivated Operational Scheduler to support manufacturing operations through effective production planning, scheduling, resource coordination, and operational execution.
In this role, you will be responsible for ensuring that production activities are optimally scheduled, resources are efficiently utilized, and manufacturing commitments are delivered safely, compliantly, and on time. You will work closely with Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and Manufacturing Support teams to balance operational priorities and maximize plant performance.

Job Description

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain short- and medium-term production schedules aligned with business priorities and customer demand.
• Review manufacturing plans and identify capacity constraints, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Coordinate production activities to ensure optimal utilization of personnel, equipment, and materials.
• Monitor schedule adherence and proactively manage deviations and operational disruptions.
• Support launch activities and production campaigns to ensure timely execution.

Operational Coordination

• Act as the main point of coordination between Production, Supply Chain, Warehouse, Quality, and Engineering functions.
• Facilitate daily operational planning meetings and communicate schedule changes to stakeholders.
• Ensure production resources are allocated effectively to support manufacturing requirements.
• Support business continuity planning and operational readiness.

Process & Manufacturing Support

• Provide operational support for manufacturing processes and production execution.
• Participate in troubleshooting activities, root cause investigations, and CAPA implementation.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, efficiency, and schedule reliability.
• Support technology transfers and implementation of new manufacturing processes when required.

Manufacturing Systems & Data Management

• Maintain production planning and scheduling data within S4HANA/MES systems.
• Support development and optimization of Electronic Batch Records (EBR) and manufacturing workflows.
• Ensure compliance with Data Integrity, CSV, and digital manufacturing requirements.
• Generate and analyze performance reports to support decision-making.

Compliance & Quality

• Ensure all planning and scheduling activities comply with GMP, HSE, and company requirements.
• Support inspection and audit readiness.
• Participate in deviation investigations and change control activities.
• Ensure timely escalation of quality, compliance, and supply-related risks.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Schedule adherence
• Production plan attainment
• Batch success rate
• On‑time manufacturing execution
• Plant KPI achievement (PSP, TPT, OTOR, BOMA, ROA)
• Capacity utilization
• Inventory optimization
• Internal and external audit success
• Continuous improvement implementation
• Business continuity effectiveness

What You’ll Bring

Required Experience

• Experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing, production planning, or manufacturing operations.
• Experience working in GMP-regulated environments.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, capacity planning, and operational execution.
• Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

Technical Skills

• Production Planning & Scheduling
• Manufacturing Operations
• Capacity Planning
• GMP & Quality Systems
• Root Cause Analysis (RCA)
• CAPA Management
• Change Control
• Risk Management
• Lean Manufacturing
• Six Sigma
• Process Improvement
• Manufacturing Systems (MES/ERP)
• Data Integrity
• Supply Chain Coordination
• Production Performance Analysis

Leadership & Behavioral Skills

• Analytical Thinking
• Problem Solving
• Stakeholder Management
• Communication Skills
• Prioritization & Decision Making
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Continuous Improvement Mindset
• Project Coordination

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Pharmacy, Manufacturing Engineering, Supply Chain Management, or a related discipline.

Languages

• English (Professional Working Proficiency)

Skills Desired

Data Analytics