Central Planner

Lactalis American Group; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Education Reimbursement

Paid Time Off from Day One

Retirement Plan Contributions

Training & Development Opportunities

Job summary

Lactalis American Group in Buffalo, NY is seeking a Central Planner to manage short- and mid-term capacity, inventory, and transportation needs for assigned products. You will ensure finished goods levels meet service goals while efficiently using manufacturing resources.

Responsibilities include analyzing capacity, simulating inventory levels, coordinating with DCs and sales, and communicating logistics plans in advance. Strong planning tools knowledge is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with planning concentration or equivalent.
• 3–4+ years manufacturing planning experience or equivalent.
• Knowledge of Lotus Notes, Excel, PRISM and Stratum planning tools.

Responsibilities

• Analyze plant capacity utilization by product lines and report findings.
• Conduct inventory simulations to determine optimal safety stock and levels.
• Coordinate with distribution centers and sales to monitor inventory and aging.
• Plan and enter interplant shipments within established inventory standards and lead times.
• Communicate logistics requirements for interplant movements and keep CS/Transportation teams informed.

Skills

Mathematical concepts

Problem solving

Interpret instructions

Education

Bachelor’s in Business Admin

3-4 years experience

Tools

Lotus Notes

Microsoft Excel

PRISM

Stratum

Production planning tools

Job description

Description

Ready for more than just a job? Build a career with purpose.

At Lactalis in the USA, we’re committed to providing meaningful opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive—whether you’re just starting your journey with us or looking to take the next step in your career. From day one, we offer the tools and support to help you succeed.

As the world leader in dairy, Lactalis is a family‑owned company with over 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals across the globe. Each day, we’re proud to produce award‑winning dairy products that bring people together.

In the US, we proudly offer an unrivaled house of beloved brands, including Galbani® Italian cheeses and ricotta, Président® specialty cheeses and butters, Kraft® natural and grated cheeses, Breakstone’s® cottage cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond® cheddar, and Parmalat® milk. Our yogurt portfolio includes siggi’s®, Stonyfield Organic®, Brown Cow™ , Oui®, Yoplait®, Go‑Gurt®, :ratio®, Green Mountain Creamery®, and Mountain High®, along with a growing family of ethnic favorites like Karoun®, Gopi®, and Arz®.

At Lactalis, we live by our core values—Ambition, Engagement, and Simplicity. We foster a workplace where innovation thrives, diverse perspectives are celebrated, and everyone’s unique background and ideas are valued.

Even if you don’t meet every qualification, we encourage you to apply. We want to hear about your PASSION, your STORY, and how your EXPERTISE can help us shape the future of dairy.

From your PASSION to ours

Lactalis American Group, part of the Lactalis family of companies, is currently hiring a Central Planner based in Buffalo, New York.

The Central Planner will plan for short term and midterm capacity, inventory levels and transportation requirements of assigned products with the objective of maintaining established finished goods level, meeting customer service goals and efficiently utilizing manufacturing resources.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

Key responsibilities for this position include:

• Analyze and prepare reports on plant capacity utilization by product lines.
• Conducts inventory simulations to determine optimal safety stock and inventory levels based on demand and shelf life constraints.
• Analyzes risks of dumps and downgrades and takes action with CS to minimize or mitigate negative impact.
• Coordinate with distribution center and sales personnel to be continually aware of inventory levels and finish product aging to minimize the possible loss of product going out of code.
• Provides finished goods requirements to plant schedulers, monitors production schedules and initiates action to correct deficiencies.
• Plans and enters interplant shipment orders for assigned products and/or DC’s within established inventory standards while respecting lead times.
• Communicates logistics requirements plan in advance of interplant movement to enable equipment to be on site and available to move finished goods between plant and DC’s.
• Communicates in a timely fashion with Customer Service and Transportation Planners on any changes to inventory plans that may impact delivery commitments to our customers.
• Prepares and distributes reports on activity and performance metrics.
• Maintains planning system data including new item set up and periodic updates.
• Cross trains with other Central Planners and provides full back up support during vacations and daily absences.
• Demonstrate commitment to a safe working environment that promotes the health and wellbeing of all employees and that will further contribute to the Company’s overall performance and success.
• Travel and / or extended or off work hours may be required; specifically in the Western region
• This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.
• To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone or, and / or allowance(s) may be provided.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these Essential Duties and Responsibilities.

Requirements

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education & Experience

• Ideally individual would possess Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Planning, Economics, Statistics, or combination of education and relevant manufacturing planning experience.
• 3-4+ years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Specialized Knowledge

• To perform this job successfully, an individual should have knowledge of Lotus Notes Contact Management systems; Microsoft
• Excel Spreadsheet software, Microsoft Word Processing software PRISM, Stratum and Production/Demand Planning tools

Skills/Abilities

• Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistical inference.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions.
• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

Professional Certification

• APICS - CPIM or CIRM certification or knowledge preferred

At Lactalis, we offer a comprehensive Total Rewards Program with a variety of affordable benefits and coverage options. We support insurance costs significantly, contribute generously to retirement plans, and offer Paid Time Off from day one. We are committed to your professional growth, providing training and development opportunities, including Education Reimbursement. Join us and grow your career.

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. Further, any division of the Company that is an Aff…