Director, Planning and Production Control

AeroVironment, Inc.; Strathearn (CA); On-site; USD 163,000 - 261,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision

401K with company matching

Paid holidays

Job summary

AeroVironment, Inc. is seeking a Director of Planning and Production Control to oversee production planning, inventory management, and material flow across the organization.

You will align schedules with customer demand, optimize resources, and lead a team to improve efficiency and ensure on-time delivery. The role requires deep knowledge of SIOP, MRP, master scheduling, and ERP/APS tooling, with a focus on continuous improvement and cost control.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field or 12+ years equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• At least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Deep understanding of SIOP, MRP, master scheduling and capacity planning.
• Work closely with local supply chain teams to develop Planning BOMs, S&OP Metrics and Inventory Plans.
• Proficient in ERP, APS, and data analytics platforms.
• Lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong project management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement production planning strategies that align with organizational goals and optimize the use of resources, labor, and materials.
• Oversee the creation of master production schedules and ensure they are in line with demand forecasts, capacity, and materials availability.
• Direct inventory control processes, including raw materials, work‑in‑progress, and finished goods, to minimize excess inventory while ensuring production needs are met.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in production planning and control processes, implementing best practices to improve efficiency and reduce lead times.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of planning and production control professionals, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Work closely with manufacturing, procurement, engineering, and sales teams to coordinate efforts and ensure seamless production operations.
• Monitor and mitigate risks related to production delays, material shortages, and capacity constraints.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of production planning and control efforts.
• Provide regular reports to senior leadership.
• Manage departmental budget and control costs related to production planning, inventory, and material handling.
• Leverage advanced planning and scheduling systems (APS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of production planning.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations, quality standards, and safety protocols in all production planning activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Production planning

SIOP

MRP

Master scheduling

Capacity planning

ERP

APS

Data analytics

Lean Six Sigma

Project management

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in SCM/Operations/Engineering or related field

Tools

ERP systems

APS

Job description

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary The Director, Planning and Production Control is responsible for overseeing and optimizing all aspects of production planning, inventory management, and material flow across the organization. This role ensures that production schedules are aligned with customer demand, resources are effectively utilized, and materials are available to meet production goals. The Director will lead a team of planning professionals and collaborate with other departments to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and ensure on‑time delivery of products.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop and implement production planning strategies that align with organizational goals and optimize the use of resources, labor, and materials.
• Oversee the creation of master production schedules and ensure they are in line with demand forecasts, capacity, and materials availability.
• Direct inventory control processes, including raw materials, work‑in‑progress, and finished goods, to minimize excess inventory while ensuring production needs are met.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement in production planning and control processes, implementing best practices to improve efficiency and reduce lead times.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of planning and production control professionals, fostering a high-performance culture.
• Work closely with manufacturing, procurement, engineering, and sales teams to coordinate efforts and ensure seamless production operations.
• Monitor and mitigate risks related to production delays, material shortages, and capacity constraints.
• Establish and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the effectiveness of production planning and control efforts.
• Provide regular reports to senior leadership.
• Manage departmental budget and control costs related to production planning, inventory, and material handling.
• Leverage advanced planning and scheduling systems (APS) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) tools to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of production planning.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations, quality standards, and safety protocols in all production planning activities.
• Other duties as assigned.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field or 12 + years equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.
• At least 5 years in a leadership role.
• Deep understanding of SIOP, MRP, master scheduling and capacity planning.
• In addition, will work closely with local supply chain teams to develop Planning BOMs, S&OP Metrics and Inventory Plans.
• Proficient in using manufacturing software systems and tools, such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, advanced planning systems (APS), and data analytics platforms.
• In-depth knowledge of manufacturing principles, processes, and technologies, including lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies, used in lean manufacturing and aerospace & defense manufacturing.
• Strong project management skills, including experience managing large‑scale production projects.
• Thorough understanding of the policies and practices.
• Excellent Verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and managerial skills.
• Ability to set long‑term goals and communicate them to others.
• Ability to motivate and organize multiple efforts to accomplish goals.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Masters degree preferred.
• Certification in APICS, Lean Six Sigma, or other relevant supply chain/production control certifications.
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision‑making style based on the situational circumstances.
• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees.
• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness and the creation of a shared vision.
• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change.
• Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships.
• Assesses the degree of risk and opportunity in plans or actions and takes appropriate action to mitigate them or makes plans to build on the opportunity.

Physical Demands

• Ability to work in an office and manufacturing environment (Constant).
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent).

Special Requirements

U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.

Occasionally may be required to travel within the Continental U.S.

Clearance Level: No Clearance.

Salary

The salary range for this role is: $163,000 - $261,000

AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement

This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits

AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.

For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: http://www.avinc.com/myavbenefits.

We also encourage you to review our company website at http://www.avinc.com to learn more about us.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission‑obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.

We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status. ITAR U.S. Citizenship required.

About AV

AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission‑obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV.