Director, Production Planning & Inventory 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

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.