Labor Scheduler & Analytics Specialist

Confidential Careers; Bellmawr (NJ); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential Careers is seeking a data-driven Labor Scheduler & Analytics Specialist to move workforce planning beyond hours and budget. You will build labor schedules and transform labor data into actionable insights across Production, Operations, HR, Finance, and Supply Chain.

This role requires an Excel power user who understands the manufacturing floor, can connect scheduling to productivity and cost, and is excited to roll out new analytics tools.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in labor scheduling, workforce planning, production planning, or operations analytics in manufacturing.
• Advanced Excel skills including Pivot Tables and lookups; experience with Power Query/Power Pivot is a plus.
• Experience with ERP, MRP, or workforce management systems and building data-driven reports.

Responsibilities

• Build daily and weekly labor schedules based on production plans, demand, and staffing.
• Monitor labor utilization, attendance, overtime, and staffing needs; forecast needs from trends.
• Develop dashboards and reports for leadership; perform ad hoc analyses for operational decisions.

Skills

Advanced Excel

Data analysis & reporting

ERP/MRP experience

Leadership & coaching

Cross-functional collaboration

Union environment familiarity

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

We’re a food manufacturer looking for a data-driven Labor Scheduler & Analytics Specialist to take our workforce planning beyond hours and budget. This role builds labor schedules and also turns labor data into insights that drive real decisions across Production, Operations, HR, Finance, and Supply Chain.

If you’re an Excel power user who understands the manufacturing floor, can connect scheduling to productivity and cost, and is excited to help roll out new analytics tools, this role is for you.

What You’ll Do

Scheduling & Workforce Planning

• Build daily and weekly labor schedules based on production plans, customer demand, staffing levels, and operational priorities
• Monitor labor utilization, attendance, overtime, and staffing needs to keep the workforce efficiently allocated
• Forecast labor needs from historical trends and production volume, including seasonal peaks, new product launches, and production changes
• Partner with Production, Operations, HR, and Supply Chain to align staffing with production schedules

Analytics & Reporting

• Analyze labor performance: efficiency, productivity, overtime, absenteeism, and cost per unit
• Build daily, weekly, and monthly reports and dashboards for leadership
• Perform ad hoc analysis to support operational decisions
• Participate in budget planning and labor cost forecasting
• Identify opportunities to improve labor efficiency and recommend process improvements, applying Lean and Six Sigma principles

Systems, Compliance & Leadership

• Keep timekeeping and workforce data accurate in Paycom and our ERP system
• Ensure compliance with labor laws, union agreements, company policies, and scheduling practices
• Serve as a front-line leader who motivates, trains, and coaches a diverse workforce
• Build positive employee and labor relations in a union environment through effective conflict resolution
• Support plant safety, food safety, food defense, and GMPs (always Priority #1)

How Success Is Measured

Labor cost as a percentage of sales/production, schedule adherence, labor utilization, overtime percentage, units per labor hour, direct labor efficiency, attendance trends, forecast accuracy, staffing fill rate, and production schedule attainment.

What You Bring (Required)

• 3–5 years of experience in labor scheduling, workforce planning, production planning, or operations analytics in a manufacturing environment
• Advanced Excel skills: Pivot Tables, Power Query, Power Pivot, VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, and complex formulas
• Experience with ERP, MRP, or workforce management systems
• Proven ability to build data-driven reports and dashboards
• Experience working in or around a union environment
• Front-line leadership skills and comfort working with employees at every level
• Strong understanding of food safety, food defense, and GMPs
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally
• A self-starter who can prioritize, organize, and simplify in a fast-paced setting

Nice to Have

• Food manufacturing experience (strongly preferred)
• Tableau, Power BI, or other BI tools (Tableau is being adopted at our facility)
• Red Zone or similar production software
• SQL or other data analysis tools
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement experience
• APICS/CPIM or Lean Six Sigma certification
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Data Analytics, or a related field (equivalent experience considered)
• A mix of office work and time on the manufacturing floor
• Long periods of standing, bending, pushing, pulling, and lifting overhead; must be able to lift about 25 lbs
• Extended computer work
• Exposure to power equipment, slippery floors, dust, and high summer temperatures in some areas
• PPE required: uniform, gloves, and slip‑resistant shoes