Manager, Planning

Chemring Group; Downers Grove (IL); Hybrid; USD 103,000 - 139,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

Paid time off

401(k) with company match

Parental leave

Tuition assistance

Job summary

Chemring Energetic Devices (CED) in Downers Grove, IL, seeks a Manager, Planning to lead material planning, inventory control, and plant scheduling ensuring on-time delivery. You will optimize MRP demand planning, collaborate across functions, and ensure regulatory compliance.

This role requires strong analytical skills and leadership in a manufacturing setting. With a base salary in the stated range, you will influence planning accuracy, data integrity, and process improvements while guiding a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, engineering, or a related field preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 7+ years in supply chain, planning, scheduling, or inventory management within manufacturing
• 3+ years in a supervisory role

Responsibilities

• Lead the Planning function and act as focal point for all Planning Department activities
• Oversee workload distribution and balancing within the Planning Department
• Oversee the use and optimization of the D365 MRP system to determine hardware needs and supplier delivery schedules
• Provide capacity insights to support RCCP and MPS adjustments to the rest of the organization
• Coordinate cross-functional updates with Engineering, Production, Purchasing, Quality, and Program Management to ensure alignment with schedule requirements
• Validate shop floor activity through throughput checks, labor reporting review, and WIP visibility
• Partner with Engineering, Machine Shop, and Quality to ensure tooling, fixtures, routings, and parameters are production ready
• Participate in daily stand-ups, weekly D365 working sessions, and production readiness meetings
• Identify and support continuous improvement opportunities related to planning accuracy, system data, and process flow
• Maintain compliance with company policies, procedures, documentation standards, and operational expectations; support planning-related audits, reporting, and standardization
• Participate in continuous improvement, data cleanup, and system enhancement efforts
• Assess employee performance and provide coaching, feedback and training opportunities to the team
• Generate reports and present information to senior leadership and other stakeholders

Skills

ITAR restrictions

Explosives eligibility

APICS certification

Lean manufacturing

Excel proficiency

MRP (D365)

Cross-functional teamwork

Education

Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, engineering, or related field

Tools

D365

Job description

As Chemring Energetic Devices (CED) celebrates 50 years of building products that protect our country, protect the individual warfighter, and send rockets into outer space, our growth is creating new opportunities to expand our team with talented individuals who want to shape the next era of mission-critical innovation.

CED is well situated in Downers Grove, Illinois - we are located a commuter train ride west of Chicago and a short drive from farmland.

CED's current salary range for this role is $102,500 to $138,500 / year. At CED, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions may vary based upon, but not limited to education, skills, experience, proficiency, performance, shift, location and geography. In addition to base salary, the total compensation package may also include participation in a bonus, commission or incentive program. CED’s benefit offerings include medical, dental, and vision coverage, paid time off, disability insurance, 401(k) with company match, life insurance and other voluntary supplemental insurance coverages, plus parental leave, adoption assistance, tuition assistance and employer/partner discounts. CED follows a 9/80 work schedule allowing employees to enjoy alternating Fridays off.

JOB SUMMARY:

The Manager, Planning holds accountability for plant wide material planning, inventory control and plant scheduling to ensure on-time delivery to CED’s customer base. This position is the subject matter expert on optimization of MRP demand planning, cross functional collaboration and compliance to regulatory standard. The Manager, Planning maintains accurate manufacturing orders, monitors execution, manages inventory flow, and effectively communicates updates across the organization.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Holds accountability for leadership of the Planning function and act as focal point for all Planning Department activities
• Responsible for workload distribution, assignment, and balancing within the Planning Department
• Oversee the use and optimization of the D365 MRP system to determine hardware needs and supplier delivery schedules
• Provides accurate capacity insights to support RCCP and MPS adjustments to the rest of the organization
• Oversee material availability, component flow, shortages, aging inventory, and discrepancies; support cycle count and inventory health reviews
• Coordinate cross-functional updates with Engineering, Production, Purchasing, Quality, and Program Management to ensure alignment with schedule requirements
• Validate shop floor activity through throughput checks, labor reporting review, and WIP visibility
• Partner with Engineering, Machine Shop, and Quality to ensure tooling, fixtures, routings, and parameters are production ready
• Participate in daily stand-ups, weekly D365 working sessions, and production readiness meetings
• Identify and support continuous improvement opportunities related to planning accuracy, system data, and process flow
• Maintain compliance with company policies, procedures, documentation standards, and operational expectations; support planning-related audits, reporting, and standardization
• Participate in continuous improvement, data cleanup, and system enhancement efforts
• Assess employee performance and provide coaching, feedback and training opportunities to the team
• Generate reports and present information to senior leadership and other stakeholders

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Comply with government and corporate laws, rules, regulations, policies, and procedures
• Ensure 100% compliance with the Chemring Operational Framework, Code of Conduct and U.S. Code of Ethics and Business Conduct
• Special projects and additional duties as assigned

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

Supervise professional level staff

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's degree in business, supply chain management, engineering, or a related field preferred; or equivalent combination of education and experience

EXPERIENCE:

• Minimum of 7 years of experience in supply chain, planning, scheduling, or inventory management within a manufacturing environment
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in a supervisory role

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Lawful US Person (ITAR restrictions)
• Must be eligible to possess explosive under the Safe Explosives Act of 2003 (as amended) as required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) for all employees of Chemring Energetic Devices
• Professional certification by the American Production and Inventory Control Society (APICS) preferred
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, production flow, and lean principles
• Experienced with MRP systems (D365 preferred)
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret capacity, material availability, inventory signals, and production execution data
• High proficiency in Excel and other planning software / tools
• Ability to interpret technical procedures, schedules, and diagrams to resolve issues
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to write clear reports, present schedule risks, and collaborate and influence effectively across the organization
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain data accuracy, and communicate delays/material risks

PHYSICAL AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS:

Lifting, carrying, pushing, pulling, or otherwise moving objects, weighing up to 20 pounds occasionally and/or a negligible amount of weight frequently. Involves sitting much of the time but may involve routine periods of walking or standing. Daily and extensive use of computer.

DISCLAIMER:

The preceding job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential job functions of this position. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. Employees will be expected to perform other job functions and duties as may be needed and / or required.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Chemring Energetic Devices (CED) is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information and other legally protected characteristics.

If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to Human Resources at [e-mail] or call 630-969-0620 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.