Production Planner III

westrockcoffeeexternaljobs; Conway (AR); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Westrock is seeking a Production Planner III in Conway, AR, to lead the creation of production schedules and optimize the plant’s flow from demand signals. You will work closely with Sales, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain to ensure a reliable manufacturing cadence and optimal inventory levels.

The role emphasizes cross-functional leadership, continuous improvement, and mentoring other planners. A bachelor’s degree in business or supply chain and relevant experience are required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Business, Supply Chain, or related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in production planning in a food/beverage environment preferred.
• Experience coordinating forecasting, inventory management, maintenance, and QA.

Responsibilities

• Create production schedules to balance inventory, staffing, capacity, and efficiency.
• Evaluate SKU demand allocations and plan site production based on needs and capacities.
• Organize and run S&OP meetings focused on customer service and plant profitability.
• Adjust replenishment settings and maintain inventory levels.
• Collaborate with plant leadership to schedule production within budget.
• Engage sales to understand priorities from demand signals and trends.
• Communicate schedule changes to manufacturing leadership and impacted teams.
• Mentor and develop others within the planning organization.
• Provide cross-functional leadership to resolve demand-related issues and forecast gaps.
• Deliver timely demand forecasts to stakeholders each month and week.

Skills

Stakeholder management

Forecasting

S&OP awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business / Supply Chain or related field

CPIM/CPSM certification

Tools

NetSuite

MRP

ERP systems

Excel

Job description

Westrock's Production Planner III is a dynamic, self-motivated and results oriented leader with a proven record of generating and building relationships, managing projects from concept to completion, and demonstrating exceptional communication skills. Primary responsibilities include evaluating demand signals from multiple sources and turning them into a production schedule that meets customers' requirements and maximizes production efficiency. This role maintains close working relationships with Sales, Operations, Finance and Supply Chain in order to support the continuous flow of production in the manufacturing facility. In addition, develop other planners throughout the organization. Adaptable and transformational manager with an ability to develop opportunities that further establish organizational goals.

Responsibilities include:

• Create production schedules with the intent to maintain targeted inventory levels while balancing staffing, machine capacity, and production efficiencies
• Evaluate SKU demand allocations, analyze and plan site production schedules based on current and evolving business needs, site capacities, and special equipment or timing needs
• Organize & run S&OP meetings focused on customer support and plant profitability
• Analyze, maintain, and modify key item-level system replenishment settings such as minimum ship quantities, shipment increments, minimum production quantities, and maintain inventory levels
• Work with additional plant leadership to schedule production around the plant's budget structure
• Engage with the sales team to understand priorities based on demand signals, sales trends, and policy
• Communicate with manufacturing leaders and makes adjustments to the production schedule when necessary
• Inform critical team members of any extenuating circumstances that could cause service failures
• Develop others within the planning organization through the sharing of best demonstrated processes and knowledge transference
• Provide cross functional leadership across departments to solve for demand related issues caused by forecast error, demand constraints, unplanned promotional opportunities, etc.
• Provide Sales and Operations teams with timely analysis, guidance, and decision-making to ensure that the supply chain is in the best position to execute the demand plan generated from the total operational forecast.
• Generate and publish to key stakeholders, monthly and weekly demand forecasts, including clear identification of assumptions highlighting significant changes since release of previous report
• Perform other duties as assigned

Qualifications Include:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain or other related field
• 5+ years' experience in production planning, preferably in a food and/or beverage manufacturing environment; or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Experience managing a diverse set of internal stakeholders, including forecasting, inventory management, maintenance and quality assurance
• Strong computer skills (Word, Excel, Outlook, NetSuite, or other similar ERP systems)
• Ability to work in fast paced high-pressure environment where change is constant and needs to be managed with internal and external customers
• Financial understanding of P&L and ability to drive results for bottom line profit
• Demonstrates superior interpersonal, coaching, and communication skills to multiple levels of the organization
• Motivated, self-directed, and detail oriented
• Aptitude in decision-making and working with financial KPI's
• Ability to develop and contribute to strategic vision for a Global Procurement organization
• Effectively manage multiple projects simultaneously & to develop priorities for self and members of staff
• Collaborates cross-functionally
• Professional certification is a plus (CPSM/CPIM) preferred
• Knowledge of a Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process preferred
• Familiar with Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) preferred
• Management experience is a plus

Equal Opportunity Employer / Vets / Disabled