LEW Production Planning Assistant

Warehouse Department

Job Title:                   Production Planning Assistant

Wage:                        $30.03 - $34.53 (Break in rates and $0.75 cents differential pay from 6PM - 5:59AM applies) 

Hours/shift:               1st Shift

Days Off:                   Varies

Summary Description:

The Planning Specialist is responsible for developing accurate and timely production schedules and product management instructions to ensure the availability of finished goods to meet plant demand and inter-facility shipments. This role partners closely with procurement and production teams to align schedules with material availability and optimize blending and batching processes. In addition to production planning, the role includes creating and purchasing product labels, performing cycle counts on select materials, and supporting inventory accuracy. The planner ensures that incoming milk meets quality standards and that outgoing cream is directed appropriately, while adapting plans to dynamic changes in supply and production needs.

JOB DESCRIPTION:

• Utilizing systems, forecast sales and establishing safety stocks, minimum production levels and lead times for product manufactured at the facility to service the customer orders for the plant. 
• Ensures the available supplies of milk for the production facility and ensure customer order can be fulfilled within service requirements. 
• Optimizes production planning in an environment that demands constant changes in shipping requirements and ensuring the availability of finished goods upon customers’ demand.
• Partners with plant production departments to best determine blending/scheduling of products to maximize profitability and ease of product transitions.
• Partner with production, quality, and Denver teams to coordinate blending and batching schedules that minimize downtime and maximize throughput.
• Communicate proactively with customer service and logistics teams to ensure alignment on order fulfillment and delivery timelines.
• Create and manage product labels in accordance with production schedules.
• Perform cycle counts on select materials to ensure inventory accuracy and support planning decisions.
• Assist in identifying and resolving inventory discrepancies in coordination with warehouse and procurement teams.
• Lead initiatives to improve planning accuracy, reduce waste, and enhance responsiveness to production needs.
• Analyze historical data and performance metrics to identify trends and opportunities for process optimization.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Product Management, or equivalent work experience.
• 3+ years of experience in supply chain, production planning, product management, or other relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications & Experience:

• ​Technical background in food technology, food science, dairy science, microbiology, or chemistry.
• Dairy/Cheese manufacturing experience.
• Previous supervisory experience in manufacturing environment.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities/Competencies: 

• ​Technical expertise, knowledge and understanding of computerized inventory principles, materials management, production management, transportation, OSHA regulations and customer service needs. 
• Proficient computer knowledge, including Microsoft Office products. 
• Must be able to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing to individuals at all levels within the company. 
• Familiarity or ability to learn SAP, or similar integrated manufacturing system. 
• Ability to influence upward, laterally, and downward without any direct line authority 
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. 
• Ability to determine the root cause to issues that arise, using skills of investigation, organizing thoughts and conclusions, and presenting these solutions to others. 
• Effective communication skills.
• Working knowledge of food safety and sanitation practices.

Working Relationships: 

• This position reports to the Materials or Warehouse Manager with an indirect reporting relationship to the Corporate Product Management group.
• This position will regularly interact with other production and support group supervisors. Regular interaction with other plant management.

Physical/Mental Requirements and Work Environment:

• Works in both the plant production environment which requires walking, climbing, standing and in an office environment which requires standing and sitting. This position is expected to spend time out on the production floor observing operations and interacting with employees.
• Long periods of both sedentary activity and movement (walking/standing) is required. 
• May be required to occasionally independently move and handle objects up to 25 pounds.