Production Planner

Client: Life Science Company
Title: Production Planner 3
Location: Carlsbad, CA 
Rates: $35 -$40
Duration: 12 Months (Contract to Hire)

Benefits:

• The Company offers the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, short-term disability insurance, paid parking/public transportation, (paid time , paid sick and safe time , hours of paid vacation time, weeks of paid parental leave, paid holidays annually - AS Applicable)

Job Summary

• Develop and maintain production plans to support customer demand and manufacturing schedules.
• Monitor and maintain planning parameters, including safety stock, reorder points, lead times, lot sizes, and MRP settings.
• Analyze production, inventory, and supply chain data to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Generate reports and dashboards to support Production Planning and Operations.
• Collaborate with Manufacturing, Purchasing, Warehouse, and Supply Chain teams to resolve material and capacity constraints.
• Support root cause analysis for production shortages, late orders, and planning exceptions.
• Maintain planning master data and ensure data accuracy within ERP systems.
• Drive continuous improvement through data analysis and process optimization.

• Bachelor degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) or supply chain management
• 3+ years’ of experience in supply chain management, production planning, or purchasing
• Strong understanding of MRP and production planning principles.
• Advanced MS Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, Power Query, advanced formulas, and data analysis.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and support decision-making.
• Experience working in a manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Detail-oriented with strong attention to accuracy and data integrity.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and follow-through.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills with the ability to prioritize multiple tasks.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills across all organizational levels.
• Customer service mindset with a commitment to supporting internal and external customers.
• Team player with strong cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to make data-driven decisions using sound business judgment.
• Continuous improvement mindset with a focus on process optimization.
• Adaptable to changing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• High level of integrity, professionalism, and commitment to quality.
• Eagerness to learn new systems, tools, and business processes.

• Experience with SAP (S/4HANA or ECC), particularly PP, MM, or Supply Chain modules.
• MBA
• APICS CPIM certification.
• Experience with Power BI, Tableau, or similar data visualization tools.
• SQL experience, including writing and troubleshooting queries.
• Experience with Palantir Foundry or similar analytics platforms.

• Production Planning: Informing the production team on what to manufacture and in what quantities.
• Supply & Demand Balancing: Monitoring schedules, checking material availability, and assessing production capacity.
• Communication: Coordinating daily with the production team and providing regular updates to customer service.
• System Maintenance: Keeping planning parameters updated within SAP and checking monthly forecasts to adjust capacity.
• Data Analysis: Conducting regular reporting and data analysis to support planning functions.

Required Skills:

• Strong understanding of MRP (Material Resource Planning)
• Advanced Ms Excel (Pivot tables, power queries, formulas)
• Manufacturing environment experience
• Analytical and problem-solving skills
• Strong communication skills

• SAP experience (High priority/strongly preferred)
• APICS CPIM certification (strongly preferred)
• Data visualization (Power BI, Tableau)
• Palantir Foundry