Senior Manager, Production Planning & Scheduling at Johnston & Murphy

This role partners closely with senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and external partners to balance demand, capacity, and inventory while driving operational efficiency and on-time product availability. • Serve as a business leader and subject matter expert on global supply chain platform Infor Nexus, including support for implementation projects, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and Regression Testing.

The Ideal Candidate

The Senior Manager of Production Planning & Scheduling will manage the planning, supply, and purchasing process to maintain appropriate finished goods inventory for Johnston & Murphy Footwear, Apparel & Accessories. This role partners closely with senior leadership, cross-functional teams, and external partners to balance demand, capacity, and inventory while driving operational efficiency and on-time product availability.

How You Will Make an Impact

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Manage production planning, scheduling, and purchasing activities for J&M Footwear, providing support to the Apparel & Accessories division as needed.
• Manage demand monitoring and adjust forecasts, purchase orders, lead times, and safety stock to align with business needs.
• Facilitate monthly Forecast Meetings with business channel leaders to review inventory requirements, supply chain updates, and key business KPIs.
• Maintain and manage item master data, systems alignment, ensuring accurate reporting and communication to cross-functional teams.
• Drive inventory optimization through hashing processes, new stock number setup, and seasonal data cleanup for non-carryover items.
• Proactively identify risks and offer solutions before issues escalate.
• Maintain ongoing responsibilities related to inventory management, order placement, and data integrity.

Tools, Systems, & Data Management

• Serve as a business leader and subject matter expert on global supply chain platform Infor Nexus, including support for implementation projects, User Acceptance Testing (UAT), and Regression Testing.
• Manage and support technical systems used in production planning, including Jesta S&D, PAXRP, Curve Management, and PIM.
• Create, enhance, and implement new reporting and dashboards to improve visibility into business performance and KPIs.
• Utilize project management and process-mapping tools such as Lucidchart and Smartsheet to support cross-functional initiatives.
• Partner closely with the Sourcing Team to ensure accuracy of purchase order data and placement details across supplier portals and internal systems.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate closely with Wholesale, Retail, Customer Care, Sourcing, and other departments to optimize inventory utilization and product availability.
• Monitor and validate updates to the Purchase Order Tracker to ensure consistent and accurate data across systems.
• Manage relationships with 3PLs and finishing warehouses, focusing on data management, operational processes, and system accuracy.
• Act as a key contributor and project lead on cross-functional initiatives, demonstrating strong project management and communication skills.

Experience and Skills You'll Need to Have

• Bachelor's degree in Business or related field.
• 7-10 years of wholesale soft goods, demand planning, or DRP software experience
• Prior purchasing and/or production planning experience required
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, with a strong emphasis on Excel for data analysis, reporting, and forecasting.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey complex information to diverse audiences.
• Quick learner with the ability to adapt rapidly to new systems, processes, and business needs.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and support a small team of managers, providing guidance, direction, and accountability.
• Highly detail-oriented with strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Collaborative and team-oriented, able to build effective working relationships across departments.
• Self-motivated and results-driven, with the ability to work independently while managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.