Planning Manager

Key Accountabilities and Decision Ownership:

1. Develop, maintain, and own the Master Production Schedule (MPS) based on demand forecasts, firm orders, and available capacity.
2. Lead the Material Requirements Planning (MRP) process to ensure the timely availability of all necessary raw materials and components for production.
3. Collaborate with the Commercial team to understand demand forecasts and with the Production department to assess capacity constraints and opportunities.
4. Chair production planning meetings to communicate schedules, resolve bottlenecks, and coordinate activities across departments (Production, QC, QA, and Warehouse).
5. Monitor production progress against the plan, analyze deviations, and implement corrective actions to mitigate delays.
6. Manage and optimize inventory levels of raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods to support service levels while minimizing carrying costs.
7. Continuously align and coordinate all planning and scheduling with the production team to attain expected plans and requirements.
8. Coordinate with Production teams to develop and communicate production plans and forecasts to Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs).
9. Ensure the timely supply of raw materials and components to Toll-In partners and manage the receipt of finished goods.
10. Proactively monitor CMO production activities, track progress against schedules, and troubleshoot any bottlenecks or delays.
11. Lead a team of planning specialists and section heads, providing mentorship and developing their skills in planning and scheduling.
12. Drive continuous improvement in planning processes and systems to enhance accuracy, efficiency, and agility.

Must have technical / professional qualifications + (knowledge & Skills level of presence in the job):

Academic, technical, and professional qualifications:

1. Bachelor's Degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field.
2. APICS certification (CPIM or CSCP) is highly preferred.

Experience:

1. Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in production planning within a manufacturing environment, with at least 2 years in a management role.
2. Pharmaceutical experience is essential.

Skills (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

1. Deep understanding of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes: Advanced
2. Expert proficiency in ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle) and advanced planning systems (APS): Advanced
3. Strong analytical and data modeling skills: Advanced