Manager, Planning
Leonardo DRS
full-time
Posted on:
Location Type: Office
Location: Melbourne • Florida • United States
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About the role
- Lead, mentor and manage the Production Planning team (recruiting, training, performance management, workload balancing).
- Establish and maintain production schedules and build plans to meet customer delivery milestones, program timelines, and internal EAC/cost targets.
- Translate Master Production Schedule (MPS) and demand signals into executable MOs: release, prioritize, reschedule, and close MOs in MES/ERP systems (DMES/MES, CostPoint or equivalent).
- Own material availability planning and coordination with Materials/Buyer teams; evaluate supplier delivery schedules vs. manufacturing timeliness and re-prioritize where needed.
- Monitor material flow, WIP levels, shop floor kit integrity, and lead times; proactively identify and remove bottlenecks to sustain throughput.
- Drive a “first plan your work, then work your plan” culture — ensure planners create realistic, data-driven build plans and execute to them.
- Use Kinaxis, Power BI, and other planning/reporting tools to generate schedule, supply-to-demand and pegging reports, and actionable metrics.
- Participate in and drive Tier I/II production meetings; provide daily/weekly status and escalation support for issues requiring cross-functional action.
- Ensure MO/MRP schedule accuracy, MO aging management, and compliance with MMAS (Material Management Accounting System) and other program requirements.
- Work with Finance to align production performance to EAC and product cost targets; recommend corrective actions for variance.
- Reconcile MES/DMES and ERP discrepancies, document MRB/RTV/Scrap transactions, and support purge and disposition processes.
- Ensure accurate inventory via cycle counts and reconciliation to CostPoint or ERP; manage vendor managed inventory (VMI) and common-use floor stock to sustain production.
- Maintain and review assembly yields, make-part lead times, and planner workbook; update quarterly and as needed.
- Respond to production or material delays within established SLAs (escalate unresolved issues and ensure resolution within 24 hours where possible).
- Maintain traceability, change control, and documentation required for DoD contracts and audits.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related discipline. Equivalent experience may be accepted.
- 7+ years of progressive production planning experience in a manufacturing environment, including 3+ years leading a team or function. Experience with DoD/defense contractors strongly preferred.
- Hands-on experience with MRP/ERP systems (CostPoint, SAP, Oracle, or equivalent), MES/DMES systems, and advanced planning tools (Kinaxis or similar).
- Advanced Excel skills and experience with business intelligence tools (Power BI, Tableau, etc.) for dashboards and reporting.
- Demonstrated ability to create and manage build schedules, pegging reports, clear-to-build logic, and material allocation.
- Strong knowledge of material management accounting practices (MMAS or equivalent) and production costing principles (EAC).
- Proven problem-solving skills with a track record of removing production bottlenecks and improving flow.
- Excellent cross-functional communication and stakeholder management skills; able to lead Tier meetings and provide clear escalations.
- Ability to work under program schedule pressure, prioritize competing demands and make data-driven decisions.
- Eligible for or currently holding a DoD security clearance (Secret or Top Secret) preferred. U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- 401(k) matching
- Flexible working hours
- Paid time off
- Remote work options
Applicant Tracking System Keywords
Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.
Hard skills
production planningmaterial availability planningbuild schedulesmaterial allocationproblem-solvinginventory managementcycle countsproduction costing principlesdata-driven decision makinglead times
Soft skills
leadershipmentoringcross-functional communicationstakeholder managementperformance managementworkload balancingescalation supportprioritizationteam managementadaptability
Certifications
Bachelor’s degree in Supply ChainBachelor’s degree in Industrial EngineeringBachelor’s degree in Operations ManagementBachelor’s degree in BusinessDoD security clearance