Production and Inventory Planner

Red River Commodities•Fargo, ND

About The Position

The Production and Inventory Planner is a dual‑focus position responsible for production planning execution and enterprise‑wide inventory strategy. The position balances short‑term production scheduling and material readiness with long‑term inventory health, policy, and governance across the organization. The role partners closely with operations, procurement, demand planning, logistics, finance, and plant leadership to ensure production plans are executable, inventory is accurate and optimized, and working capital is managed responsibly while supporting service‑level and growth objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)
3+ years of experience in production planning, inventory management, or supply chain roles within a manufacturing environment
Strong working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems and planning logic
Advanced analytical and problem‑solving skills
High proficiency in Excel and comfort working with planning and inventory data
Ability to manage competing priorities and operate effectively in a fast‑paced, highly dynamic environment
Strong communication skills with the ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholders

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities
Background in food, agriculture, or consumer packaged goods manufacturing
Experience leading inventory optimization or working capital initiatives

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain weekly and short‑term production schedules aligned with demand forecasts, inventory positions, and plant capacity constraints
Translate demand plans into executable production plans across one or more manufacturing facilities
Monitor schedule adherence, identify risks to execution, and proactively adjust plans to mitigate service disruptions
Coordinate closely with plant leadership on: Line capacity and sequencing Changeovers and run efficiencies Material availability and constraints
Partner with procurement and logistics to ensure raw materials, packaging, and WIP are positioned to support planned production
Analyze planned vs. actual production performance and recommend continuous improvement opportunities
Support new product launches, promotions, and volume shifts with proactive production planning
Maintain planning accuracy within ERP/MRP systems and ensure data integrity supporting production execution
Own and govern inventory strategy across raw materials, packaging, WIP, and finished goods
Establish and maintain safety stock policies, reorder parameters, and planning rules by item and location
Monitor inventory health metrics including: Inventory turns Excess and obsolete exposure Expiry and shelf‑life risk Service‑level performance
Lead enterprise‑wide inventory optimization initiatives to balance service, cost, and working capital
Ensure inventory accuracy and discipline, partnering with operations and finance on cycle counts, physical inventories, and root‑cause analysis
Collaborate with operations to develop standardized inventory processes and expectations across facilities
Provide regular reporting and insights to leadership on inventory performance, risks, and opportunities
Support budgeting and forecasting by translating inventory strategy into financial impacts
Serve as a key liaison between operations, procurement, demand planning, finance, and logistics
Drive alignment between what is sold, what is planned, what is produced, and what is stocked
Champion data accuracy, process discipline, and continuous improvement across planning and inventory workflows
Support system enhancements, process documentation, and planning governance standards