Planning Manager

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a similar technical field; Master’s degree (MBA or Engineering Management) is a plus
• Minimum 10 years of experience in automotive manufacturing, preferably with Tier-1 or OEM suppliers
• Hands-on expertise in ERP systems (preferably IFS), especially in production planning, sequencing, lead-time control, and order tracking
• Proven knowledge of capacity modeling, load balancing, bottleneck analysis, and efficiency metrics
• Strong command of planning logic in discrete manufacturing environments, with ability to interpret technical BOMs, routings, and work center data
• Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional planning teams, including engineers, planners, and production support staff
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Kaizen practices in planning and scheduling processes
• Ability to drive demand planning and sales & operations planning (S&OP) alignment with commercial teams
• Excellent analytical skills with a hands-on, data-oriented, and solution-focused mindset
• Skilled in stakeholder management and communication across different levels of the organization
• Fluent in English (written and verbal); strong reporting and documentation ability

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and manage integrated production plans that reflect business targets, capacity limitations, material availability, and quality standards
• Oversee daily planning execution using IFS ERP, including scheduling, work order sequencing, resource leveling, and shopfloor follow-up
• Ensure close coordination with procurement, logistics, maintenance, and operations teams to enable a synchronized production flow
• Build and lead the planning department structure (approx. 50-person organization including engineers and production controllers), defining clear responsibilities and goals
• Conduct regular capacity/load simulations, identify constraints, and implement proactive countermeasures
• Track and improve key performance indicators (KPIs) such as OEE, schedule adherence, on-time delivery, and line utilization
• Support budgeting and forecasting activities by supplying accurate capacity and output projections
• Act as project lead for planning-related aspects of new product launches, line extensions, and engineering changes
• Monitor and improve inventory accuracy, including WIP and raw material planning optimization
• Prepare and deliver planning reports and dashboards to senior management for strategic decision-making
• Identify and deploy digital tools and automation opportunities in planning processes
• Ensure compliance with all internal planning policies, ISO/TS quality standards, and safety regulations