Fast Facts

We are seeking a Production Planner for our Demand and Production Planning team to enhance processes, manage production orders, and improve inventory strategies at our family of educational product companies in Vernon Hills, IL.

Responsibilities: Utilize MRP tools to manage production orders, collaborate with departments to resolve shortages, maintain forecasts, and optimize inventory strategies.

Skills: Expertise in Supply Chain, Operations, Inventory Management, Demand Planning, and advanced proficiency in Excel and MRP/ERP systems.

Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Materials Management or related field with 2+ years of relevant experience and strong analytical and communication skills.

Location: Vernon Hills, IL, USA.

Compensation: $68000 - $78000 / Annually

About our family of companies:

We are on a mission to bring learning to life! At our family of companies, Learning Resources®, Educational Insights, and hand2mind, we create a unique range of toys, educational products, and supplemental curriculum trusted by teachers and loved by families alike. At Voted among the Chicago Tribune’s Top Workplaces for five consecutive years, we are a 500+ person strong, family-owned global organization dedicated to helping kids succeed in school and develop a love of learning. In addition to high-quality, hands-on products like VersaTiles® and Cuisenaire® Rods, we make award-winning toys, including top sellers such as the Pretend & Play® Cash Register, the Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set and Toy of the Year winner Botley® the Coding Robot as well as Educational Insights top sellers Kanoodle®, GeoSafari® Jr. series, and Playfoam™. We pride ourselves on being committed to our employee’s personal and professional development, a thriving culture, and a diverse, creative atmosphere. Along with our culture and competitive benefits package, we offer a variety of opportunities for training and development. We are looking for professionals who are truly just kids at heart! We hope you will join our award-winning team today!

Team & Position Description:

We are currently seeking a Production Planner to join our Demand and Production Planning team! Here’s what makes this team awesome: We are starting up new processes to manage and sustain increased customer demand. We leverage the analytical platform to measure performance with KPIs and tell the story with visualizations. We work cross functionally across the organization and develop strategic relationships with key customers to drive production order and inventory and balancing decisions. 

What you’ll do day to day: 

• Utilize MRP tools to release, schedule, and maintain production orders to meet customer and forecasted demand.
• Work with purchasing, sales and product development to resolve production order shortages
• Participate in weekly production meetings to surface and resolve potential production delays that may affect customer deliveries or create inventory shortages.
• Participate in product life cycle management ranging from new kit creation through end of life disposition, providing feedback and taking action to optimize inventory.
• Ensure accuracy of item data and parameters driving the MRP processes.
• Provide capacity planning expertise and analysis to optimize production planning and assembly activities.
• Maintain the monthly product forecast for assigned product groupings through analysis of forecast error, system alerts, and reporting tools, with input from statistical models and sales teams.
• Collaborate with internal departments including sales, operations, and marketing to align forecasts and identify and communicate supply chain impact.
• Assist with the development and execution of inventory strategies and plans to ensure uninterrupted support of corporate-wide sales plans and key results metrics.
• Complete other duties assigned as necessary/appropriate to ensure continued business operation

What we’re looking for (Key Performance Objectives):

• Manages production order releases, order changes, and component inventory health within 3 months
• Manages inventory and production reporting for relevant internal and external stakeholders within 3 months
• Assists with and guides capacity planning within 4 months
• Supports planning process improvement objectives with relevant business knowledge and data validation within 6 months

Requirements/Ideal Attributes:

• Bachelor’s degree in Materials Management, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field
• 2+ years of experience in Supply Chain, Operations, Inventory Management, or Demand Planning.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel is required.
• Proficiency & minimum 2+ years of experience with MRP and ERP Inventory systems (Preferably Microsoft Dynamics 365)
• Analytical ability to interpret and compile data from multiple sources
• Advanced understanding of forecasting or demand planning with a rolling forecast
• Strong communication, written, verbal, and presentation skills; able to collaborate effectively cross-functionally and with external partners.
• Critical thinker who uses data and business knowledge to solve problems
• Detail‑oriented, highly organized, and able to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment
• Self‑starter who works well under pressure to meet deadlines; maintains a positive spirit

We are a drug-free workplace and an EEO employer.

Please note: This role will be filled by our internal recruitment team, so no assistance is needed from any outside staffing agency at this time.

Compensation Range: $68,000 – $78,000 annual salary – Actual compensation may vary due to other factors such as: years of experience, skill set and location. Total compensation includes profit sharing bonus potential, 401k matching, and a variety of other benefits (details can be found here). 

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