Production Planning Manager

Our Global Supply Chain is a network of more than 300 manufacturing plants, distribution centers and other facilities designed and located to support our direct sales, marketing and distribution activities. We enable company growth by delivering savings through more efficient operations and high levels of service that create competitive advantage while earning and keeping customers' trust.

We are seeking a Planning Manager to be responsible for a complex organization at our Bedford Park, IL location. As the Planning Manager, you will lead the production planning team to success by delivering results, driving planning process improvements, and building strong cross-functional relationships. The ideal candidate will possess a thorough understanding of supply chain management and be capable of providing strong leadership, guidance, and supervision to the team.  You will act as a strategic partner, skilled in change management and highly proficient in influencing across a wide network of both internal and external stakeholders.  You may manage a team of individuals with varying levels of experience.

What’s in it For You:

• Opportunity for a long-term career path that allows for exposure into all areas of Ecolab’s supply chain
• Access to best-in-class resources, tools, and technology
• Thrive in a company that values sustainability, drives a safety-focused culture and has been recognized as one of the most ethical companies in the world

What You Will Do: 

• Provide leadership and direction for the production and raw material planning team. Work closely with the plant leadership team to support strategic plant decisions and partner cross-functionally to achieve success related to delivery, production, and financial goals, including inventory management.
• Set clear objectives and guide the team to ensure alignment with overall site-specific and broader team goals
• Manage and report out of team KPI/goals, including DIFOT/SIFOT, Inventory health, and PLOC (proactive late order communications)
• Lead and facilitate team and cross-functional meetings to evaluate metrics while addressing challenges and opportunities
• Work cross-functionally with strategic planning, procurement, customer service and marketing to:
  • Allocate critical and/or constrained materials
  • Reduce Excess/ Obsolete materials
  • Troubleshoot issues leading to DIFOT failures
  • Understand and react to changes in demand
  • Work with Marketing to resolve slow-moving/ obsolete products
• Develop and mentor team members, providing guidance, training, and support to foster talent and skill development.
• Handle escalations and complex issues related to production planning, raw material planning, and inventory goals
• Make critical decisions that impact the efficiency and effectiveness of site planning operations
• Lead and drive projects focused on cost savings, process improvements, and supply chain optimization
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide constructive feedback to enhance individual and team performance
• Identify opportunities for streamlining processes, reducing waste, and improving overall supply chain performance
• Employ problem-solving techniques such as 5 whys, root cause analysis, and implementing process improvements to effectively tackle challenges and ensure long-term success

Minimum Qualifications:  

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Supply Chain Management, Engineering or related field of study
• Experience in operational excellence and project management such as TPM, Lean Six Sigma, continuous improvement, Green Belt, etc.
• Direct people management experience
• 6 years of Planning, Logistics, and/or Manufacturing experience 
• Immigration Sponsorship not available for this role

Preferred Qualifications:

• APICS Certification
• Advanced technical or business degree, MBA preferred
• 1 year experience leading others
• Proficiency with an ERP, advanced planning system, analytical system or equivalent
• Strong leadership, communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills to drive decisions and build consensus among stakeholders
• Ability to create, clearly articulate and execute on a strategic vision
• Strong business acumen and experience collaborating with Operations, Marketing and Customers
• Skilled in resolving conflict situations effectively

Benefits 

Ecolab strives to provide comprehensive and market-competitive benefits to meet the needs of our associates and their families. Click here to see our benefits. 

If you are viewing this posting on a site other than our Ecolab Career website, view our benefits at jobs.ecolab.com/working-here. 

Potential Customer Requirements Notice

To meet customer requirements and comply with local or state regulations, applicants for certain customer-facing roles may need to:

- Undergo additional background screens and/or drug/alcohol testing for customer credentialing.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) 

Ecolab will provide reasonable accommodation (such as a qualified sign language interpreter or other personal assistance) with our application process upon request as required to comply with applicable laws. If you have a disability and require accommodation assistance in this application process, please visit the Recruiting Support link in the footer of each page of our career website.