Project Planner

At TA Resources we have re-imagined traditional staffing and HR consulting with Small to mid-size businesses in mind. Focusing on what makes our clients unique we match them with the talent they need to continue to grow. We are currently searching for a Project Planner for our client located in Lake Forest, IL. This is a full-time office role located in Lake Forest.

Our client is an entrepreneurial company that provides contract manufacturing services to the cosmetics and personal care fields. They’ve been in business since 2018 and have grown at a very fast pace since that time. They specialize in developing and packaging liquids, creams, and hot-fill personal care products into bottles, tubes, jars, sachets, packets, and other package formats.

The Project Planner is the liaison between the customer and the client. The primary responsibility of the planner is to coordinate the on-time delivery of materials both internal and external to meet production needs. The qualified individual will be responsible for working with the customer and outside suppliers to coordinate on-hand production inventories and forecasting of materials for future production. This individual will be responsible for day-to-day customer communication including but not limited to entering purchase orders, creating and publishing reports, and facilitating weekly customer meetings.

Key Responsibilities:

• Entering all customer-related data into SDB systems
• Entering and maintaining all customer orders using Excel and ERP software, with an extremely high level of accuracy
• Entering and maintaining all customer inventory using Excel and ERP software, with an extremely high level of accuracy
• Generates and publishes reports on a daily, weekly, monthly basis
• Generates shipping orders for finished goods using Excel and ERP software, with an extremely high level of accuracy
• Maintains any proprietary customer system for tracking inventory and finished goods
• Comply with all safety and SOP procedures
• Work with sales, purchasing, and production to provide the daily sequence of product build.
• Assist the manufacturing team to manage the production schedule.

Identify and work with purchasing to resolve supplier errors that result in production challenges and discrepancies.

Provide continual improvement of the planning and reporting processes.

• Research discrepancies and resolve issues. Take appropriate corrective action to prevent similar or reoccurrence of issues.
• Stay informed of current manufacturing projects, manufacturing workload, and manufacturing processes.
• Identify, plan, coordinate, and communicate daily assembly & shipment priorities through measurable schedules.
• Expedite operations that delay schedules and alter schedules to meet unforeseen conditions.

Requirements

Education and Experience:

High school diploma or GED required; Associates degree and/or Bachelor’s degree preferred

Experience:

• 1-2 years’ experience in production control and production planning in a manufacturing environment.
• Capable and comfortable quickly changing direction and readjusting focus and drive, as business needs change.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple responsibilities and tasks regularly
• Exceptional people/team and strong collaboration skills
• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Understanding of scheduling, lead times
• Ability to work extremely well under pressure and changing dynamics
• Deadline oriented
• Working knowledge of supply chain processes and procedures, manufacturing planning, demand, and replenishment processes
• Familiarity with database structure o Self-starter, highly self-motivated, structured and disciplined

Technology/Software:

• Proficient in Word, Outlook, and Teams with advanced Excel. Familiarity with MRP systems.

Communication:

• Strong Written and Verbal communication skills are a must
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus but not required.

Physical Capabilities

Must be able to lift 30 lbs.