Manager 3 Production Planning Scheduling

Northrop Grumman Propulsion Systems and Controls (PS&C) facility in Elkton, Maryland began solid-propellant rocket operations in 1948. Today, the Elkton PS&C facility designs, develops, and produces solid-propellant propulsion and ordnance systems in programs professionally managed for a wide variety of Government and commercial customers. The facility also serves as the hub for offsite engineering and test facilities in Ronkonkoma, NY and Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Elkton, Maryland is located on the Upper Chesapeake Bay, midway between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Discover charming small towns, parks with miles of trails, specialty and antique shops, award winning restaurants, and inns.  You can hike, bike, camp, bird watch, ride horseback, or drop a fishing line.  Five rivers, Chesapeake Bay and the C&D Canal can be explored by boat or by land. Experience panoramic views from Turkey Point Lighthouse on a bluff overlooking the Bay, or from the banks of the C&D Canal where ships from around the globe cruise. https://www.ccgov.org/government/tourism

The Manager Production Planning Scheduling will operate within the Manufacturing and Infrastructure (M & I) function and hold a position as a functional homeroom manager, leading a team of individual contributors for Production Planning and Scheduling.

Functional responsibilities include:

• Staffing support to all PS&C Systems programs

• Conducting periodic performance evaluations, including mid-year and annual reviews

• Providing technical leadership and guidance to the staff

• Professional development and mentoring of direct reports

• Supporting Functional Homeroom initiatives and projects which include process improvement, Event Response Teams, Corrective, and Preventive Action implementation

Process Improvement:

• Train and implement utilization of our digital ERP system, Costpoint – to include BOM creation/maintenance & material requirements planning (MRP)

• Develop and implement a robust Master Production Schedule (MPS) process for the rolling execution window

• Drive supply & demand alignment for the execution window and implement a material review process covering a rolling 4-month period

• Support and help implement a mature Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning process in support of both near-term MPS requirements and long-range growth targets

• Implement targeted KPI’s and define red/yellow/green return-to-standard criteria

• Ensure all factory plans and production schedules are executed and all associated transactions and management of work orders are conducted timely and accurately

• Lead the transition from Costpoint to SAP for the M & I department

• Implement continuous improvement initiatives to optimize production processes

• Evaluate and recommend process enhancements to increase productivity and reduce waste

• Lead cross-functional teams to streamline workflows and improve efficiency

Resource Allocation:

• Drive appropriate capacity planning strategy to support both near-term and long-terms demand

• Determine the necessary resources required for program support needs

• Allocate resources effectively to meet production targets while minimizing costs

• Monitor resource usage and adjust allocations as needed to address changing priorities

• Regularly monitor the ratio of support costs to production costs. Support costs encompass all ancillary expenses essential for maintaining and optimizing our production capabilities.

Team Leadership:

• Supervise and mentor production control staff, providing guidance and support as needed.

• Foster a collaborative and positive work environment that encourages teamwork and innovation.

• Conduct performance reviews and provide constructive feedback to team members.

Supply Chain Coordination:

• Lead cross-functional engagement with Material Program Management, Material Planning, and Procurement to drive material alignment in support of the MPS

• Collaborate with the Planning and Procurement organizations to address and resolve any supply chain disruptions that could impact production

• Ensure seamless communication and coordination between Operations and Global Supply Chain functional teams

Cycle Time:

• Monitor metrics on production control process spans.

• Objective: Identify bottlenecks and areas where time can be reduced.

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree plus at least 10 years of experience or Master’s Degree plus at least 8 years of experience. 

• 4 years’ experience in production control & scheduling, planning, or related field within a manufacturing or supply chain environment

• Subject matter expert (SME) in Costpoint

• Subject matter expert (SME) in SAP

• Proven leadership experience on a project and/or team

• Experience in the Aerospace and Defense Industry

• Must be able to obtain a Secret Clearance, which US Citizenship is a pre-requisite

• Able to travel 15% domestically

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in manufacturing environment with assembly, Integration, make parts, & test.

• Knowledge of project schedule baselining and scope definition

• Experience with Solumina/MES and SAP/MRP.

• Experience with MS Access and MS Project.

• Expert in Excel Spreadsheets

• Active Secret Clearance