Since 1963, EarthFresh has been an international leader in the produce industry, with operations in both the U.S.A. and Canada. We proudly specialize in providing the Foodservice and Retail industries with a wide selection of conventional and organic potato varieties ideal for frying, baking, mashing, boiling, and roasting.
We are a team of fantastic people who are joined together by the same belief – that “fresh produce is a way of life”. EarthFresh invites you to be a part of our ever-growing team and share in our success!
Planning Manager
OBJECTIVE
Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, US, the Planning Manager is responsible for determining raw product supply requirements and building an executable production plan to match variable customer demand. This role leads the planning of raw product supply and integrates those supply requirements into the daily production schedule to ensure optimal service levels, efficient plant utilization, and controlled costs. The Planning Manager works directly with the production team and the procurement team to manage the supply chain connected to the production plant. This role requires strong analytical capability, operational judgment, and the ability to make data-driven tradeoffs in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education:
- University degree / college diploma in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Analytics, or a related discipline
Experience & Skills:
- 3+ years of experience in supply planning or production planning (food/agri-business preferred)
- Strong understanding of agricultural supply chains, raw material variability, and production scheduling constraints.
- Hands-on experience working with plant schedules, inventory data, and operational KPIs
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capability
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills (verbal and written)
- Proficiency in Excel, planning tools, and reporting systems
- Ability to translate data into clear, actionable insights for plant teams
- High attention to detail and execution discipline
- Ability to travel as needed (Canada/U.S.)
PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Plan and maintain bulk raw potato supply, aligning raw product inventory levels with customer demand, production requirements, and supply risk.
2. Partner with the Procurement team to execute supply plans and maintain optimal inventory levels at the production facility.
3. Build and manage the daily production schedule, ensuring raw material availability is aligned with line capacity, labor availability, and operational constraints.
4. Optimize raw material utilization and scheduling to minimize waste, manage inventory age, and maximize throughput and yield.
5. Own real-time plan adjustments in response to changing conditions and clearly communicate schedule priorities to all stakeholders.
6. Identify scheduling risks, capacity constraints, and escalate issues with recommended mitigation actions.
7. Coordinate with Maintenance, Production, and Quality teams to incorporate planned downtime and quality requirements into schedules.
8. Maintain accurate scheduling data, systems, and documentation to support reporting and continuous improvement.
9. Develop and enhance planning tools, reports, and dashboards to improve visibility, decision-making, and operational performance.
10. Support continuous improvement initiatives by strengthening planning processes, data integrity, and cross-functional alignment.
11. Perform other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Operations, US.
U.S. Regulatory Notice
EarthFresh is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, genetic information, age, disability, Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.
We are committed to providing reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities. If you need assistance or accommodation, please contact Human Resources.
EarthFresh participates in E Verify in certain locations as required by law.
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