Production Planning & Forecast Specialist

Would you like to join an international team working to improve the future of healthcare? Do you want to enhance the lives of millions of people? Grifols is a global healthcare company that since 1909 has been working to improve the health and well-being of people around the world. We are leaders in plasma-derived medicines and transfusion medicine and develop, produce and market innovative medicines, solutions and services in more than 110 countries and regions.

The Lead Production Planning & Forecast Specialist is a strategic individual contributor responsible for developing and executing an integrated production planning and demand forecasting strategy. This role will leverage advanced data analytics, machine learning, and collaborative planning techniques to optimize the supply chain, minimize inventory costs, and ensure alignment with business objectives. The ideal candidate will be a forward-thinking leader with a strong analytical mindset, capable of driving continuous improvement and influencing key stakeholders across the organization.

Primary Responsibilities

• Lead the creation and maintenance of a long term 24 month forecast that enables Management to identify gaps in meeting manufacturing demand or excess in raw materials and also ensuring Procurement collections the right mix of plasma types to meet specific demand.  Must manage within complex variables including established lead-times, manufacturing constraints, WIP inventory, intercompany transfers, regulatory and quality parameters, lot sizes and on hand inventory.  Lead and communicate with others in achieving established plans to support business objectives.
•  Ensures timely resolution of issues impeding the flow of production and supply.  Elevate systemic issues requiring resources beyond the Production Planners scope of responsibility.
• Analyze inventory projections and supply requirements and demand requirements including forecasts for identification of production and supply bottlenecks and recommending and implementing actions for resolution.  Communicate capacity overloads and potential strategies for resolution to manufacturing and senior management based on expected demands.
• Lead and direct Production Planners and Forecast Specialist to ensure timely execution of forecasted demand for availability of products to fill orders and on time shipments.  Provide alternative strategies to Production Planners/forecasters when deviations to Supply or Demand plans occur
• Lead the maintenance of a 2 month detailed batch allocation forecast to support demands. Monitor and communicate changes throughout the organization.
• Collaborate with manufacturing department/product leads to balance manufacturing constraints with production plans to achieve required supply plan.
• Coordinate with Plasma Procurement, Demand Planning, Quality and Regulatory (if applicable) to ensure supply is able to meet demand.  May lead and/or participate on project and/or launch teams.
• Evaluates and recommends actions to Senior Management to ensure on time delivery performance to the customer.
        * Communicate significant shifts in demand to the rest of the organization to ensure proper urgency is applied to the change throughout the organization. 
        * Report monthly to Sr. Management Actual performance and forecast outlook as well as resolution/ recovery plans / analysis to assure goals are met through IBP and Site Supply Planning processes.
• The lead person for quarantined inventory analysis and analyze all product to prevent expiring inventory.
• Provide expertise in SAP/plasma mgmt. system planning and inventory management related functions to the PLC.  Lead on new SAP/Inventory mgmt. system functionality implementation projects.
• Represent Supply Chain on various project teams, committees, and task forces.
• Responsible for trainings and mentoring of planners and forecasters
• Generates Supply Chain Planning Training Materials and provides training.
• Identifies opportunities for continuous improvement and independently drives and implements changes.
• Collaborates with peers and internal/external customers throughout global planning organizations to maximize on-time delivery
• Provide detailed analysis and scenario planning for product supply options including potential effects on other product lines.

Additional Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional teams and participate on cross-company teams. Interact daily with all levels of employees to include production floor personnel, supervisors, Managers, Directors, Purchasing, Regulatory, Global Demand Planning, Customer Service, Validation, Quality Operations, Engineering, and Technology to ensure supply plan and other key business objectives are achieved. Responsible for independent decision making.  Requires evaluation of complex forecasting/planning scenarios.  Lead on complex assignments requiring in-depth analysis and evaluation of variable factors.  Exercise judgment in selecting methods, evaluation criteria, and variables for consideration to obtain desired results.  Networks with key contacts outside own area of expertise. Team lead and acts independently to determine and develop work processes, perform analyses and determine alternatives on new and/or special assignments.  Lead Management of significant WIP inventory to support business goals.

Education & Experience

Bachelor's degree in Business, Science or related field required.  Advanced degree preferred.  Advancing Productivity Innovation and Competitive Success (APICS) or similar professional certification preferred.  Forecasting Certification highly recommended as well as IBP certification.

• Typically requires a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in Production Planning and minmum of 3 years relevant experience in Forecasting. Prior supervisory experience is preferred, though not mandatory.

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

• Excellent oral and written communication skills, adaptable to different audiences. Agile and able to manage complex and dynamic variables.  Must have excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills and the ability to develop alternate strategies and influence others.  Ability to develop customer relationships through collaboration, respect, professionalism, trust, and integrity.  Very strong knowledge of Production and Supply Planning processes, manufacturing constraints, regulatory requirements and cGMPs.  Advanced in SAP/plasma mgmt. system and ERP systems.  Advanced Microsoft Office and Power BI.  Strong decision making skills.  Makes key decisions impacting overall business objectives pertaining to product deliveries, WIP dating and overall production throughput.

Third Party Agency and Recruiter Notice:

Agencies that present a candidate to Grifols must have an active, nonexpired, Grifols Agency Master Services Agreement with the Grifols Talent Acquisition Department. Additionally, agencies may only submit candidates to positions that they have been engaged to work on by a Grifols Recruiter. All resumes must be sent to a Grifols Recruiter under these terms or they will be considered a Grifols candidate.

Grifols provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.  We will consider for employment all qualified applicants in a manner consistent with the requirements of all applicable laws.

Location: NORTH AMERICA : USA : NC-Clayton:USNC0002 - Clayton

Learn more about Grifols