Demand And Production Planner

Headquartered in Scotts Valley, CA, Ambient Photonics’ mission is to enable our customers to offer best-in-class products, features, and user experience with our unparalleled low-light photovoltaic technology. Ambient has solved both the low power density and high-cost problems of legacy low-light PV technologies and has created the world’s most powerful low-light energy harvesting photovoltaic cells- making endless power for loT electronics a reality for the first time.

Position overview & purpose

The Demand Planning and Production Planning role is a critical position within Ambient’s Supply Chain and Operations team. This person in this position is responsible for effectively managing products and translating that demand into an optimized production plan. The goal is to ensure efficient production operations while meeting customer demand and minimizing costs.

Essential duties & responsibilities

• Identify areas for process improvement and efficiency enhancement in demand planning and production planning processes.
• Collaborate with sales, marketing, and other relevant departments to gather inputs and align forecasts with business strategies.
• Communicate production schedules, capacity constraints, and any changes to relevant stakeholders.
• Collaborate with procurement teams to ensure timely availability of materials and components.
• Optimize inventory levels to balance customer service levels and minimize holding costs.
• Demand Planning:
  • Collaborate with sales, marketing, and other relevant departments to gather inputs and align forecasts with business strategies.
  • Utilize statistical models, forecasting software, and other tools to generate demand forecasts and identify potential risks or opportunities.
    
• Provide regular reports and updates on demand planning, production performance, and key metrics.
• Monitor production progress and adjust plans as needed to address any issues or changes in demand.
• Utilize statistical models, forecasting software, and other tools to generate demand forecasts and identify potential risks or opportunities.
• Implement best practices and leverage technology solutions to streamline planning activities.
• Production Planning:
  • Develop production plans based on demand forecasts, production capacity, and lead times.
  • Coordinate with production teams to prioritize and schedule production activities to meet customer requirements.
  • Monitor production progress and adjust plans as needed to address any issues or changes in demand.
    
• Monitor and analyze inventory data to identify slow-moving or obsolete stock and propose appropriate actions.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, operations, and finance, to gather information and align on demand and production plans.
• Develop production plans based on demand forecasts, production capacity, and lead times.
• Monitor and evaluate planning performance metrics, analyze trends, and propose and implement corrective actions.
• Inventory Management:
  • Optimize inventory levels to balance customer service levels and minimize holding costs.
  • Monitor and analyze inventory data to identify slow-moving or obsolete stock and propose appropriate actions.
  • Collaborate with procurement teams to ensure timely availability of materials and components.
    
• Coordinate with production teams to prioritize and schedule production activities to meet customer requirements.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Identify areas for process improvement and efficiency enhancement in demand planning and production planning processes.
  • Implement best practices and leverage technology solutions to streamline planning activities.
  • Monitor and evaluate planning performance metrics, analyze trends, and propose and implement corrective actions.
• Collaboration and Communication:
  • Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including sales, marketing, operations, and finance, to gather information and align on demand and production plans.
  • Communicate production schedules, capacity constraints, and any changes to relevant stakeholders.
  • Provide regular reports and updates on demand planning, production performance, and key metrics.
    

Knowledge, skills & abilities

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with proficiency in data analysis and forecasting techniques.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, manage multiple priorities, and adapt to changing business needs.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate effectively with cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Experience in a hyper growth environment, including transitioning a company’s planning processes from spreadsheets into ERP and/or Demand Planning software.
• Proven experience in demand planning, production planning, or supply chain management, preferably in a manufacturing environment.
• Knowledge of supply chain principles, inventory management, and production scheduling.
• Advanced Excel skills.
• Proficiency in using demand planning and production planning tools and software.
• Deep knowledge in MRP logic and usage in a company system of record.

Basic qualifications & competencies

• Strong attention to detail and accuracy in planning and reporting.
• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, operations management, industrial engineering, or a related field. A master's degree is a plus.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies is desirable.

Physical demands and working environment

• Ability to work in confined spaces.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced production environment with tight deadlines.
• Stand, walk, and/or sit for extended periods of time.
• Ability to work in both hot and cold environments.
• Lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to wear personal protective equipment, including safety glasses and hearing protection.
• Exposure to loud noises, & vibrations.
• Ability to use hands and arms to manipulate tools and equipment.

Statement

The qualification requirements, physical demands, and work environment characteristics described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential duties and responsibilities of this job successfully.

This job description in no way states or implies that the essential duties described are the only responsibilities involved in the position. The employee is required to follow any other instruction and to perform any other duties by any person authorized to give instructions or assignments.

This job description in no way states or implies a contract of employment. Ambient Photonics reserves the right to modify this job description at its discretion at any time and will notify the employee of the change.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential duties and responsibilities.

We are an equal opportunity employer. At Ambient Photonics, we are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to promote inclusiveness in everything we do. We provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Ambient Photonics is also committed to compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to talk, hear and see. We will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations.

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