NPI Production Planner

Catalyzing a cleaner future,

ESS is a globally recognized leader in sustainable energy storage and is consistently identified as one of the most innovative and exciting technology players in energy storage. Trading on the NYSE (GWH), it is poised to be one of the fastest growing energy technology companies in the world, with projects already across 4 continents. The ESS vision is about enabling the decarbonization of the grid by enabling us to achieve up to 100% of our electricity from clean, sustainable renewable energy.

These are ambitious goals, and we are pursuing them with passion. At ESS, we are leading the energy transition, creating the sustainable energy solutions of the future to help individuals, businesses and communities change energy into lasting value.

We are currently recruiting for an NPI Production Planner who will facilitate the flow of information and materials among and between departments both inside and outside of the formally established production schedule. In this role you will collaborate extensively with the engineering design team, program management, and supply chain to streamline the NPI process and ensure timely delivery of materials to support protoyping and launch schedules. This entails close monitoring of the product design evolution, proactive management of risk buys, and implementation of appropriate MRP/planning solutions to drive timely material requisitions. The NPI Production Planner is expected to be able to work outside of the established processes as necessary for new product builds that arent yet incorporated into the standard process or our Oracle ERP/MRP system, in addition to assisting with standard production. Daily work includes releasing purchase requisitions and work orders, labor accounting, use of materials, monitoring customer orders, posting production schedules, and calculating production and inventory rates. Additionally, you will review, update, and distribute production, shipment, and work schedules.

How youll spend your days:

• Review new product introduction (NPI), and special production schedules, work orders, and staffing tables to identify, support, and prioritize requirements for materials and staff.
• Create and distribute production schedules and work orders to departments.
• Review and release purchase requisitions within the ERP for supply chain ordering, but with an emphasis on manual releases for NPI.
• Manage ERP planning solutions to effectively support NPI materials (i.e. Planning BOMs, safety stocks, manual requisitions, etc).
• Monitor and review item master ordering and usage histories along with forward demand for optimizing order quantities.
• Rebalance production schedules to mitigate the cost and schedule impacts associated with labor or material shortages and backlog or design changes.
• Provide status of work in progress, material availability, and potential production problems to ensure that personnel, equipment, materials, and services are provided as needed.
• Oversee the work order closing process to ensure accurate accounting for labor, material, and cost variances.
• Coordinate labor allocations to ensure full productivity of staffed individuals (production support, non-standard production requirements, and non-production activities).
• Work with engineering and/or manufacturing engineering to review new product and non-standard build request documentation, materials, and products to assess accuracy, completion, and compliance with standards, specifications, inventory control procedures, and accounting rules.
• Manage ECO cut-in and execution of product change orders to minimize obsolescence and maximize cost-down realization.
• Ensure proper processing and documentation for deviations from standard production that enables full quality traceability, inventory management, and disposition per the ECO or DEVIATION process.
• Develop and drive organization to achieve production targets including efficiency gains needed to achieve throughput, cost, and quality objectives.
• Draft and maintain records related to production data and performance including volume produced, performance to schedule, and quality control analytics.
• Provide input into Lean organization on key waste reduction opportunities and support change management/implementation.
• Maintain daily, weekly, and monthly target inventories to support production.
• Dynamically manage safety stock and material Kanbans to support increasing inventory turns, optimizing floor space, and reduce production downtime while accounting for indirect usage, abnormal demands, and forecasted component level changes.
• Coordinate production and shipping activities to ensure on-time deliveries and crisp execution of revenue recognition deliverables.
• Work collaboratively across production, supply chain, and sales teams to resolve production and delivery issues.

What you bring to the table.

Minimum requirements:

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 3+ years of experience in production planning and/or control areas.
• Basic understanding of manufacturing and inventory procedures.
• Ability to read and interpret manufacturing drawings and/or specifications.
• Experience using Material Requirements Planning (MRP) processes and/or software (ERP).
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, including intermediate Excel skills.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.
• Ability to communicate cross-functionally and influence at all levels including executive levels.

Wed love to see:

• ASCM (APICS) certification(s).
• Experience working with Oracle/Cloud Fusion ERP.
• Experience in a supply planning and/or inventory management area.
• Experience in a Lean environment.
• Project Management experience.
• Strong/advanced Excel skills.
• Experience using data analytics for forecasting and/or managing inventory needs.
• Bachelors Degree in Business (SCM/OPS) or Engineering (Mech/Indus/Mfg/Elec).

Physical Requirements.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl and talk or hear.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Periods of sustained standing and/or walking around the production area.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

Benefits of working at ESS

In addition to the value of working with and helping grow a global reaching clean technology, ESS offers a Company assisted Health insurance, Approved PPE Reimbursement, Medical & Dental; Flex spending account; 8 paid holidays; 401K, and a competitive PTO accrual.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are open to considering every qualified candidate who is eligible and legally authorized to work in the United States on a full or part-time basis, without a need for sponsorship.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

#LI-RA1