Manager, Operations Planning

The Operations Planning Manager is responsible for leading a tactical planning function, ensuring that program demand is communicated and integrated and represented across master demand scheduling, production planning, and material planning. This role owns the Production Master Demand Schedule (ERP) and serves as the primary integrator of capacity, material availability, and supplier commitments, surfacing execution risks and enabling fact-based decision making.

The Operations Planning Manager leads a team of Operations Planners who will collaborate closely with Manufacturing Operations, Program Excellence, and Finance to maintain plan integrity, stability, and audit readiness. This role is located at our Syracuse, NY office.

Key Responsibilities may include but are not limited to:

Planning Ownership & Integration

• Own the Production Master Demand Schedule (MDS) within ERP systems and ensure alignment to programs' IMS baseline program schedules

• Integrate production capacity, material availability, and supplier commitments into a single executable plan

• Ensure planning outputs are realistic, constraint-based, and time-phased

Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Hire, lead, develop, and coach Operations Planners

• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and planning disciplines across the team

• Build scalable planning capability to support program growth and complexity

Execution Feasibility & Risk Management

• Identify and quantify execution risks related to capacity, materials, and suppliers

• Drive proactive mitigation and recovery planning

• Ensure planning issues are surfaced early with options and data

• Respond to and manage changes to execution plans driven by upstream program changes, execution reality, or supplier performance

• Ensure impacts are assessed and escalated appropriately to Program Excellence and S&OP

• Maintain separation between baseline control and execution planning

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Operations to ensure production plans are feasible and aligned

• Collaborate with Procurement team and Supplier Program Managers on long-lead and constrained materials

• Support Program Excellence with data-driven schedule impact assessments

• Support Supply Chain's interface with Finance to support schedule, cost, and cash visibility

• Enforce standard planning processes, rules, and governance across sites

• Partner with Manufacturing and Supply Chain to ensure accuracy and usability of planning data (BOMs, routings, lead times, calendars)

• Support continuous improvement of planning tools and ERP functionality

• Establish and monitor planning KPIs (schedule adherence, material readiness, replan drivers)

• Drive continuous improvement in planning stability and predictability

• Support audit readiness and compliance expectations (e.g., DCMA, DCAA)

Compensation Range: $132,000 - $171,600

The compensation range provided is a general guideline. When extending an offer, Saab, Inc. considers factors including (but not limited to) the role and associated responsibilities, location, and market and business considerations, as well as the candidate's work experience, key skills, and education/training.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field

• 8+ years of experience in production planning, master scheduling, or material planning within a manufacturing environment

• 3+ years of people leadership experience

• Demonstrated experience working in ERP-driven planning environments (e.g., SAP, Oracle, MRP systems)

• Strong understanding of capacity planning, MRP, and production scheduling concepts

• Ability to obtain a U.S. Secret security clearance

• Experience operating in regulated or highly controlled environments preferred (e.g., aerospace & defense)

• Experience supporting defense or government programs

• Familiarity with EVMS, IMS, and program schedule integration

• Experience with S&OP / SIOP processes

• Lean, Six Sigma, or APICS/ASCM certification (CPIM, CSCP) a plus

Citizenship Requirements:

Must be a U.S. citizen. Applicants selected may be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Drug-Free Workplaces:

Saab is a federal government contractor and adheres to policies and programs necessary for sustaining drug-free workplaces. As a condition of employment, candidates will be required to pass a pre-employment drug screen.

Saab provides an excellent working environment offering professional growth opportunities, competitive wages, work-life balance, a business casual atmosphere and comprehensive benefits.

Highlights include:

• Medical, vision, and dental insurance for employees and dependents

• Generous paid time off, including 8 designated holidays

• 401(k) with employer contributions

• Tuition assistance and student loan assistance

• Wellness and employee assistance resources

• Employee stock purchase opportunities

• Short-term and long-term disability coverage

Saab is a leading defense and security company with an enduring mission, to help nations keep their people and society safe. Empowered by its 19,000 talented people, Saab constantly pushes the boundaries of technology to create a safer, more sustainable and more equitable world. In the U.S., Saab delivers advanced technology and systems, supporting the U.S. Armed Forces and the Federal Aviation Administration, as well as international and commercial partners. Headquartered in Syracuse, New York, the company has business units and local employees in eight U.S. locations.

Saab is a company where we see diversity as an asset and offer unlimited opportunities for advancing in your career. We are also a company that respects each person's needs and encourage employees to lead a balanced, rewarding life beyond work. Saab values diversity and is an Affirmative Action employer for protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. Saab is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer, all qualified individuals are encouraged to apply and will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran, disability status, or any other federal, state, or locally protected category.