Senior Production Scheduler

Company Description: Instinct® is a rapidly growing, family-owned marketer and manufacturer of science based 100% natural pet food for dogs and cats. Instinct® is the Raw Brand, with a mission to get more raw nutrition into every bowl of dogs and cats, for proven healthier and happier long lives. Our company mission is to Empower people to transform the lives of pets. We are committed to hiring and developing a team of passionate, performance-oriented professionals who live by our 4 values of championing raw, empowered to make a difference, collaborating as one team, and striving for excellence through continuous learning and improvement. Our home office is located in St. Louis, Missouri with our Center of Excellence Raw Food kitchens in Lincoln, Nebraska.Instinct® is part of the family-owned group, Agrolimen, who owns leading pet food and human food businesses in the US, China, Europe, and Africa.Position Summary: The Senior Production Scheduler manages scheduling activities for Instinct Lincoln-based manufacturing operations and owns the end-to-end planning, scheduling, and execution governance for all private label manufacturing (co-manufacturing) on the Lincoln network. This position maintains key parameters in the MRP system in coordination with the Product Supply team and ensures a feasible, optimized production plan across internal and external sites. The Scheduler works closely with Product Supply, Procurement, Quality, Logistics, and Plant/Partner Operations to develop SKU-level schedules that support demand, maximize efficiencies, achieve inventory targets, and meet customer due dates. This role is accountable for private label partner schedule attainment, service, inventory alignment, and issue resolution, ensuring internal production performance meets private label standards for safety, quality, cost, and delivery.Primary Job ResponsibilitiesDevelop and maintain master production scheduling process, within ERP system and utilizing third party support systems in coordination with the Product Supply teamMaintain daily, weekly and forward planning master scheduling dataMaintain MRP system inputs by SKU and work centers that drive the scheduling processReview and align all scheduling activities based upon demand planning forecast and adjust targets based on real time data updates.Maintain effective scheduling to hit target run rate efficiencies to achieve cost targetsWork closely with procurement to ensure proper material availability to support target schedulingDrive scheduling communication out to all support functions to ensure alignment across all areas of the operationDevelop and maintain scheduling reports and how those relate to future planning inventory levelsMaintain scheduling efficiency reportsMaintain Work Orders and PO’s associated with scheduling and inventory transfers within production processOwn the end-to-end master schedule for private label partners, including capacity alignment, frozen windows, and short-interval rescheduling.Establish and run a weekly cadence with each private label partner: confirm capacity, materials, changeovers, constraints, and execution risks; publish committed production schedules and shipment expectations.Serve as escalation owner for internal private label manufacturing disruptions (capacity loss, quality holds, supplier delays); communicate impacts and options to Product Supply and stakeholders within 24 hours.Personal AttributesComfortable working at a rapid paceStrong execution and decision makingStrong system and computer skillsStrong team playerStrong follow-up and communication skillsMust be punctual and dependableProblem solving skillsMust be able to multi-task and adaptMust have strong verbal and written communication skillsComfortable influencing partners and cross-functional teams without direct authorityStrong risk management mindset (anticipates constraints, builds contingencies)Able to lead structured escalation and recovery plans under time pressureStrong organizational skills (ability to manage multiple projects)Practical learning (assimilating and applying new information)Skills and Technical Expertise:Bachelor’s degree preferred (Supply Chain, Operations, Industrial Engineering, Analytics) or equivalent3–5+ years in production planning/scheduling in a manufacturing environment; food/CPG preferredExperience with co-manufacturing/co-packing/co-processing planning and performance management preferredStrong understanding of MRP drivers: lead times, yields, MOQ, safety stock, lot sizes, capacity constraintsBasic understanding of operational flow and systems coordinationAdvanced Excel skills (pivot tables, PowerQuery preferred); ability to build planning models and dashboardsWorking knowledge of quality/traceability requirements (lot control, holds/releases, COAs) in regulated manufacturingUnderstanding of operational data as how it relates to effective planning and cost controlsSense of urgency and ownership regarding the role and the needs of the departmentCompensation And BenefitsHighly competitive compensation package includes health and dental insurance, life and AD&D insurance, flexible spending accounts, health savings account, short and long-term disability, paid time off, Purpose Days off for company partner volunteer opportunities, and 401k with company match. Our Instinct is to CHAMPION DiversityAt Instinct, we are as passionate about our people as we are about the pets we call family. We are committed to inclusion, empowerment, and respect. We believe that just like our pets, what sets us apart unleashes our greatest strengths. We thrive on the ability to not only empower people to transform the lives of pets through raw nutrition, but also to empower each other to inspire a culture that celebrates our differences. Our unique approach to pet food is what makes us who we are as a company, and our individual identities are what makes us a successful, innovative, authentic team.