Production Planner

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Village Gourmet is a dynamic, purpose-driven company launched in 2020 in New York City. We unite heritage meat brands—like Three Little Pigs, Fabrique Délices, Longhini Sausage, Uncle Charley's, and_ Esposito's _—under one vision: making moments magical through authentic, high-quality products. With three SQF-certified facilities nationwide and a leadership team focused on innovation and customer delight, we blend tradition with modern growth. At Village Gourmet, our culture is built around our core values : It Takes a Village (teamwork), Always a Way (relentlessness), Count on Me (reliability), Dream Big (boldness), and Customer First (commitment to both our internal teams and external customers) . These values guide how we work, grow, and deliver on our promise of excellence every day.

ROLE OVERVIEW

The Production Planner for Longhini Sausage is responsible for developing, coordinating, and optimizing daily and weekly production schedules to ensure efficient operations, on-time order fulfillment, and optimal inventory levels. This role serves as a critical link between sales, procurement, and production teams, balancing customer demand with plant capacity while maintaining product quality and cost efficiency.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Production Planning & Scheduling Develop and maintain daily and weekly production schedules aligned with customer demand and forecast. Sequence production runs to maximize efficiency, minimize changeovers, and reduce downtime. Adjust schedules in real-time based on labor, material availability, and equipment constraints. 2. Demand & Inventory Alignment Collaborate with Sales and Demand Planning to translate forecasts into actionable production plans. Monitor finished goods and raw material inventory levels to prevent shortages or overproduction. Ensure appropriate safety stock levels are maintained for key SKUs. 3. Cross-Functional Coordination Partner with Procurement to ensure timely availability of raw materials and packaging. Communicate production priorities and changes clearly to plant leadership and supervisors. Work closely with Quality and Maintenance teams to align schedules with operational readiness. 4. Continuous Improvement & Efficiency Identify opportunities to improve production flow, reduce waste, and enhance throughput. Analyze planning data to optimize line utilization and labor efficiency. Assist with ERP/MRP system improvements and planning tools by reviewing work orders and ICTs against BOMs and cost cards, ensuring both operational and financial transparency. 5. Reporting & Performance Tracking Track and report key planning metrics including schedule adherence and service levels. Maintain accurate planning data within ERP systems. Provide insights and recommendations to leadership based on production trends.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

Required:

Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience). 2-5 years of experience in production planning, scheduling, or supply chain in a manufacturing environment (food manufacturing preferred). Strong understanding of MRP/ERP systems and production planning principles. Proficiency in Microsoft Excel (data analysis, pivot tables, forecasting tools).

Preferred:

Experience in USDA or SQF-certified food production environments. Familiarity with perishables and shelf-life-sensitive products.

APICS/CPIM

certification or similar.

Technical Skills:

ERP/MRP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, or similar) Data analysis and reporting tools Production scheduling software

Soft Skills:

Strong problem-solving and decision-making ability Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration High attention to detail and organizational skills Ability to adapt quickly in a fast-paced environment

WORK SCHEDULE & JOB DETAILS

Standard schedule: Monday-Friday, 7:00 am - 4:00 pm with flexibility based on production needs. This role is on-site at the Longhini Sausage production facility, 41 Longhini Lane, New Haven, CT 06519 Occasional extended hours or weekend work may be required to support production demands.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS & WORK ENVIRONMENT

Ability to sit and work at a computer for extended periods. Frequent walking on the production floor. Exposure to refrigerated environments and food production areas. Must adhere to all food safety, GMP, and PPE requirements. Ability to lift up to 25 lbs occasionally.

OUTCOMES

(What Success Looks Like): Production schedules are consistently met with minimal disruptions. High service levels with on-time and in-full (OTIF) order fulfillment. Optimized inventory levels with reduced waste and obsolescence. Strong cross-functional alignment resulting in smooth plant operations. Continuous improvements in efficiency, throughput, and cost control.

KEY METRICS

Schedule Adherence (%) = (Actual Production ÷ Planned Production) × 100 On-Time In-Full (OTIF) (%) = (Orders Delivered On Time & Complete ÷ Total Orders) × 100 Inventory Turns = Cost of Goods Sold ÷ Average Inventory Production Downtime Reduction (%) = (Downtime Reduction ÷ Baseline Downtime) × 100 Waste Reduction (%) = (Waste Reduction ÷ Total Production Volume) × 100 EQUAL

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Job Type:

Full-time Pay:

$60,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) 401(k) matching Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Health savings account Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Referral program Vision insurance

Work Location:

In person