Production and Inventory Planner

Red River Commodities is a leading processor of sunflower seeds and specialty grains, specializing in high-quality, nutritious food products. We pride ourselves on our sustainable practices, innovation, and commitment to delivering superior products to our customers. Our team shares core values focused on quality, innovation, responsibility, and community. We work hard, play harder, embrace authenticity, and always support one another to achieve our goals.Location:

nd St N, Fargo, ND 58102

Position SummaryThe Production and Inventory Planner is a dual focus position responsible for production planning execution and enterprise wide inventory strategy. The position balances short term production scheduling and material readiness with long term inventory health, policy, and governance across the organization.

The role partners closely with operations, procurement, demand planning, logistics, finance, and plant leadership to ensure production plans are executable, inventory is accurate and optimized, and working capital is managed responsibly while supporting service level and growth objectives.
Key ResponsibilitiesProduction Planning Develop and maintain weekly and short term production schedules aligned with demand forecasts, inventory positions, and plant capacity constraints

Translate demand plans into executable production plans across one or more manufacturing facilities

Monitor schedule adherence, identify risks to execution, and proactively adjust plans to mitigate service disruptions

Coordinate closely with plant leadership on:

Line capacity and sequencing

Changeovers and run efficiencies

Material availability and constraints

Partner with procurement and logistics to ensure raw materials, packaging, and WIP are positioned to support planned production

Analyze planned vs. actual production performance and recommend continuous improvement opportunities

Support new product launches, promotions, and volume shifts with proactive production planning

Maintain planning accuracy within ERP/MRP systems and ensure data integrity supporting production execution
Corporate Inventory Management Own and govern inventory strategy across raw materials, packaging, WIP, and finished goods

Establish and maintain safety stock policies, reorder parameters, and planning rules by item and location

Monitor inventory health metrics including:

Inventory turns

Excess and obsolete exposure

Expiry and shelf life risk

Service level performance

Lead enterprise wide inventory optimization initiatives to balance service, cost, and working capital

Ensure inventory accuracy and discipline, partnering with operations and finance on cycle counts, physical inventories, and root cause analysis

Collaborate with operations to develop standardized inventory processes and expectations across facilities

Provide regular reporting and insights to leadership on inventory performance, risks, and opportunities

Support budgeting and forecasting by translating inventory strategy into financial impacts
Cross Functional Leadership & GovernanceServe as a key liaison between operations, procurement, demand planning, finance, and logistics

Drive alignment between what is sold, what is planned, what is produced, and what is stocked

Champion data accuracy, process discipline, and continuous improvement across planning and inventory workflows

Support system enhancements, process documentation, and planning governance standards
QualificationsRequiredBachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, or related field (or equivalent experience)3+ years of experience in production planning, inventory management, or supply chain roles within a manufacturing environment

Strong working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems and planning logic

Advanced analytical and problem solving skills

High proficiency in Excel and comfort working with planning and inventory data Ability to manage competing priorities and operate effectively in a fast paced, highly dynamic environment

Strong communication skills with the ability to influence cross functional stakeholdersPreferredExperience supporting multiple manufacturing facilities

Background in food, agriculture, or consumer packaged goods…