Planning Manager

Date:  Mar 24, 2026

Ankeny, IA, US, 50021

Position Overview

The Planning Manager within the NA Operations function is responsible for aligning supply and demand over an 18-month rolling horizon. This role leads the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) operations planning process. Key responsibilities include developing and maintaining economical batch sizes, updating safety stock percentages monthly, executing production overrides with TWC impact calculation, reviewing sales forecast for risks and opportunities, and ensuring product availability to support sales while maintaining optimal inventory levels. The position involves analyzing ERP/MRP outputs, providing actions on SMOG, issuing watchouts from analyzing DIO coverage, managing production volumes attained on a weekly and monthly basis, and contributing to efficient inventory operations. Success in this role requires proactively analyzing for forecast accuracy, responding to changes such as rush orders or fluctuations in the sales forecast, strong attention to detail, excellent organizational skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments.

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Production Planning (Rough-Cut/MRP): Monthly maintenance of economical batch sizes and update production plan overrides.


Inventory Monitoring: Daily tracking of inventory levels to ensure adequate stock for production and sales. Promptly reporting any stock-out shortages or related concerns.


System Data Management: Monthly entering and maintaining of accurate data in inventory and planning systems, ensuring timely and precise transaction records.


Cycle Counting: Monthly oversight of cycle counting activities to ensure ongoing inventory accuracy.


Discrepancy Management: Resolving inventory discrepancies by managing tolerance thresholds and collaborating with receiving, shipping, production, and finance teams as necessary.


Inventory Reporting: Monthly analysis of reports on slow-moving, obsolete goods, and excess inventories. Provide actionable insights to support decision-making.


Process Optimization: Lead continuous improvement by identifying and implementing SOPs for key initiatives around inventory control, focusing on efficiency, accuracy, and best practices.


Compliance Oversight: Ensure proper setup and compliance with BOM, CSF, SPSF and all relevant confidential and regulatory formulation information as needed.


Cross-Functional Collaboration: Daily monitoring and working closely with production schedulers, requisitioners, and other departments to avoid shortages and overstock scenarios.

The Qualifications

High school diploma or equivalent; associate or bachelor’s degree in business, logistics, supply chain management, or a related field preferred.Proficiency in inventory management software (e.g., SAP, Oracle, or similar systems).
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
Ability to work independently and as a part of a team.
Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, Outlook and Teams).

Preferred Experience

5+ years of experience in inventory control, warehouse management, production planning or a related field.

Ability to work in a warehouse environment with varying temperatures and utilize office setting.
• Position requires occasional travel and contact with other colleagues outside of traditional working hours.

The Perks

Benefits will be discussed at interview

Albaugh, founded in 1979, produces and sells crop protection products used by farmers in our principal Markets in North America (United States and Canada), Mexico and LATAM North, Brazil, Argentina, and Europe.  We offer competitive alternatives to meeting farmers' crop protection needs, thereby helping to secure an affordable supply of food.  In each of our principal Markets, Albaugh operates efficient manufacturing facilities which assure the quality of the products we supply with rigorous standards of assuring environmental health and safety.

Company Vision: To be the leading alternative for crop protection products globally.

Company Mission: To create value for our customers by applying our unique efficiencies to provide a broad and sustainable portfolio of high quality, competitively- priced crop protection products.

Core Values: Entrepreneurship & Focus, Efficiency & Competitiveness, Integrity & Responsibility, Persistence & Teamwork.


Nearest Major Market: Des Moines