James Hardie

Supply Chain Manager - Production Planning

James Hardie  •  $115k - $135k/yr  •  Chicago, IL (Onsite)  •  56 minutes ago
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Job Description

James Hardie is the industry leader in exterior home and outdoor living solutions, with a portfolio that includes fiber cement, fiber gypsum, composite and PVC decking and railing products. Our family of trusted brands includes Hardie®, TimberTech®, AZEK® Exteriors, Versatex®, fermacell®, and StruXure®.

With over 8,000 employees and our U.S. operating entities headquartered in Chicago, we boast 31 operating sites, 6 recycling facilities, and 6 research and development centers globally. Powered by a dynamic workforce, we’re united by our purpose of Building a Better Future for All™ through sustainable innovation, a Zero Harm culture, and a commitment to empowering our people and communities.

For more information, visit www.jameshardie.com.

Summary

The Supply Chain Department Manager - Sheet Machine Production Planning leads production planning, inventory deployment, service execution, and supply chain optimization across James Hardie's North American manufacturing network. The role is responsible for translating demand and network requirements into executable plant production plans while balancing customer service, manufacturing efficiency, inventory investment, and transportation cost.

As a leader within Supply Chain Planning Operations, this role establishes planning standards, develops production planning talent, and serves as a key escalation point between manufacturing sites and centralized Supply Chain teams. The position coordinates responses to operational constraints and disruptions, drives service performance, and ensures planning decisions support enterprise priorities.

The role partners closely with Manufacturing, Customer Service, Transportation, Demand Planning, Capacity Planning, Sourcing, and Information Technology to improve planning effectiveness and leverage SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO), analytics, and automation to enable stronger decision-making and execution.

What You’ll Do:

Production Planning & Service Execution

  • Lead production planning and inventory deployment across multiple North American manufacturing sites to maintain customer service while maximizing production efficiency.
  • Balance production requirements, inventory availability, customer demand, and transportation considerations to optimize network execution.
  • Monitor service risks, inventory shortages, production constraints, and order priorities; drive timely escalation and resolution.
  • Coordinate response plans for equipment failures, quality issues, material shortages, downtime, and other production disruptions.
  • Support production trials, product launches, and network changes while protecting service and operational continuity.

Team Leadership & Planning Governance

  • Lead, coach, and develop a team of production planners supporting multiple manufacturing sites.
  • Establish consistent planning standards, service expectations, escalation protocols, and execution disciplines.
  • Guide planners through complex service, inventory, capacity, and production trade-offs.
  • Hold the team accountable for proactive order management, planning accuracy, issue escalation, and execution quality.

Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Partner with Manufacturing, Customer Service, Transportation, Demand Planning, Capacity Planning, Sourcing, and Information Technology to align priorities and execution plans.
  • Lead cross-functional discussions on service performance, plant constraints, inventory risks, and production readiness.
  • Serve as a primary escalation point between plant operations and corporate Supply Chain teams to resolve issues and align decisions.
  • Communicate planning risks, operating constraints, and recommended actions clearly to functional and senior leaders.

Supply Chain Analytics & Continuous Improvement

  • Use data, dashboards, and analytics to identify service risks, operational constraints, and improvement opportunities.
  • Analyze production, inventory, transportation, and service trends to support business decisions and network optimization.
  • Lead continuous-improvement initiatives that strengthen planning efficiency, reduce inventory, and improve service performance.
  • Develop and standardize tools, processes, and reporting that improve visibility, scalability, and execution discipline.

Planning Systems & Digital Enablement

  • Use SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO) to support production planning, inventory deployment, and decision-making.
  • Lead improvements to planning-system functionality, automation, and analytical capabilities.
  • Ensure planning master data, system parameters, and planning outputs support effective execution and reliable decision-making.
  • Partner with Information Technology and business stakeholders to identify and implement system and process enhancements.

What You’ll Bring:

Education & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, Engineering, or a related field preferred.
  • 5-7 years of progressive experience in production planning, supply chain planning, manufacturing operations, inventory management, or a related discipline preferred
  • Experience leading and developing planning or supply chain teams across a multi-site environment preferred
  • Demonstrated experience managing service, inventory, production, and capacity trade-offs in a manufacturing network.
  • Experience leading cross-functional issue resolution and continuous-improvement initiatives.

Technical & Analytical Skills

  • Strong analytical and structured problem-solving skills, with the ability to translate complex operating data into practical decisions.
  • Working knowledge of production planning, inventory deployment, service management, and manufacturing constraints.
  • Experience with SAP Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO) or comparable advanced planning systems Preferred.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and business intelligence or analytics tools such as Power BI.
  • Ability to communicate complex planning issues, trade-offs, and recommendations to both operational and senior leadership audiences.

Core Competencies

  • People Leadership: Builds team capability, establishes clear expectations, and coaches planners through complex operational decisions.
  • Planning & Execution: Translates demand, inventory, and production requirements into practical plans that support service and manufacturing performance.
  • Structured Problem Solving: Quickly assesses constraints, evaluates trade-offs, and drives effective resolution of complex supply chain issues.
  • Business Acumen: Balances customer service, inventory, production efficiency, and transportation cost to support enterprise outcomes.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Builds productive partnerships across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Customer Service, Sourcing, and Information Technology.
  • Continuous Improvement: Identifies opportunities to simplify, standardize, automate, and improve planning processes and tools.
  • Communication & Influence: Provides clear visibility to risks and priorities and drives alignment across teams without relying solely on formal authority.
  • Systems & Analytical Acumen: Uses planning systems, data, and analytics to improve decision quality, execution, and visibility.

What You’ll Receive:

As of the date of this posting, a good faith estimate of the current pay scale for this position is $115,000 to $135,000. Placement in the range depends on several factors such as experience, skills, geography and internal equity and may change over time. This position qualifies for benefits and you will be eligible to participate in a bonus plan.

At James Hardie, we recognize that our success depends on our people. We've worked hard to build a generous and competitive benefits program that demonstrates our commitment to our employees.

  • Compensation: competitive salary and bonus eligibility
  • Insurance: day-one health coverage medical, dental, vision, life insurance
  • Paid Time Off: vacation and company holidays
  • Retirement: 401(k) with 6% match
  • Investments: Employee Stock Purchase plan (ESP)
  • Work-Life Balance: parental leave, wellness programs
  • Purpose. Impact. Community: Sustainability Initiatives | James Hardie

James Hardie Building Products Inc. is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, genetic information, veteran's status, marital status, pregnancy, disability, or any other basis protected by law.

James Hardie will comply with any applicable state and local laws regarding employee leave benefits, including, but not limited to providing time off pursuant to the Colorado Healthy Families and Workplaces Act, in accordance with its plans and policies.

The position responsibilities outlined above are in no way to be construed as all encompassing. Other duties, responsibilities, and qualifications may be required and/or assigned as necessary.

James Hardie

About James Hardie

James Hardie Industries is the world’s #1 producer and marketer of high-performance fiber cement and fiber gypsum building solutions. We employ a diverse global workforce of approximately 5,800 employees across operations in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, and generated more than $3.9 billion in net sales during our 2024 financial year.

We believe that home is a sanctuary and a canvas for self-expression without compromise. As the trusted innovator and industry leader in the markets where we operate, James Hardie empowers homeowners and building professionals alike to achieve their dream home with premium quality solutions that enable endless possibilities for design and aesthetics, while also delivering trusted protection and long-lasting beauty.

Key to this effort is our dedication to our customers, market driven innovation, an inclusive and empowering company culture, and an unwavering commitment to our Zero Harm safety initiative. We also recognize the company’s ability to influence the communities in which we live and work around the world. While operating with a global mindset, we put great care into how our business impacts the local communities in which we operate and serve by sourcing locally, employing locally and delivering locally.

Industry
Wholesale & Distribution
Company Size
1,001-5,000 employees
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Year Founded
Unknown
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