Specialist Production Planner

Career CategoryOperationsJob Description
Join Amgen’s Mission of Serving Patients
At Amgen, if you feel like you’re part of something bigger, it’s because you are. Our shared mission—to serve patients living with serious illnesses—drives all that we do.
Since 1980, we’ve helped pioneer the world of biotech in our fight against the world’s toughest diseases. Amgen is advancing a broad and deep pipeline and portfolio of medicines to treat heart disease, obesity and obesity-related conditions, rare diseases, inflammatory conditions and cancer. As a member of the Amgen team, you’ll help make a lasting impact on the lives of patients as we research, manufacture, and deliver innovative medicines to help people live longer, fuller happier lives.
Our award-winning culture is collaborative, innovative, and science based. If you have a passion for challenges and the opportunities that lay within them, you’ll thrive as part of the Amgen team. Join us and transform the lives of patients while transforming your career.
Specialist Production Planner
What you will do
The Specialist Production Planner serves as a key member of the Supply Chain organization responsible for translating business demand into executable manufacturing plans while ensuring effective day-to-day execution within planning and manufacturing systems. This role combines production planning, manufacturing execution support, and data analytics to ensure production plans are accurately translated into SAP and other planning systems and effectively executed across Manufacturing. The position partners closely with Manufacturing, Finite Scheduling, Quality, Procurement, Warehouse, and Global Supply Chain to identify and resolve execution risks, maintain planning and master data integrity, and support supply continuity. The individual will leverage strong analytical and digital capabilities to develop reporting, KPIs, dashboards, and automation that improve planning visibility and decision-making, while supporting the continued digital transformation of Production Planning, including SAP S/4HANA and digital planning capabilities.
Responsibilities:
Production Planning & Scenario Analysis
· Develop and maintain executable production plans for commercial and/or pipeline manufacturing platforms within SAP, RapidResponse, and other planning systems.
· Support production planning activities including campaign sequencing, capacity utilization, inventory requirements, changeovers, and supply commitments.
· Evaluate planning scenarios and provide data-driven recommendations balancing manufacturing capacity, inventory, customer demand, operational constraints, and business priorities.
· Support Monthly Planning Cycle (MPC), Long Range Strategy (LRS), Annual Operating Plan (AOP), and ad hoc scenario-planning activities.
· Identify production and supply risks and partner cross-functionally to develop mitigation strategies.
Manufacturing Execution & SAP
· Translate approved production plans and finite schedules into accurate execution within SAP.
· Create, release, monitor, maintain, and close production/process orders in alignment with approved manufacturing schedules and execution priorities.
· Serve as a key point of coordination between Production Planning, Manufacturing, and Finite Scheduling to ensure plans are executable and accurately represented within planning and execution systems.
· Monitor production order status, confirmations, material consumption, inventory movements, and other execution data to proactively identify discrepancies and execution risks.
· Support short-term production schedule changes by ensuring SAP transactions, orders, and planning systems accurately reflect operational requirements.
· Support planning-related Master Data accuracy and partner with appropriate functions to resolve BOM, recipe, material, and system-data issues.
· Support planning and execution activities associated with SAP S/4HANA implementation and future system/process changes.
Data Analytics, KPIs & Digital Enablement
· Develop and maintain production planning and manufacturing execution KPIs, dashboards, and analytical tools that improve visibility and decision-making.
· Leverage advanced Microsoft Excel capabilities to analyze complex datasets, develop analytical tools, automate recurring activities, identify trends, and translate data into actionable insights.
· Utilize tools such as Power BI, Smartsheet, SAP analytics, and other digital platforms to improve reporting and visualization.
· Identify opportunities to automate transactional and reporting activities, reducing manual effort and improving data accuracy and reliability.
· Support development and implementation of digital Production Planning capabilities, including integration of planning standards, capacity information, and execution data.
· Explore opportunities to leverage automation and AI to improve Production Planning processes and decision support.
Continuous Improvement & Cross-Functional Leadership
· Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives across Production Planning and manufacturing execution processes.
· Develop and maintain SOPs, work instructions, standard work, and planning-related documentation.
· Support Change Controls, CAPAs, deviations, internal audits, and regulatory inspections as required.
· Partner effectively across Manufacturing, Quality, Warehouse, Procurement, Finite Scheduling, Engineering, and Global Supply Chain.
· Clearly communicate planning risks, execution issues, analytical insights, and recommendations to stakeholders and leadership.
· Lead cross-functional problem solving and contribute to standardized Production Planning best practices.
· Provide knowledge sharing, coaching, and technical support to strengthen planning and execution capabilities across the organization.
What we expect of you
We are all different, yet we all use our unique contributions to serve patients. The dedicated professional we seek is a problem solver with these qualifications.
Basic Qualifications:
High school diploma / GED and 10 years of Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or Operations experience OR
Associate’s degree and 8 years of Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or Operations experience OR
Bachelor’s degree and 4 years of Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or Operations experience OR
Master’s degree and 2 years of Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or Operations experience OR
Doctorate degree
Preferred Qualifications:
5+ years of experience in Supply Chain, Production Planning, Manufacturing Operations, Manufacturing Execution, or related functions.
Experience supporting biologics, pharmaceutical, or other regulated manufacturing operations.
Strong understanding of production planning concepts including capacity planning, inventory management, campaign scheduling, manufacturing execution, and supply planning.
Strong SAP experience, preferably supporting production/process orders, manufacturing execution, material management, or planning processes.
Experience with RapidResponse/Kinaxis or equivalent advanced planning systems preferred.
Advanced Microsoft Excel skills with demonstrated ability to analyze complex datasets, develop analytical tools, and automate recurring activities.
Demonstrated experience developing KPIs, dashboards, reporting solutions, and actionable business insights using Excel, Power BI, Smartsheet, SAP analytics, or similar tools.
Experience using data analysis to identify trends, troubleshoot operational issues, and support business decisions.
Experience with process improvement, automation, or digital transformation initiatives.
Experience supporting ERP implementations or major system transitions, including SAP S/4HANA, preferred.
Familiarity with MES/WERUM, SAP integration, Master Data, CDOCS, TrackWise, or related manufacturing/quality systems.
Demonstrated ability to operate effectively in a dynamic manufacturing environment with changing priorities and competing demands.
Strong problem-solving skills with attention to data integrity, planning accuracy, and execution discipline.
Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across functions without direct authority.
Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex planning and execution data into clear recommendations.
Experience leveraging automation, AI, or emerging digital technologies to improve business processes is highly desirable.
What you can expect from us
As we work to develop treatments that take care of others, we also work to care for your professional and personal growth and well-being. From our competitive benefits to our collaborative culture, we’ll support your journey every step of the way.
The expected annual salary range for this role in the U.S. (excluding Puerto Rico) is posted. Actual salary will vary based on several factors including but not limited to, relevant skills, experience, and qualifications.
In addition to the base salary, Amgen offers a Total Rewards Plan, based on eligibility, comprising of health and welfare plans for staff and eligible dependents, financial plans with opportunities to save t