Operations Planning Lead

Requisition Id 15556 

Overview:

The Plasma Enrichment Deployment and Engineering Group in the Plasma Enrichment Science and Engineering Section (PESE) is seeking an Operations Planning Lead who will focus on long-term annual capacity planning to meet program objectives as well as short-term machine operations planning based on resource availability and changing operational conditions. This position resides in the Enrichment Science and Engineering Division (ESED) in the Isotope Science and Enrichment Directorate (ISED) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).

Our isotopic products enable a wide variety of applications, including curing cancer with radiopharmaceuticals, conducting basic scientific research, and ensuring our national security. ESED is the nation’s steward for the research, development, and demonstration of enrichment technologies. ORNL is a recognized leader in centrifuge and electromagnetic enrichment technology. We are the stewards and dispensary of the nation’s stable isotope inventory and have a legacy dating to the late 1940s. 

Major Duties/Responsibilities:

The Operations Planning Lead is responsible for developing and maintaining efficient production schedules that align mission goals, project milestones, resource availability, and operational capacity.

The ideal candidate will be highly adaptable and able to work closely with the Section Head and project managers to ensure program success by coordinating across departments and adapting schedules to dynamic operational conditions. The Master Scheduler/Planner will:

• Convert campaign and project goals into actionable schedules based on capacity, supplier lead times, and manufacturing constraints.
• Work with Control Account Managers and line management to prioritize resource allocation.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain staff to maintain optimal inventory levels to support service goals and avoid shortages with an ability to forecast materials and parts for production needs.
• Facilitate custom part acquisition by sending custom part drawings for quote to internal fabrication and submitting requests to Supply Chain.
• Monitor daily production performance and adjust schedules proactively to address material, design, or equipment changes
• Allocate equipment resources effectively to meet campaign targets
• Manage complex multi-facility scheduling across various product flows
• Track and report lead times for critical and custom parts to advise scheduling
• Deliver ORNL’s mission by aligning behaviors, priorities, and interactions with our core values of Impact, Integrity, Teamwork, Safety, and Service. Promote equal opportunity by fostering a respectful workplace – in how we treat one another, work together, and measure success.

Basic Qualifications:

• BS/BA degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in master scheduling or production planning.
• Excellent organizational skills and meticulous attention to detail, ensuring schedules are realistic, up-to-date, and aligned with operations and project timelines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to assess production capacities, manage constraints, and balance demand with supply effectively.
• Proven expertise using scheduling or ERP systems (such as SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Project, or similar software) to create and maintain production calendars.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Proven track record in technical environments with the ability to both collaborate with and lead multidisciplinary teams, including technicians, engineers, and researchers.
• Experience in a lean manufacturing or continuous improvement/Research and Development (R&D) environment to optimize scheduling efficiency and performance.
• A proactive, solution-oriented mindset with the capacity to prioritize tasks and adapt to changing operations and R&D demands and emergencies.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, enabling effective communication of complex schedules across different teams.
• Motivated self-starter with the ability to work independently and to participate creatively in collaborative teams across the laboratory.
• Ability to function well in a fast-paced research environment, set priorities to accomplish multiple tasks within deadlines, and adapt to ever changing needs.
• American Production & Inventory Control Society (APICS) Certification in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) is a plus.

Special Requirements:

Q Clearance: This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a clearance from the Department of Energy. As such, this position is a Workplace Substance Abuse (WSAP) testing designated position. WSAP positions require passing a pre-placement drug test and participation in an ongoing random drug testing program.

About ORNL:

As a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science national laboratory, ORNL has an impressive 80-year legacy of addressing the nation’s most pressing challenges. Our team is made up of over 7,000 dedicated and innovative individuals! Our goal is to create an environment where a variety of perspectives and backgrounds are valued, ensuring ORNL is known as a top choice for employment. These principles are essential for supporting our broader mission to drive scientific breakthroughs and translate them into solutions for energy, environmental, and security challenges facing the nation.

ORNL offers competitive pay and benefits programs to attract and retain individuals who demonstrate exceptional work behaviors. The laboratory provides a range of employee benefits, including medical and retirement plans and flexible work hours, to support the well-being of you and your family. Employee amenities such as on-site fitness, banking, and cafeteria facilities are also available for added convenience.

Other benefits include the following: Prescription Drug Plan, Dental Plan, Vision Plan, 401(k) Retirement Plan, Contributory Pension Plan, Life Insurance, Disability Benefits, Generous Vacation and Holidays, Parental Leave, Legal Insurance with Identity Theft Protection, Employee Assistance Plan, Flexible Spending Accounts, Health Savings Accounts, Wellness Programs, Educational Assistance, Relocation Assistance, and Employee Discounts.

Relocation:

Moving can be overwhelming and expensive. UT-Battelle offers a generous relocation package to ease the transition process. Domestic and international relocation assistance is available for certain positions. If invited to interview, be sure to ask your Recruiter (Talent Acquisition Partner) for details.

If you have difficulty using the online application system or need an accommodation to apply due to a disability, please email: ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

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This position will remain open for a minimum of 5 days after which it will close when a qualified candidate is identified and/or hired.

We accept Word (.doc, .docx), Adobe (unsecured .pdf), Rich Text Format (.rtf), and HTML (.htm, .html) up to 5MB in size. Resumes from third party vendors will not be accepted; these resumes will be deleted and the candidates submitted will not be considered for employment.

If you have trouble applying for a position, please email ORNLRecruiting@ornl.gov.

ORNL is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans, are encouraged to apply.  UT-Battelle is an E-Verify employer.