Production and Inventory Planner at Red River Commodities – Fargo, North Dakota

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: 501 42nd St N, Fargo, ND 58102

Position Summary

The 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 Responsibilities

Production Planning

Develop and maintain weekly and short‑term production schedules aligned with demand forecasts, inventory positions, and plant capacity constraintsTranslate demand plans into executable production plans across one or more manufacturing facilitiesMonitor schedule adherence, identify risks to execution, and proactively adjust plans to mitigate service disruptionsCoordinate 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 productionAnalyze planned vs. actual production performance and recommend continuous improvement opportunitiesSupport new product launches, promotions, and volume shifts with proactive production planningMaintain 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 goodsEstablish and maintain safety stock policies, reorder parameters, and planning rules by item and locationMonitor 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 capitalEnsure inventory accuracy and discipline, partnering with operations and finance on cycle counts, physical inventories, and root‑cause analysisCollaborate with operations to develop standardized inventory processes and expectations across facilitiesProvide regular reporting and insights to leadership on inventory performance, risks, and opportunitiesSupport budgeting and forecasting by translating inventory strategy into financial impacts

Cross‑Functional Leadership & Governance

Serve as a key liaison between operations, procurement, demand planning, finance, and logisticsDrive alignment between what is sold, what is planned, what is produced, and what is stockedChampion data accuracy, process discipline, and continuous improvement across planning and inventory workflowsSupport system enhancements, process documentation, and planning governance standards

Qualifications

Required

Bachelor’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 environmentStrong working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems and planning logicAdvanced analytical and problem‑solving skillsHigh proficiency in Excel and comfort working with planning and inventory dataAbility to manage competing priorities and operate effectively in a fast‑paced, highly dynamic environmentStrong communication skills with the ability to influence cross‑functional stakeholdersPreferred

Experience supporting multiple manufacturing facilitiesBackground in food, agriculture, or consumer packaged goods manufacturingExperience leading inventory optimization or working capital initiatives

Company Benefits:

At Red River Commodities, we value our employees and are committed to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment. As a member of our team, you will enjoy a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, and opportunities for career growth and development. Below are some additional benefits that we offer.

On-demand pay available through TapcheckPaid time offPaid Holidays401k & company matchProfit SharingEmployee Assistance Program

Red River Commodities and its subsidiaries are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all employment practices within our organization. Red River Commodities makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

We are committed to maintaining a legal and compliant workplace. As part of our hiring process, Red River Commodities participates in the E-Verify program.