Tactical Planner

Job Description Summary

The Tactical Planner drives and manages the Master Production Schedule across the tactical planning horizon, typically 4 to 24 months, ensuring that capacity and resources are in place to support the agreed demand plan. The role is critical to maintaining reliable product availability, meeting customer requirements in the right quantity and at the right time, and keeping inventory at the next handover point in the supply chain within agreed target levels.

In essence, this role is accountable for enabling strong customer service performance through effective tactical planning and supply coordination. The Tactical Planner translates approved plans into executable schedules, anticipates constraints, and works closely with cross-functional stakeholders to protect supply continuity, optimize inventory, and improve operational efficiency. The role also supports the timely implementation of lifecycle-related changes where relevant and ensures all activities are carried out in full compliance with regulatory, GMP, HSE, and quality requirements.

Are you passionate about turning demand signals into smart, executable production plans? You will work cross-functionally with manufacturing, supply chain, and site leadership to anticipate constraints, driving performance, and supporting reliable product supply in a highly regulated environment.

 

Job Description

Major accountabilities:

• Develop and manage the Master Production Schedule for the tactical horizon, aligning production volumes with demand, inventory targets, and available capacity.
• Lead capacity and resource planning for the production unit to ensure the agreed demand plan can be executed reliably and efficiently.
• Align the tactical production plan with the approved S&OP plan and confirm supply and firmed production orders at the entry point of the planning time fence.
• Identify potential supply, capacity, or resource constraints and coordinate cross-functional mitigation plans to protect service levels.
• Optimize planning parameters and local planning processes, including lead times, campaign sizes, product segmentation, and production frequency.
• Ensure the right level of SKU inventory at the next handover point in the supply chain to support customer service and inventory targets.
• Monitor, analyze, and report supply chain and planning KPIs, while driving continuous improvement in service, process efficiency, and cost performance.
• Facilitate Supply Review Meetings and ensure compliance with cGxP, data integrity, HSE, SOPs, and quality standards.

Obligatory requirements:

• Degree in a technical, scientific, economics, supply chain, or logistics-related field.
• 3+ years of experience in pharmaceutical manufacturing or a similarly regulated environment, with strong exposure to supply chain, production planning, logistics, or inventory management.
• Demonstrated expertise in master production scheduling, tactical planning, capacity planning, and resource coordination.
• Strong understanding of shop floor operations, site planning processes, and supply chain handover points.
• Experience with ERP and planning systems, ideally including SAP and related site or network planning tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills, with the agility to manage changing priorities and coordinate stakeholders across functions.

Desirable requirements:

• APICS certification such as CPIM or CSCP is an advantage.

Commitment To Diversity And Inclusion

Novartis is committed to building an outstanding, inclusive work environment and diverse teams representative of the patients and communities we serve.

Why Novartis: Helping people with disease and their families takes more than innovative science. It takes a community of smart, passionate people like you. Collaborating, supporting and inspiring each other. Combining to achieve breakthroughs that change patients’ lives. Ready to create a brighter future together? https://www.novartis.com/about/strategy/people-and-culture

Benefits and Rewards: Learn about all the ways we’ll help you thrive personally and professionally.

 

Skills Desired