Vice President Production Planning & Continuous Improvement

Vice President Production Planning & Continuous Improvement

About PROENERGY

PROENERGY is an engineering, R&D, and manufacturing powerhouse. The company addresses every need for fast-start power generation: turbine and package manufacturing, turnkey project execution, power purchase agreements, and asset lifecycle care for turbines and plants. Where others see impossible energy challenges, PROENERGY provides innovative aeroderivative solutions.

Our Footprint

PROENERGY delivers fast-start, dispatchable power solutions from worldwide centers for aeroderivative excellence. The company is investing more than $1 billion through 2028 in infrastructure to serve customers.

• Sedalia, Missouri: 600,000 sq ft Center for Excellence in Manufacturing—a world-class investment in fast-start power and the only campus of its kind in the world—is growing by 40 percent.
• Houston, Texas: 500,000 sq ft Center for Excellence in Lifecycle Care features a Level-IV depot and aero repair facility, which executes comprehensive services for aeroderivative engines under one roof.
• Kansas City: Office with an Engineering team that supports solutions for turnkey projects and contracted power.
• Worldwide service centers: Locations in Phoenix, Buenos Aires, New Brunswick, and additional locations in Europe, Australia, and Southeast Asia ensure local service expertise near customers.

Our Philosophy

We take care of our people and strive to make a positive difference for the world. We offer competitive pay, excellent benefits that include Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life/Disability Insurance at minimal cost to the employee, 10 paid holidays, paid time off, and a 401K plan.

Position Summary

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Vice President of Production Planning & Continuous Improvement to lead end-to-end production planning and drive a culture of operational excellence across the organization. This executive role is responsible for optimizing the entire production value chain—from demand forecasting and capacity planning to scheduling, execution, and delivery—while championing continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, quality, cost, and agility.

The ideal candidate is a visionary leader who combines deep expertise in supply chain and manufacturing operations with a proven track record in Lean, Six Sigma, and transformative process improvement. This VP will play a critical role in aligning production capabilities with business objectives, reducing waste, and building resilient, high-performing operations teams.

Reports To: SVP Operations

Work Location: 2001 Proenergy Blvd, Sedalia, MO 65301 (with travel to manufacturing sites as required)

Position Responsibilities

Production Planning Leadership

• Own end-to-end production planning processes, including demand forecasting, production scheduling, material requirements planning (MRP), capacity planning, and finite scheduling.
• Develop and implement integrated planning strategies that balance customer demand, inventory levels, and operational constraints to achieve world-class on-time delivery, fill rates, and inventory turnover.
• Partner closely with Master Scheduling, Procurement, and Finance to create accurate forecasts and align production plans with capacity targets and strategic initiatives.
• Oversee production control, shop floor execution, and material handling integration to ensure seamless flow from raw materials to finished goods.
• Leverage advanced planning systems (APS), ERP, and data analytics to drive visibility, scenario planning, and decision-making.

Continuous Improvement Leadership

• Establish and lead a comprehensive Continuous Improvement (CI) program across all manufacturing and supply chain operations, utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, 5S, Value Stream Mapping, and other methodologies.
• Identify, prioritize, and execute high-impact improvement projects that deliver measurable gains in productivity, quality, cost reduction, cycle time, and safety.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence by training, coaching, and mentoring leaders and frontline teams in CI principles and tools.
• Drive root cause analysis, corrective/preventive actions, and standardization of best practices across sites.
• Track and report on CI KPIs, including OEE (Overall Equipment Effectiveness), scrap/rework reduction, throughput improvements, and cost savings.

Strategic & Leadership Responsibilities

• Build, develop, and lead high-performing teams in Production Planning, Scheduling, and Continuous Improvement functions.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to define and execute the operations strategy, including capacity expansion, technology adoption, and digital transformation initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Manage departmental budgets and deliver year-over-year improvements in operational efficiency and financial performance.
• Serve as a key change agent, promoting data-driven decision making and a continuous improvement mindset throughout the organization.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or relevant experience. MBA or Master's degree strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, supply chain operations, continuous improvement, with at least 7 years in leadership roles.
• Proven expertise in both end-to-end production planning and Lean/Six Sigma continuous improvement in complex, multi-site environments.
• Demonstrated success delivering significant, quantifiable operational improvements (cost savings, efficiency gains, quality enhancements).
• Strong experience with ERP systems (SAP, Oracle, D365), advanced planning tools, and data analytics platforms.
• Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean Master, or equivalent certification highly preferred.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• Must be able to speak, read, and write English fluently.
• US work authorization is a precondition of employment. The company will not consider candidates who require sponsorship for a work-authorized visa.
• Successful candidate will need to satisfactorily complete pre-employment drug screen and background check.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Demonstrated success leading major capacity expansion projects and delivering measurable continuous improvement results (e.g., productivity gains, cost reductions).
• Expert knowledge of Lean/Six Sigma methodologies and change management.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing large capital budgets and driving cost efficiency.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, technically demanding environment with high quality standards.
• Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems, MES, and modern manufacturing software tools.
• Willingness to travel as needed (20-40%).

Equal Opportunity

It is PROENERGY's policy to provide equal opportunity in employment to all its employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, age, disability, national origin, marital status, ancestry, medical condition, military status, or any other characteristic protected by State or Federal law.