Production Planner

Iovance Biotherapeutics aims to be the global leader in innovating, developing and delivering tumor infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy for people with cancer. We are pioneering a transformational approach to treating cancer by harnessing the ability of the human immune system to recognize and attack diverse cancer cells in each patient. The Iovance TIL platform has demonstrated promising clinical data across multiple solid tumors. We are committed to continuous innovation in cell therapy, including gene-edited cell therapy, which may be a promising option for patients with cancer.

Overview

The Production Planner is the owner and responsible for managing and scheduling production plans for sampling, testing, issuance, bulk manufacturing, and final product shipments at Iovance Cell Therapy Center (iCTC) located in Navy Yard, PA and third-party manufacturing contractors as required. The Production Planner is key communication link between Manufacturing, Materials, Quality, Logistics, Maintenance, MSAT, Commercial, Clinical, and other teams to address additions, changes, substitutions, etc. in the schedule and ensure it is balanced, consistent with Iovance objectives, and meets patient needs. The Production Planner will follow business rules that govern lead times, incubation times, and other planning parameters. The Production Planner will ensure all plants within the manufacturing network execute to the approved production plan through the facilitation of forecasting and supply meetings.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

• Develop, establish, and maintain the site Production Schedule for the defined planning horizon, including production date, shift, production sequence, and manufacturing room assignments. Optimize the schedule based on cleaning requirements, incubation windows, material storage and staging requirements, workforce availability, equipment capacity, room availability, and other operational constraints to maximize manufacturing throughput, schedule adherence, and batch success.
• Develop, publish, and maintain integrated weekly Warehouse, Production, and Maintenance schedules to support execution of S&OP-approved production volumes and patient demand. Incorporate known constraints related to material availability, trained resources, equipment, facility capacity, maintenance activities, quality requirements, and other dependencies that may impact production execution or final product delivery.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for the near-term Production Schedule, typically covering the next two weeks, coordinating with Manufacturing, Buyer/Planning, Logistics, Facilities, Warehouse, Quality Control, IT, and other impacted functions. Facilitate timely resolution of scheduling conflicts and make informed scheduling decisions within the scope of the role, prioritizing patient impact, product delivery, safety, quality, compliance, and overall site objectives.
• Monitor and evaluate production plan execution against actual performance on a routine basis. Maintain accurate planning and scheduling systems and tracking mechanisms to provide visibility to the status and progression of production orders, material requirements, and key activities throughout the manufacturing and supply chain network.
• Compile, analyze, and communicate production planning and schedule performance metrics using current, historical, and predictive data. Identify trends, recurring constraints, capacity gaps, and opportunities for improvement, and implement appropriate course corrections to Warehouse, Production, and Maintenance schedules to improve schedule adherence and operational performance.
• Proactively identify and communicate processing gaps, capacity constraints, and risks that may impact production or patient delivery commitments to Site Leadership and relevant functional stakeholders. Develop data-driven recovery and mitigation strategies to address manufacturing deficiencies, minimize potential delays, and expedite resolution and approval of recovery plans. Update the Production Plan as required and promptly communicate schedule changes and associated impacts to affected departments.
• Partner with the Buyer/Planner organization to ensure continuity of material supply in alignment with the Production Schedule. Monitor material availability and consumption, validate appropriate inventory targets and coverage for assigned product lines, identify actual or potential shortages and usage bottlenecks, and coordinate mitigation strategies to prevent material constraints from impacting production.
• Support and drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on improving production planning, scheduling efficiency, capacity utilization, forecast-to-plan alignment, and schedule adherence. Leverage data analytics, automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and other digital technologies where appropriate to improve planning accuracy, reduce manual processes, and enhance scheduling effectiveness.
• Lead and/or support Root Cause Analyses (RCAs) associated with deviations in planning, scheduling, capacity, and schedule-adherence KPIs. Partner cross-functionally to identify systemic causes, establish corrective and preventive actions, and monitor effectiveness to drive sustained improvement in planning and execution performance.
• Maintain alignment between the Production Schedule and S&OP commitments, proactively identifying changes in demand, capacity, materials, resources, or other constraints that may impact the approved plan and communicating relevant risks, trade-offs, and recommended actions to appropriate stakeholders.
• Ensure planning and scheduling activities are performed in accordance with applicable GMP requirements and Iovance Biotherapeutics’ policies, procedures, quality standards, and data-integrity expectations.
• Demonstrate and uphold Iovance Biotherapeutics’ core values, business ethics, policies, and procedures in all activities and interactions.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned in support of Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and overall site objectives. 

Travel

• Less than 5% annually 

Required Education, Skills, and Knowledge

• 1 year material planning, detailed scheduling, or equivalent experience
• Working knowledge of MRP
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
• Must be a decision maker without necessarily having all the facts
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines.
• Strong interpersonal and team-building skills, effective communication (both written and verbal), proactive problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Possess the ability to bridge relationships between various departments, levels of the organization, supplier, and customer organizations.
• Excellent organization skills and an ability to prioritize effectively to deliver results within reasonably established guidelines.
• Must be comfortable in a fast-paced small company environment with minimal direction and able to adjust workload based upon changing priorities with a strong attention to detail.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including overtime and weekends.

Preferred Education, Skills, and Knowledge

• 1-2 years material planning, detailed scheduling, or equivalent experience in a high-volume cGMP production or manufacturing environment.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain, Business Management, or Engineering
• Working knowledge of MRP/ERP systems from a scheduling perspective
• ASCM Certification
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint
• Must be a decision maker without necessarily having all the facts
• Ability to collaborate across disciplines.
• Strong interpersonal and team-building skills, effective communication (both written and verbal), proactive problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Possess the ability to bridge relationships between various departments, levels of the organization, supplier, and customer organizations.
• Excellent organization skills and an ability to prioritize effectively to deliver results within reasonably established guidelines.
• Must be comfortable in a fast-paced small company environment with minimal direction and able to adjust workload based upon changing priorities with a strong attention to detail.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including overtime and weekends. 

The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made upon request to enable individuals to perform essential functions. Please contact Human Resources to request an accommodation.

Physical Demands and Activities Required 

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time.
• Must be able to move about inside an office and exert up to 10 pounds of force occasionally or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.
• Must have visual acuity to perform activities such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures, viewing a computer screen, and extensive reading.
• This position requires repetitive motion, substantial movements (motions) of the wrist, hands, and/or fingers.
• Must be able to communicate with others to exchange information 

Mental: Clear and conceptual thinking ability; excellent judgment, troubleshooting, problem-solving, analysis, and discretion; ability to handle work-related stress; ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously; and ability to meet deadlines 

Work Environment 

This job works in a professional office environment and a manufacturing lab setting. Potential exposure to latex, bleach, loud noise, lab equipment hazards, strong odors, and chemical/biochemical is possible.  Requires operating standard office equipment and keyboards.

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