Jobs › Conagra Brands

Production and Material Planner

Conagra Brands · Centralia, IL · $64,000–$95,000 a year · Full time

Posted Sep 28, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you had to change a plan quickly because business conditions changed.

What they are checking: Whether they can adjust calmly and keep everyone informed when the plan shifts.

How do you work with S&OP, MRP, procurement and suppliers when they each want something different?

What they are checking: Whether they can resolve competing priorities across teams without losing sight of service levels.

What would you do

A key packaging material won't arrive in time for tomorrow's run. What do you do?

What they are checking: Whether they act fast on shortages, look at alternatives and escalate before the line goes down.

Operations says your schedule is impossible to run. How do you respond?

What they are checking: Whether they listen to the floor and adjust where needed while still meeting customer commitments.

About the work

Walk me through how you build a production schedule that balances demand, capacity, labor and materials.

What they are checking: Whether they can juggle the real constraints of a plant rather than plan to demand alone.

How have you used SAP to convert, release and manage production and material orders?

What they are checking: Whether they have hands-on SAP planning experience or will need significant training.

How do you decide the sequence of products on a line to cut downtime from changeovers?

What they are checking: Whether they understand how sequencing affects efficiency, sanitation and allergen changeovers.

How do you watch for execution risks like capacity constraints or supplier delays before they hit?

What they are checking: Whether they plan ahead with clear signals rather than reacting once a problem is already on the floor.

What measures do you look at to know whether your plans are working?

What they are checking: Whether they track things like schedule attainment, inventory and service levels to improve over time.

How do you keep inventory low without risking shortages?

What they are checking: Whether they understand the tradeoff between carrying cost and production reliability.

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The full job description

As published by Conagra Brands.

Reporting to the Supply Chain Manager, you will create and manage detailed production and material plans that support plant operations while aligning schedules with demand, capacity, labor, and material availability. You will partner cross-functionally to optimize production performance, minimize disruptions, and ensure consistent execution of supply plans in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. A Taste of Your Responsibilities • Develop and manage production and material plans, including detailed schedules, sequencing activities, and escalation of short-term material issues to align with capacity, labor, and demand requirements. • Optimize production schedules and ma • terial flow to reduce downtime, improve efficiencies, control costs, and maintain customer service levels. • Convert, release, and manage production and material orders in SAP, ensuring execution readiness and adjusting plans as business conditions change. • Coordinate material availability through supplier deliveries, inventory movements, and internal logistics to support production schedules. • Monitor execution risks including material shortages, capacity constraints, and supplier delays, proactively adjusting plans to minimize operational disruption. • Partner with Sales & Operations Planning, Material Requirements Planning, Operations, Logistics, Warehouse, Procurement, and suppliers to resolve constraints and maintain supply continuity. • Communicate schedule changes, risks, and performance updates to stakeholders while participating in planning routines and daily management systems. • Support continuous improvement and Lean initiatives focused on operational efficiency, inventory optimization, cost reduction, and service improvements. • Identify and escalate master data or system issues, including lead times, lot sizes, and inventory accuracy concerns that impact plan execution. • Ensure compliance with food safety requirements, Good Manufacturing Practices, and company policies and standards. Ingredients Required for Your Success • High school diploma required; bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related field preferred. • 1+ years of experience in production planning, material planning, supply chain, manufacturing operations, or a related environment. • Experience using SAP and Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Outlook, and Teams. • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with experience using data to support decision-making. • Strong verbal and written communication skills with the capability to collaborate effectively across multiple functions and with external partners. • Experience managing multiple priorities and competing deadlines in a fast-paced environment. • Demonstrated commitment to continuous improvement, process optimization, and operational excellence. • Knowledge of manufacturing, inventory management, scheduling, and supply planning concepts preferred. Physical Requirements More information about essential tasks and the facility will be shared during the hiring process. This role may require you to be in our manufacturing facilities. When visiting these sites, the physical requirements below may apply: • You may be required to walk around the facility, climb stairs/ladders, kneel, or perform repetitive tasks that require hand-eye coordination. • You may be required to lift or carry materials that can vary in weight and size. This is a manufacturing environment with large, moving equipment. Noise levels can be high, and temperatures may vary. #LI-Onsite #LI-Associate #LI-BC1 Compensation Pay Range:$64,000-$95,000 The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position. An employee’s actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees’ equity. Conagra Brands will comply with applicable law regarding minimum salaries for exempt employees. Our Benefits We care about your total well-being and will support you with the following, subject to your location and role: • Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement • Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan • Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement • Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities Our Company At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®. Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet. Foodies Welcome. Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.

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