Assistant Planning Manager (local hire)

Assistant Planning Manager Position based in Koforidua, Ghana (local hire)

Company description

Maagrace Garment Industries Limited (MGIL) is a leading apparel manufacturer established in 2003 in Ghana, with a workforce of around 1,000 and capacity to grow to 2,000. We produce heavy and lightweight garments including fleece, sweats, nightwear, underwear, shirts, schoolwear, and dancewear, mainly for large-scale brands in the USA, under strict quality and compliance requirements. We are a free zone enterprise with a strong social mission and a particular focus on creating opportunities for women. We work in strategic partnership with Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA), an international sourcing company that helps international brands manufacture ethically in West Africa. You will work alongside the MGIL and EAA technical teams.

Position overview

The Assistant Planning Manager reports to the Industrial Engineering (IE) Manager and works as part of the established IE team. The role operates and continuously improves a capacity-driven, machine-level, system-based production planning model, using the factory's live ERP and advanced Excel analytics. Working under the direction of the IE Manager, the role integrates IE principles with planning to ensure optimal utilization of manpower and machinery, accurate loading, reduced plan-vs-actual gaps, and on-time delivery, while building its own IE capability over time.

Responsibilities

Industrial engineering and capacity modelling Understand and apply Standard Minute Values (SMV), operation breakdown, routing, and line-balancing concepts to the factory capacity and loading plan. Work with the IE team to identify bottlenecks by department, operation, line, and machine type or product, and find solutions that enable better efficiency in the plan. Support productivity improvement and method improvement initiatives.

Factory planning Prepare operation-wise and line-wise loading plans based on delivery dates, machinery, capacity, and efficiency requirements. Maintain and operate the single official, system-driven master plan that integrates all departments (cutting, sewing, finishing, packing, and shipment readiness), under the direction of the IE Manager. From that master plan, generate synchronized cutting plans, sewing line plans, finishing and packing plans, and dispatch-readiness plans. Identify machine constraints and support investment planning for special machines and automation.

ERP and advanced Excel systems Act as a key user of the factory's live ERP planning, capacity, routing, and line-loading modules, working closely with the Assistant Factory Merchandiser. Develop advanced Excel models (pivot tables, Power Query, dashboards, what-if simulations). Integrate ERP data with Excel for scenario planning (style mix, efficiency changes, absenteeism, machine downtime). Ensure rapid re-planning and re-loading in case of order changes or disruptions.

Pre-production and critical path control Ensure all pre-production activities (PP meetings, pilot runs, size sets, material readiness) are reflected in the plan. Simulate risks to delivery and propose mitigation actions in advance. Support critical path monitoring to protect ex-factory dates.

Plan vs actual and performance control Track daily and weekly plan vs actual by line, department, and order. Analyse root causes of deviations (capacity, efficiency, material, machine, manpower). Drive corrective actions with production, IE, maintenance, and merchandising teams. Generate ERP and Excel-based dashboards on capacity utilization, efficiency, bottlenecks, and delivery performance. Provide analytical insights to Factory Management for decision-making.

Post production Ensure the order completion report is done after every container exit. Provide a report on leftover fabric, trims, accessories, and garments to the merchandising team.

Capability building As the planning team is rebuilt, help train and mentor junior planners in system usage, analytical thinking, and basic IE concepts, and support development of the planning talent pipeline.

Key performance indicators

Plan-vs-actual variance kept within target each week, by line and department. Ex-factory on-time delivery percentage maintained or improved. Machine and capacity utilization tracked against plan, with bottlenecks flagged early. Fast re-planning turnaround after an order change or disruption. A single official master plan maintained as the source of truth, synchronized across all departments.

Qualifications and attributes

Degree in Industrial Engineering, Mechanical/Production/Manufacturing Engineering, Operations Engineering/Management, Systems Engineering, or another relevant analytical or engineering discipline. 2 to 3 years' experience in a manufacturing environment in planning or operations analysis, ideally in Industrial Engineering or Production Planning and Control. Strong analytical and numerical skills. Advanced Excel capability (pivot tables, formulas, dashboards, scenario modelling). Experience with ERP planning modules preferred. High learning ability and interest in being trained into a full Industrial Engineering role. Excellent team development and cross-cultural communication skills. Proactive, resilient, adaptable, and resourceful, able to work under pressure, meet deadlines, and multi-task in a fast-paced environment, with high personal integrity.

How to apply

Start date ASAP As applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, kindly send a resume ​and a separate and specific cover letter for this position ​to [email removed - click apply for more details] , using the reference “MGIL Plan 26”​ as the subject of your email. Only complete applications with accurate reference will be considered and only the most qualified candidates will be short-listed for interview. This role is recruited strictly on local employment terms in Ghana (local salary scale, no expatriate benefits, no relocation, no visa/work permit sponsorship). Candidates seeking expatriate-level compensation or packages should not apply. We are an equal opportunity employer, both women and men are highly encouraged to apply.

More information on https://www.maagrace.com/ and https://www.ethicalapparelafrica.com/