Plant Planner - GM Defense MCIC

Description

On Site: This role is categorized as onsite . The successful candidate is expected to report to the G M Defense Manufacturing and Customer Innovation Center (MCIC) in Concord, NC on a full-time basis (shift is four 10s, Monday through Thursday). The position will have occasional travel to other GM Defense or GM locations (e.g., Milford Proving Ground, Warren, Charlotte Technical Center) as program needs require. Some extended hours and off-shift support may be required during major launch events, shutdowns, and key customer milestones.

The Role:
GM Defense is seeking a Plant Planner to join the plant staff at our Manufacturing and Customer Innovation Center (MCIC) in Concord, NC. This role is an integral part of how MCIC plans and executes low-volume, high-complexity defense vehicle programs such as the Infantry Squad Vehicle (ISV) and Suburban Shield armored SUV.

The Plant Planner leads plant-level planning routines, production and shutdown planning, headcount and budget support, and launch/change-management coordination. You will connect GM Defense program teams, engineering, global supply chain, and MCIC operations to ensure we deliver on quality, timing, and contractual commitments in a highly dynamic environment.

Key Responsibilities:
Plant Planning & Leadership Routines

• Lead or support daily/weekly staff, operations, and planning meetings, including agenda creation, pre-reads, and follow-up of actions and decisions.
• Maintain and publish the MCIC plant calendar (major builds, shutdowns, audits, visitors, training, and key reviews) and associated time architecture for plant staff.
• Ensure business deliverables are identified in project plans with clear owners and due dates; monitor and report on status across workstreams.
• Investigate and document complex business and plant processes and prepare concise presentations and summaries for plant and GM Defense leadership.
• Coordinate input and approval of key plant and program design and decision documents.
• Prepare concise summaries for leadership on SPQRCE performance, risks, and upcoming events to support decision-making.

Manpower, Headcount & Budget Support

• Act as the "gold source" for salaried headcount tracking and forecasting; maintain tools and reports that support staffing, overtime, and hiring decisions.
• Partner with Finance, HR, and Industrial Engineering to develop and monitor plant-level manpower budgets and support annual and long-range planning cycles.
• Coordinate with GM Defense leadership to ensure headcount and staffing plans align with contract volume, program ramps, and launch requirements at MCIC.

Change Management, Launch Readiness, and Scheduling

• Own or coordinate job change and plant floor change management (PFCM) processes, including trackers, audits, and reports to maintain BIQ4 and change-control compliance.
• Represent MCIC in PET, CPIT, PTR, launch wall, and other forums, ensuring plant impacts are understood and built into plans.
• Support planning and execution of MVBs, PQRRs, pilots, shutdowns, and buildouts, including integrated schedules, gap plans, and issues tracking.
• Translate contract requirements into executable build schedules and plant operating plans in partnership with program finance, global supply chain, and MCIC leadership.

Metrics, BPD, and Continuous Improvement

• Prepare, publish, and maintain the MCIC plant scorecard and Level 1 BPD content, ensuring red and yellow metrics have clear owners, timing, and countermeasures.
• Develop and maintain tracking scorecards and metrics that illustrate status and ownership for plant and program deliverables.
• Support layered audits, CI basketweaves, BIQ reviews, and complexity and OpEx workshops as a planning or BPD subject matter expert.

Production Scheduling, Shutdown & Buildout

• Coordinate with GM Defense program finance, global supply chain, and MCIC leadership to translate contract requirements into executable vehicle build schedules and plant operating plans.
• Own the integrated shutdown / buildout package for MCIC (maintenance GAP plans, production GAP plans, manpower plans, training matrices, startup plans, last-VIN / last-CSN tracking, etc.).
• Help manage and communicate mix, restrictions, and special build events to protect throughput and quality while meeting defense customer needs.

Leadership Visits, Customers & Culture

• Plan and execute leadership, customer, and DoD visits to MCIC (itineraries, briefings, ride & drive/demo coordination, facility tours, and (follow-up actions).
• Coordinate plant-level offsites, recognition events, and innovations programs in partnership with GM Defense and MCIC leadership.

Defense / Compliance Environment

• Operate within the GM Defense Quality Management System and policy framework (including CUI, ITAR, travel and expense, and government timekeeping).
• Complete and help reinforce required GM Defense trainings and support a strong culture of compliance at MCIC.

Your Skills & Abilities (Required Qualifications)

• 5+ years of experience in manufacturing, operations, industrial engineering, quality, launch, or plant/program planning; vehicle or low-volume manufacturing experience preferred.
• Candidate must be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee).
• Strong analytical and data skills, with proficiency in Excel and other
  GM/GM Defense reporting tools (e.g., PM&C, Power BI, SharePoint,

Teams).

Proven ability to work effectively with salaried staff, with understanding of or aptitude to learn
local and national agreements.

Excellent written and verbal communication and facilitation skills,
including experience preparing and presenting content to plant leadership and cross-functional teams.

Ability to manage ambiguity and competing priorities in a fast-paced
environment while maintaining a high level of follow-through and detail orientation.

What Will Give You a Competitive Edge (Preferred Qualifications)

• Prior experience as a Plant Planner, Business Planner, Launch Operations, or similar plant staff role in a GM facility.
• Demonstrated experience in plant-level planning or coordination, including one or more of: job change / change management (PFCM), production scheduling, manpower planning, launch readiness, or shutdown/buildout planning.
• Experience working in a defense, aerospace, or government-contracting environment (e.g., DoD programs, CAS/FAR/DFARS, DCMA interaction).
• Familiarity with GM Defense programs and products, especially ISV and Suburban Shield, or similar tactical/armored vehicle programs.
• Formal OpEx / CI training (e.g., Green/Black Belt) and strong working knowledge of GMS, BIQ, and BPD processes.
• Experience influencing cross-functional teams without direct authority and driving alignment across engineering, operations, program management, and finance.

#GMD

GM does not provide immigration-related sponsorship for this role. Do not apply for this role if you will need GM immigration sponsorship now or in the future. This includes direct company sponsorship, entry of GM as the immigration employer of record on a government form, and any work authorization requiring a written submission or other immigration support from the company (e.g., H1-B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN, J-1, etc.)

This role is categorized as onsite. This means the selected candidate is expected to report to a specific location on a full-time basis.

The selected candidate will be required to travel < 25% for this role.

This job may be eligible for relocation benefits.

The position is subject to export control restrictions and requires the successful candidate to be a U.S. Person (U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee)

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Client-provided location(s): Concord, NC

Job ID: General_Motors-JR-202605525

Employment Type: FULL_TIME

Posted: 2026-03-16T23:57:36