Prototype Development Planner

About Array Marketing

For over 40 years, Array Marketing has been a global leader in the retail display and in-store merchandising services industry. Global brands like Estée Lauder, Sephora, L’Oreal and Samsung to name a few, rely on our team of more than 2,000 employees around the world, to create great retail experiences by bringing their visions to life. 

We are committed to building on more than four decades of strength, deep industry knowledge and design innovation to accelerate our growth and serve our customers even better than before. 

As we continue to expand around the world, we are looking for critical thinkers who are data driven, have a strong work ethic and care about best practices and customer outcomes to help us carry out our vision.

Join Array to make a mark on our business and grow your career.

Who we need

Reporting to the Department Manager of Prototype Development, we are adding a Prototype Development Planner to the team. You will own the planning and scheduling of all activities within the Product Development Department, collaborating with management and all of the teams involved in production.

This is an existing, full-time vacancy, working 5 days per week on-site at our Scarborough manufacturing facility.

Who you are

You have worked in a manufacturing environment, ideally within an agile or fast-paced production setting. You can leverage experience to develop strategic plans and manage projects through product development stages, ensuring on-time, full delivery. You demonstrate business acumen, leadership, sound decision-making, adaptability, and a strong customer service orientation. You are execution-focused, innovative in your approach to problem-solving, and capable of influencing outcomes across teams. 

What’s in it for you

Impact. As part of a cross-functional team in a fast-moving environment, your work, accuracy, and forecasting abilities will directly impact the 30+ people across four teams. You will have influence over how 50+ client jobs are completed efficiently and on time. 

Growth. This is an exciting opportunity for someone looking to gain exposure and expand their experience. You will be a critical part of the design and production process, overseeing the planning, scheduling, and prioritization of all product development on a daily basis. You will have the chance to learn and share knowledge, applying your insights to solve problems, optimize workflows, and influence outcomes.

Exposure. We service the biggest brands globally. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to work closely with commercial brands. As we continue to grow the team, you will have the chance to further specialize your focus area and hone your skills, with the aim of moving into a lead, supervisor, or section manager position over time. You will operate with a high degree of ownership and autonomy while benefiting from the support of a global organization.

As our new Prototype Development Planner, you will:

Develop a schedule. You will work closely with the Manager of Prototype Development to develop and maintain both automated and manual schedules, obtaining approval and sign-off from appropriate stakeholders. You will plan and continuously update schedules in daily and weekly increments for Machine Operators, CNC Programmers, Model Makers, Prototype Development Technicians, and Sign-off Coordinators. Based on operation-specific take times and quoted hours, you will establish sequencing and lead times to meet client deadlines and On Time to Production (OTTP) targets. You will maintain the Model Shop Master Production Schedule, track all prototype and engineering package receipt dates, and manage milestone timelines including R1, R2, and final sample completion. You will schedule CNC operations, programming activities, and vactooling jobs, ensuring alignment with overall production priorities and proactively adjusting schedules to accommodate shifting demands.

Achieve labour and capacity alignment. You will analyze estimated versus planned hours, validate take times against system data, and assess departmental capacity in real time. You will perform demand and capacity planning, generate weekly reports, and recommend adjustments to meet business requirements. You will support material planning activities by providing accurate prototyping schedules and collaborating with teams to ensure readiness for CNC, laser, and other operations.

Collaborate across teams. You will work cross-functionally with Engineering, PMO, Commercial Teams, Production, QA, Sign-off, Machine Shop, Assembly, Vacforming, Graphics, and Shipping to ensure alignment and timely execution. You will participate in daily and weekly status meetings, review project priorities, and coordinate schedule changes as needed. You will ensure Bills of Materials are updated with the latest client specifications and facilitate communication to expedite rush orders and resolve bottlenecks.

Drive execution and communication. You will provide daily sign-off schedules, facilitate sign-off meetings, and ensure staging readiness and documentation accuracy. You will maintain ongoing communication with Team Leads to track execution status and ensure alignment across all phases of prototype development. You will proactively escalate risks and communicate schedule changes to ensure transparency and continuity.

Monitor performance and reporting. You will prepare and maintain weekly dashboards and KPI reports, including On-Time Delivery metrics for prototyping and vactooling, schedule attainment, and departmental performance. You will track deviations, conduct root cause analysis, and implement recovery plans in collaboration with the Department Manager. You will ensure all reporting processes are accurate, timely, and aligned with operational goals.

Continuously improve. You will compare quoted versus actual production times, identify inefficiencies, and recommend process improvements. You will initiate corrective actions to address issues impacting quality, productivity, and delivery performance, driving continuous improvement across planning and scheduling functions.

Support operations. You will monitor stock levels and support material ordering as required. You will ensure adherence to company quality systems, policies, and safety standards, and maintain flexibility to reallocate resources and adapt schedules in response to evolving client and production demands.

You have:

The experience. You have a College or University diploma/degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Industrial Design, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field. You have worked in skilled trades or a similar planning role in a manufacturing environment, ideally within an agile or fast-paced production setting. You have experience in scheduling, production planning, or project coordination, and you bring a clear understanding of production workflows, scheduling logic, and capacity planning. You are comfortable working in a fast-paced, deadline-driven setting.

The technical skills. You are proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, with the ability to manage and analyze large datasets. You have experience with scheduling systems, database tools, or ERP environments. You have working knowledge of SolidWorks, CamWorks, AutoCAD, or similar tools. You can read and interpret technical drawings and use measuring instruments (metric and imperial) such as callipers and tape measures. Familiarity with shop equipment and manufacturing processes is an asset.

The solution-oriented approach. You have strong project planning and project management capabilities. You are highly organized, adaptable, and able to balance multiple priorities while maintaining accuracy and attention to detail. 

The ownership. You are analytical and resourceful, with the ability to troubleshoot issues, adapt schedules, and implement cost-effective solutions. You can manage competing priorities, respond to unexpected changes, and maintain focus under pressure while ensuring quality and delivery standards are met. 

The interpersonal skills. You have professional communication skills and can build collaborative relationships cross-functionally. You are comfortable engaging with technical and non-technical teams and can clearly communicate plans, risks, and updates.

Compensation:

The salary range for this role is $48,000-$60,000 CAD annually. Compensation is thoughtfully determined based on your experience, skill set, and alignment with our internal compensation framework. We’re always happy to answer questions about compensation throughout the hiring process.

What you can expect from the interview process:

A virtual interview with a Talent Advisor discussing your interest in the role, the team’s culture and your experience. The conversation will be recorded using BrightHire, an AI-powered video interview tool. More details will be shared when you are invited to interview.

An in-person interview and tour with the  Department Manager of Prototype Development and a Senior Leader. This is an opportunity to discuss how your experience aligns with the needs of the role.

A virtual interview with a representative from HR to ask any questions about the team, the company, and the growth pathways for this role.

Apply now.

Diversity, equity and inclusion are a critical component of life at Array Marketing and we are committed to making these values an integral part of our culture. We encourage applications from all qualified applicants, including women, persons with disabilities, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPOC), people from the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Transsexual, Queer, Questioning, Two-Spirit, Intersex, Asexual + (LGBTQ2SIA+) community, and other equity-seeking groups.

Array Marketing is committed to providing accessible employment practices that are in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act ('AODA'). If you require accommodation, please notify our HR team at [email protected]