Production Operations Analyst

About the Role

The Production Operations Analyst supports the Senior Production Operations Analyst in keeping PopUp Bagels’ production and supply operations running accurately every day. This role ensures that production batches, formulas, inventory transactions, and purchasing data are entered, reconciled, and reported accurately and on time. A key portion of this position will be to utilize AI tools to simplify reporting and provide management with actionable data in real time.

Key Responsibilities

BatchMaster Administration & Daily Activities

• Own all daily BatchMaster MRP activities, serving as the primary day-to-day system user and go-to point of contact for BatchMaster questions.
• Utilize tools within the software and AI to provide reports and trends that can help drive the business forward.
• Create, schedule, release, and close production batches and work orders in BatchMaster in line with the daily production plan.
• Record production output, ingredient consumption, yields, and waste accurately and on time each day.
• Process inventory transactions in BatchMaster, including receipts, transfers, adjustments, and shipments to stores.
• Maintain accurate master data, including items, formulas and recipes, bills of material, units of measure, and vendor information, with review and approval from the Senior Manager.
• Reconcile system inventory to physical counts; support cycle counts and month-end inventory close, and research and resolve variances.
• Maintain lot tracking and traceability records to support food safety standards and recall readiness.
• Troubleshoot day-to-day user issues, serve as the liaison with BatchMaster support, and escalate system issues as needed.
• Create and maintain BatchMaster SOPs and job aids, and help train production team members on system processes.
• Support the continued rollout of BatchMaster, including testing new features, modules, and configuration changes as business needs grow.

Daily Reorder & Inventory Support

• Assist the Senior Manager with the daily reorder process by reviewing inventory levels, usage, open orders, and production forecasts to recommend order quantities.
• Prepare and submit purchase orders to vendors and distributors based on approved par levels and reorder points; confirm order acknowledgments and delivery dates.
• Track open purchase orders, follow up on late, short, or incorrect deliveries, and communicate impacts to production and operations teams.
• Help maintain par levels, reorder points, vendor lead times, and minimum order quantities as volumes and store counts change.
• Match receipts to purchase orders and support invoice reconciliation with Accounting.
• Proactively flag potential shortages, overstocks, and aging or expiring inventory.

Reporting & Analytics

• Prepare daily and weekly reports on production output, inventory on hand, usage, yield, waste, and order status.
• Maintain production and inventory trackers, spreadsheets, and dashboards, ensuring data is accurate and up to date.
• Analyze trends in usage, yield, and waste to identify opportunities to reduce cost and improve accuracy.
• Support ad hoc analysis requested by the Senior Manager, such as forecasting, ingredient costing, and planning for new stores or new products.

Cross-Functional Support & Process Improvement

• Partner with Production, Warehouse and Logistics, Store Operations, Culinary, and Finance teams to keep information flowing and orders on track.
• Communicate production schedule changes, shortages, and substitutions to impacted teams in a timely manner.
• Set up new items and formulas in BatchMaster to support new product launches and limited-time offerings.
• Document current processes and recommend improvements that increase accuracy, efficiency, and scalability.

Requirements & Tech Stack

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain, operations, business, analytics, or a related field preferred, or equivalent work experience.
• 0–2 years of experience in production planning, inventory control, purchasing, supply chain, or data analysis; food and beverage manufacturing, commissary, bakery, or QSR experience a plus.
• Be adventurous and comfortable working and creating AI interfaces for analysis.
• Experience with an ERP, MRP, or inventory management system (BatchMaster, NetSuite, SAP, or similar) a plus, along with a strong interest in becoming the in-house BatchMaster expert.
• Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets, including pivot tables, lookups, and basic formulas.
• Attention to Detail: Commitment to accurate data entry and record keeping, with a high standard for getting it right the first time.
• Analytical Skills: Ability to spot trends, identify discrepancies, and turn data into clear, useful insights.
• Organization and Time Management: Ability to manage recurring daily deadlines and multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Problem Solving: Curiosity and persistence in tracking down root causes of inventory and system issues.
• Communication: Clear, professional verbal and written communication with internal teams and vendors.
• Learning Agility: Eagerness to learn new systems and processes, take feedback, and grow within the role.
• Commitment: Passion for food, operations, emerging brands, and the PopUp Bagel ethos.

Physical Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a computer workstation.
• Ability to walk production and warehouse areas regularly, including in cold storage environments.
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds occasionally.
• Must be able to communicate clearly in person and via digital channels.
• Travel: Minimal; occasional travel to production facilities, vendors, or stores as needed.
• Work Environment: Operates in an office and production setting. Early morning, evening, or weekend work may occasionally be required.