Manufacturing Planner Jobs in USA with Visa Sponsorship
Manufacturing Planner jobs attract H-1B visa and TN visa sponsorship from discrete manufacturers, defense contractors, and automotive suppliers who need production scheduling expertise. Employers file a Labor Condition Application before sponsoring, and roles typically qualify as specialty occupations under USCIS guidelines when a bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, supply chain, or operations management is required.
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Get Access To All JobsDescription for Candidates:
Assist in optimizing workforce productivity and work quality by eliminating potential delays and obstacles through proper planning and coordination of manpower, parts and materials. Perform all jobs safely, efficiently and accurately to maintain and improve the performance of the entire plant in the areas of Safety, Quality, Reliability and our Customer 1st strategy. Demonstrate the Company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.
Responsibilities for Candidates:
- Using the CMMS and other software systems, engage in planning and scheduling maintenance work, maintain appropriate records and files and report the results of completed work.
- Maintain a file of standard work orders for recurring repairs.
- Follow a weekly work schedule for preventative maintenance and planned work and ensure scheduling balance with hours available and full utilization of personnel.
- Communicate with appropriate teams to ensure equipment availability prior to scheduling.
- Maintain a ready package of schedulable work orders requiring equipment shut down so that work can be performed in the event of an unscheduled shutdown.
- Review work requests and work orders and ensure the scope is clearly defined; assist in the identification and procurement of materials and special tools.
- Manage backlog of work orders; maintain a backlog of work orders awaiting scheduling for ready/non-ready work orders.
- Estimate cost for each work order including labor, material and total cost.
- Follow up to ensure the completed schedules and work orders are returned at the proper time.
- Carefully review completed schedules and capture all appropriate comments in the database and lead the subsequent improvement conversations.
- Review the actual labor expended versus estimated labor and materials used for completed jobs to determine corrective measures needed to improve accuracy in estimating and improving work methods.
- Work with vendors to help execute maintenance activities.
- Follow established programs, policies and practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and Company requirements.
- Support the development, implementation, maintenance, and ongoing improvement of the SQF Systems.
- Backup support for the Maintenance Planner and Parts Specialist.
- Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles.
- Must be able to work around ingredients and/or finished products known to contain food allergens.
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Other duties as assigned by direct-report supervisor.
Qualifications for Candidates:
- Minimum - High School Diploma or GED.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Ability to learn computer maintenance management system.
- Basic administrative and math skills - excellent planning/organizational skills.
- Functional knowledge/use of Microsoft Office.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Technical school background or 2 years work experience in maintenance.
- Working knowledge of a computer maintenance management system.
- Overall knowledge of manufacturing operations, procedures/equipment.
- Previous maintenance supervision experience.
Description for Candidates:
Assist in optimizing workforce productivity and work quality by eliminating potential delays and obstacles through proper planning and coordination of manpower, parts and materials. Perform all jobs safely, efficiently and accurately to maintain and improve the performance of the entire plant in the areas of Safety, Quality, Reliability and our Customer 1st strategy. Demonstrate the Company's core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety.
Responsibilities for Candidates:
- Using the CMMS and other software systems, engage in planning and scheduling maintenance work, maintain appropriate records and files and report the results of completed work.
- Maintain a file of standard work orders for recurring repairs.
- Follow a weekly work schedule for preventative maintenance and planned work and ensure scheduling balance with hours available and full utilization of personnel.
- Communicate with appropriate teams to ensure equipment availability prior to scheduling.
- Maintain a ready package of schedulable work orders requiring equipment shut down so that work can be performed in the event of an unscheduled shutdown.
- Review work requests and work orders and ensure the scope is clearly defined; assist in the identification and procurement of materials and special tools.
- Manage backlog of work orders; maintain a backlog of work orders awaiting scheduling for ready/non-ready work orders.
- Estimate cost for each work order including labor, material and total cost.
- Follow up to ensure the completed schedules and work orders are returned at the proper time.
- Carefully review completed schedules and capture all appropriate comments in the database and lead the subsequent improvement conversations.
- Review the actual labor expended versus estimated labor and materials used for completed jobs to determine corrective measures needed to improve accuracy in estimating and improving work methods.
- Work with vendors to help execute maintenance activities.
- Follow established programs, policies and practices to produce safe, quality foods that meet regulatory and Company requirements.
- Support the development, implementation, maintenance, and ongoing improvement of the SQF Systems.
- Backup support for the Maintenance Planner and Parts Specialist.
- Accountable to the Kroger Manufacturing Food Safety and Quality Principles.
- Must be able to work around ingredients and/or finished products known to contain food allergens.
- Must be able to perform the essential job functions of this position with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Other duties as assigned by direct-report supervisor.
Qualifications for Candidates:
- Minimum - High School Diploma or GED.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Ability to learn computer maintenance management system.
- Basic administrative and math skills - excellent planning/organizational skills.
- Functional knowledge/use of Microsoft Office.
- Ability to work with minimal supervision.
- Technical school background or 2 years work experience in maintenance.
- Working knowledge of a computer maintenance management system.
- Overall knowledge of manufacturing operations, procedures/equipment.
- Previous maintenance supervision experience.
See all Manufacturing Planner Jobs
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Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Visa Sponsorship as a Manufacturing Planner
Align your degree to specialty occupation standards
USCIS requires that a Manufacturing Planner role demand a bachelor's degree in a directly related field. Industrial engineering, supply chain management, or operations management degrees strengthen your case far more than a general business degree.
Search for verified sponsors on Migrate Mate
Use Migrate Mate to find employers with confirmed LCA filing history for manufacturing planning roles. Targeting companies already on record with DOL cuts your search time and avoids employers who say they sponsor but have never filed.
Look for APICS or CPIM credentials
Employers sponsoring Manufacturing Planners often specify CPIM or CSCP certification in job postings. Earning one before applying signals operational competency and can tip a borderline sponsorship decision in your favor during the LCA prevailing-wage review.
Check prevailing wage tiers before accepting an offer
Use the OFLC Wage Search to verify your offered salary meets the Level I or Level II wage for your metro area and job title. A wage below the certified level will get the LCA rejected, stalling your entire visa filing.
Target manufacturers in sectors with consistent sponsorship history
Aerospace, automotive, and medical device manufacturers file LCAs for planning roles most consistently. These industries run lean production systems that require credentialed planners, making sponsorship a standard part of their hiring rather than a one-off exception.
Clarify PERM requirements early if pursuing a green card
If your employer plans to sponsor permanent residence through EB-2 or EB-3, the PERM labor certification requires documenting that no qualified U.S. workers applied. Confirm this intent before your first year on H-1B so the recruitment window aligns with your status timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Manufacturing Planner role qualify as an H-1B specialty occupation?
It depends on how the employer defines the position. USCIS requires the role to normally demand at least a bachelor's degree in a specific related field. If the job description accepts any bachelor's degree or equivalent experience in lieu of a degree, USCIS may issue a Request for Evidence. Employers using titles like Production Planner or Supply Chain Planner for the same duties face the same scrutiny, so the job description language matters as much as the title.
Which visa types are realistic for a Manufacturing Planner seeking U.S. sponsorship?
H-1B is the most common path for Manufacturing Planners. Canadian and Mexican nationals can also qualify under TN visa status, since industrial engineers and certain management consultants appear on the USMCA profession list, though the role must fit the listed category precisely. Australians may qualify for the E-3 visa if the role meets specialty occupation requirements. TN visa and E-3 both avoid the H-1B lottery entirely.
How do I find employers actively sponsoring Manufacturing Planner roles?
Migrate Mate lists employers with verified LCA sponsorship history for manufacturing and planning roles, searchable by location and job type. This is the fastest way to identify companies that have already committed to sponsoring similar positions rather than employers who may consider it on request.
What degree do I need to get sponsored as a Manufacturing Planner?
A bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, supply chain management, operations management, or manufacturing engineering is the strongest foundation. Some employers also accept degrees in mechanical engineering or business with a concentration in operations. USCIS looks for a direct relationship between the degree field and the job's core duties, so a general management or unrelated science degree typically requires additional documentation to establish the specialty occupation connection.
Can a Manufacturing Planner on H-1B change employers without losing status?
Yes. Under H-1B portability rules, you can start working for a new employer as soon as the new I-129 petition is filed with USCIS, as long as you're currently in valid H-1B status. You don't need to wait for approval before switching. The new employer must still file a fresh LCA certified at the prevailing wage for your new work location, since wages vary by metro area.
What is the prevailing wage requirement for sponsored Manufacturing Planner jobs?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.