Production Planning Assistant

Manufacturing Planning Assistant

Location: Richland, WA
Company: Columbia Energy & Environmental Services, Inc.
Employment Type: Part-time

About Columbia Energy

Columbia Energy & Environmental Services, headquartered in Richland, WA, is a well-established small business with over 30 years of experience supporting the nuclear, defense, energy, and hazardous waste industries. Originally founded to assist with nuclear cleanup efforts at Hanford, we have since grown into a full-service engineering, design, and fabrication company serving both federal and commercial clients.

Our success is built on technical precision, teamwork, and integrity. We take pride in maintaining a strong reputation for quality and compliance while fostering a collaborative, supportive work environment.

Why Join Columbia Energy?

At Columbia Energy, we value reliability, curiosity, and a team-first mindset. As a growing company, we offer hands-on opportunities to learn how manufacturing operations work behind the scenes. This role is a great fit for someone interested in building a foundation in production planning, shop operations, or manufacturing coordination while contributing to the day-to-day flow of work on the shop floor.

Position Overview

We are seeking a Manufacturing Planning Assistant to support production planning and documentation activities within our Construction & Fabrication team. This entry-level, part-time role focuses on maintaining accurate production data, assisting with job preparation, and supporting the creation and closeout of production travelers.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, eager to learn, and comfortable working in and around a manufacturing environment. This position works closely with planners, supervisors, and shop personnel to help ensure work is released accurately and on time.

Essential Responsibilities & Duties

• Assist with preparing and releasing work orders to the shop floor
• Update job status, quantities, and completion data in production systems
• Help maintain daily and weekly production schedules as directed
• Support job prioritization based on due dates and supervisor input
• Verify that required materials and documentation are available prior to job release
• Notify the planner or supervisor of missing materials, drawings, or paperwork
• Assist with staging travelers, drawings, and production documentation
• Help track outside processing requirements (e.g., plating, heat treat)
• Collect job progress updates from the shop floor
• Assist with expediting urgent or high-priority jobs
• Enter and maintain production data accurately and in a timely manner
• Learn basic manufacturing processes and shop workflow
• Follow established procedures and ask questions to build understanding
• Participate in training, production meetings, and continuous improvement efforts

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED
• Basic computer skills, including email, data entry, and Excel or similar tools
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Willingness to learn manufacturing processes and internal systems
• Ability to communicate clearly and respectfully with shop personnel
• Reliable attendance and punctuality

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience in a manufacturing, warehouse, or production environment
• Familiarity with shop settings such as welding, machining, or assembly
• Interest in manufacturing operations, production planning, or a related career path

Key Success Attributes

• Organized and detail-focused approach to work
• Willingness to ask questions and learn new processes
• Dependable, consistent, and responsive to direction
• Comfortable working with both office staff and shop personnel

Physical Requirements

• Ability to spend time in a manufacturing environment
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 lbs
• Exposure to noise, equipment, and typical shop conditions
• Frequent standing, walking, and use of hands for computer and paperwork tasks

Working Conditions

• Combination of office and shop-floor environment
• Regular interaction with planners, supervisors, and fabrication staff
• Part-time schedule; hours to be determined based on production needs
• This position is not eligible for company benefits

Equal Opportunity Employer

Columbia Energy is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal and state law.