Production Planner | Head Office | £31,827 | Permanent / Hybrid

Opportunity
We’re working with a leading FMCG manufacturer who are looking to bring a Production Planner into their Head Office Planning team. Reporting into the Senior Demand Planner, you’ll join a close-knit team of seven and play an important role in making sure production plans match customer demand, available materials and manufacturing capacity. It’s a really varied planning role, so you won’t be sat looking at production schedules all day. You’ll have exposure across production planning, supply chain, customer requirements and New Product Development, working with teams across the business to spot potential issues early and keep everything moving. The role is hybrid, in line with the wider office-based roles within the business.
 

The Role
You’ll take ownership of developing and maintaining accurate short and long-term production plans, making sure they reflect the latest forecasts, customer requirements, material availability and production capacity. A big part of the role will be looking ahead, spotting where there could be a problem and working with the right people to resolve it before it affects production or customer service. You’ll work closely with Production Site Managers, Materials Planners, National Account Managers, Customer Supply and Export Planning, as well as the wider NPD team. There’s also plenty of variety, with the opportunity to provide cover across the wider Planning function when required and get involved with new product launches, capacity planning and process improvements.
 

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain accurate short and long-term production plans using the demand planning system.
• Make manual forecast amendments where required and ensure production plans reflect the latest customer requirements.
• Schedule products in the most efficient sequence to optimise line performance and minimise downtime.
• Monitor changes to production plans and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and performance.
• Check ingredient and material availability before making changes, working closely with Materials Planners.
• Liaise with Production Site Managers to understand and resolve issues affecting production plans.
• Build strong relationships with National Account Managers, understanding customer forecasts, promotions and changing demand patterns.
• Work alongside Customer Supply and Export Planning to minimise shortages and support upcoming production requirements.
• Provide cover for the Senior Production Planner and Customer Supply & Export Planner when required.
• Make sure production is aligned with micro release requirements and agreed delivery or collection dates.
• Review warehouse and finished goods capacity to make sure production plans remain achievable.
• Work with the Senior Production Planner on safety stock, maximum stock and MRP requirements.
• Provide regular updates on upcoming production requirements and highlight potential supply chain risks.
• Maintain accurate SAP planning data, run rates, efficiencies and line files.
• Ensure contract packing forecasts are accurately loaded into SAP and supplier forecasts are issued within agreed timescales.
• Maintain dummy and new product information within supplier forecasts to provide visibility of future material requirements.
• Support the contract packing team with customer queries relating to production.
• Attend weekly NPD and Planning meetings and support the wider New Product Development team.
• Ensure production plans are in place for NPD launches and identify potential supply chain or capacity risks.
• Use new product codes where required to reserve future production capacity and maintain accurate product information.
• Support product delists and initiatives aimed at reducing finished product, material and ingredient write-offs.
• Contribute ideas and recommendations to improve planning and supply chain processes.

 

What We’re Looking For
You don’t need to tick every box, but we’re looking for someone who has experience within production planning, supply chain planning or a similar manufacturing environment and is comfortable working with data, juggling multiple priorities and communicating with different teams.
 
Ideally, you’ll have:

• Previous experience within production planning, supply chain or a manufacturing environment.
• Experience using SAP or a similar ERP/planning system.
• Good Excel skills, ideally at an intermediate level.
• Strong numerical and analytical ability with excellent attention to detail.
• The ability to interpret forecasts, production requirements, stock levels and capacity information.
• Good communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisation skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
• A proactive approach, with the confidence to challenge processes and suggest improvements.
• The ability to work independently whilst also being a positive member of a small team.
• A customer-focused and practical approach to problem solving.

Experience within FMCG, New Product Development or capacity planning would be beneficial, but isn’t essential. You’ll also need a full driving licence and access to your own vehicle, with only minimal travel required when necessary.

What’s on Offer

• £31,827 salary
• Hybrid working
• Join a close-knit Planning team of seven
• Reporting directly into the Senior Demand Planner
• Broad exposure across production planning, supply chain and NPD
• The opportunity to develop your planning experience within an established FMCG environment
• A collaborative and supportive working environment

If you’re already working in production planning, supply chain or a manufacturing environment and are looking for a role where you can broaden your experience, this could be a really good opportunity to take the next step.