Material & Production Site Scheduler

Lactalis - Mainland Dairy; Greater Shepparton; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay and benefits

Career development and internal/global

Flexible work arrangements where poss

Job summary

Lactalis-Mainland Dairy in Australia is seeking a Production & Materials Planner to convert supply plans into executable weekly production schedules and ensure material availability.

You will collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Milk Collection, Procurement, Logistics and Supply Planning to optimise outcomes and minimise disruptions. This role emphasizes coordinating schedules with site capability, quality, safety and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

• Experience in production scheduling and materials planning within manufacturing.
• Ability to manage changing priorities and meet production targets.
• Strong Excel skills and familiarity with ERP/MRP systems.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain weekly production schedules aligned to supply plans and plant capacity.
• Drive schedule attainment with operations, maintenance and supply teams.
• Coordinate planning and operations to reflect site capability and safety standards.
• Manage material availability using SAP/MRP, vendor forecasting, POs, issue resolution.
• Support NPD trials, product launches and lifecycle management to protect continuity.
• Lead continuous improvement and daily management to improve scheduling effectiveness.

Skills

Production scheduling

Materials planning

SAP ERP systems

Excel

MRP processes

Stakeholder management

Tools

SAP ERP

Job description

Mainland Dairy, the business formerly known as Fonterra’s global Consumer and associated businesses, is now part of the Lactalis Group and known as Lactalis-Mainland Dairy.

Lactalis is a French family-owned business founded in Laval in 1933. Today, it is the world’s leading dairy group, present in 50 countries employing around 85,500 people. It is home to some of the world’s best known global and international dairy brands, including Président, Galbani and Parmalat, and local brands including Pauls, OAK, and Cracker Barrel in Australia.

Lactalis-Mainland Dairy is a team of more than 4,300 employees, operating 16 manufacturing sites across Oceania, Southeast Asia, South Asia and the Middle East. We make well-loved brands including Perfect Italiano, Mainland, and Western Star.

Our passionate and talented team is committed to nurturing the future, unlocking new opportunities, and fostering innovation in nutrition and food.

About the opportunity

Reporting to the Production & Materials Planning Manager, you will be responsible for converting supply plans into executable weekly production schedules while ensuring materials availability to support production requirements. You will work closely with Operations, Maintenance, Milk Collection, Procurement, Logistics and Supply Planning teams to optimise production outcomes, minimise supply constraints and support broader supply chain performance.

This role plays a critical part in ensuring production runs, cleaning schedules, maintenance activities and material supply are effectively coordinated to deliver strong operational and customer outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain executable weekly production schedules that align with supply plans, production requirements, maintenance activities and plant capacity.
• Drive schedule attainment through close collaboration with Operations, Maintenance, Milk Collection and Supply teams to ensure plans are achievable and effectively executed.
• Coordinate the interface between Planning and Operations, ensuring production plans reflect site capability, quality requirements, safety standards and output targets.
• Manage material availability through SAP and MRP processes, including vendor forecasting, purchase orders and supply issue resolution to minimise production disruptions.
• Support NPD trials, product launches, lifecycle management and exception management activities to protect supply continuity and business outcomes.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives, root cause analysis activities and daily management systems to improve scheduling effectiveness and operational performance.

About You

To be successful in this role, you'll bring strong planning expertise, a collaborative approach, and the ability to balance operational priorities while ensuring the right materials and production schedules are in place to support customer and business needs.

You will also bring:

• Experience in production scheduling, materials planning, production planning or material purchasing within a manufacturing environment.
• Proven ability to execute plans effectively while managing changing priorities and operational requirements.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple tasks while maintaining accuracy.
• Well-developed stakeholder management skills with the ability to build strong relationships with vendors, customers and internal stakeholders.
• A flexible and adaptable approach, with the ability to support planning requirements and fill gaps across the broader network when required.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making capability.
• Intermediate Microsoft Excel skills and experience using SAP or similar ERP systems.
• Experience working with MRP processes, inventory management and materials planning.
• Food manufacturing or FMCG industry experience highly regarded.
• Fresh milk or dairy industry experience will be highly desirable.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a continuous improvement mindset.

What We Offer

• Competitive pay and benefits
• Career development and internal opportunities across a global business
• A team focused workplace in a fantastic culture where your work has real impact
• A strong commitment to quality, innovation and sustainability
• Flexible work arrangements where possible

We believe in you bringing your best and most authentic self to work and we want you to succeed in a way that allows you to win, in every aspect of your life. We strongly encourage applications from First Nations people, as well as individuals of diverse cultural and social backgrounds. Our team is dedicated to supporting your professional development and personal wellbeing.

We look forward to the possibility of you joining our inclusive team.

Please note that applicants must have full working rights for Australia to be considered.