3rd Party Supply Planning Manager

A.G. Barr; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Uncapped bonus

Defined contribution Pension

Up to 34 days holiday

Flexible holiday trading

Flexible cash pot to spend on benefits

Healthcare Cash Plan

Flexible benefits

Life assurance

Save as you earn scheme

Staff sales discount

Free AG Barr products

Annual salary review

Learning and Development programmes

Job summary

AG Barr in the United Kingdom seeks a 3rd Party Supply Planning Manager to drive production efficiency, optimise co-manufacturing networks, and balance inventory in a fast-paced FMCG environment.

You will manage the 13-week capacity plan with third-party partners, collaborate with Procurement on supplier selection, and lead S&OP initiatives to mitigate capacity risks and improve service levels. The role is permanent and hybrid with travel as needed.

Qualifications

• Proven supply/manufacturing planning experience in a fast-paced FMCG environment.
• Hands-on experience working within S&OP cycles and managing third-party manufacturing partnerships.
• Strong analytical, decision-making and project management skills.
• Exceptional cross-functional communication skills.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel to supplier sites and internal locations.

Responsibilities

• Capacity & Production Oversight: Manage the 13-week rough-cut capacity plan and oversee fixed production schedules to ensure third-party partners deliver on clear requirements.
• Third-Party & Supplier Management: Partner with Procurement on co-manufacturer selection, lead monthly Supply Planning Clinics, and track supplier performance KPIs.
• Inventory & Material Planning: Optimise inventory levels aligned with warehouse capacity and ensure raw material availability through diligent MRP management.
• S&OP & Project Integration: Drive NPD/EPD initiatives, manage third-party project lifecycles, and elevate capacity risks or opportunities through the S&OP process.
• Cost Control & Network Optimisation: Keep primary movements within budget limits while working with Deployment and Customer Service to position goods at the right place, time, and cost.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and refine core planning processes to support broader business goals and streamline supply chain operations.

Skills

Proven supply/manufacturing planning

S&OP cycles

Analytical / decision-making

Cross-functional communication

Travel flexibility

Tools

MRP/DRP/ERP systems

Excel

Google Sheets

Job description

Job Title: 3rd Party Planning Manager

Location: Cumbernauld or Milton Keynes

Contract and working pattern: Permanent, Hybrid

Are you ready to Be Your Best Barr None?

Lets Grow!!!

We are all about Being Your Best Barr None and having a career with real Moments that Matter!

Employing around 950 people across the UK, we are proud to be a responsible business that takes care of our people, values diversity, gives something back to our communities and works to minimise our environmental impact.

For 150 years AG Barr has been building great brands and is home to some of the nations favourite flavours.

At our core is IRN-BRU, launched in 1901 and still going strong today, the vibrant RUBICON fruit based brand, Boost making every moment better with a caffeine kick, hydration hit or tasty treat, and FUNKIN where real fruit means authentic taste.

We also have a number of exciting owned brands within our portfolio including MOMA, which crafts quality oats into great tasting oat drinks and porridges.

There's never been a better time to join us!

What we’re looking for…

As a 3rd Party Supply Planning Manager, you will be a key member of our Supply Planning team, you will drive production efficiency, optimise co-manufacturing networks, and balance inventory to deliver exceptional service in a fast-paced FMCG environment.

Your responsibilities will include...

• Capacity & Production Oversight: Manage the 13-week rough-cut capacity plan and oversee fixed production schedules to ensure third-party partners deliver on clear requirements.
• Third-Party & Supplier Management: Partner with Procurement on co-manufacturer selection, lead monthly Supply Planning Clinics, and track supplier performance KPIs.
• Inventory & Material Planning: Optimise inventory levels aligned with warehouse capacity and ensure raw material availability through diligent MRP management.
• S&OP & Project Integration: Drive NPD/EPD initiatives, manage third-party project lifecycles, and elevate capacity risks or opportunities through the S&OP process.
• Cost Control & Network Optimisation: Keep primary movements within budget limits while working with Deployment and Customer Service to position goods at the right place, time, and cost.
• Continuous Improvement: Regularly review and refine core planning processes to support broader business goals and streamline supply chain operations.

What you’ll bring...

The successful candidate will have;

• Proven supply/manufacturing planning experience in a fast-paced FMCG environment, with strong proficiency in MRP/DRP/ERP systems and advanced Excel/Google Sheets.
• Hands-on experience working within S&OP cycles and managing third-party manufacturing partnerships.
• Strong analytical, decision-making, and project management skills with a track record of identifying risks early and multi-tasking effectively.
• Exceptional cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to foster collaborative internal and external stakeholder relationships.
• Flexibility and willingness to travel to third-party supplier sites and internal company locations as needed.

And it would also be great if you can demonstrate:

• Previous experience managing or mentoring direct reports and a passion for continuous team learning.
• Exposure to multi-site stock deployment and complex network inventory strategies.

What we offer…

We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive culture where your voice can be heard. Our skilled, loyal and committed people are critical to the future success of AG Barr which is why we are continually investing in our employees to develop their talent.

We look after our employees by offering a competitive salary and benefits package which includes;

• Uncapped bonus linked to business performance
• Defined contribution Pension
• Up to 34 days holiday (depending on shift pattern)
• Flexible holiday trading
• Flexible cash pot to spend on benefits
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Flexible benefits e.g. discounts & cashbacks, gym memberships, technology purchases etc
• Life assurance
• Save as you earn scheme
• Staff sales discount
• Free AG Barr products throughout your working day and staff sales
• Annual salary review
• Ongoing professional development and access to Learning and Development programmes and content

And much more!

To find out more about what it is like to work for AG Barr, please visit our careers platform here.

We are an equal opportunities employer and happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that may be needed for successful candidates with a disability, health or mental health condition.

While we have highlighted our ideal requirements for this role, we are realistic that the successful candidate probably won't meet every single requirement in this advert, but we are big advocates of people growing in role. So even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to submit an application - you may be just what we are looking for!