Commercial & MPS Planning Lead

Trelleborg; Bridgwater; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering solutions firm in Bridgwater seeks a skilled professional to manage internal and external communications, participate in supply chain operations, and lead a dedicated team. The ideal candidate will possess a strong customer orientation, effective leadership abilities, and experience in the manufacturing sector. Occasional travel within the UK is expected to ensure operational excellence across Trelleborg Manufacturing sites.

Qualifications

• Minimum 2 years’ work experience in customer services within a Manufacturing environment.
• Leadership experience required.
• Knowledge of basic production processes is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with marketing companies.
• Liaise with internal departments for collaboration.
• Lead and support the MPS Planning Team, managing tasks.
• Monitor on-time delivery and production lead times.

Skills

Customer orientation

Stakeholder management

Effective communication skills

Commercial awareness

Team leadership

Change management

Conflict resolution

Analytical skills

Attention to detail

Continuous improvement mindset

Education

GCSE Maths & English

Tools

Microsoft Office

Fourth Shift or SAP

Job description

Overview

Trelleborg Sealing Solutions Bridgwater is a world leader in engineered polymer solutions that protect critical applications in demanding environments. Its innovative solutions accelerate performance for customers in a sustainable way.

We build long-term partnerships with customers and suppliers by providing leading technology and excellent service. Together with customers we shape a sustainable future with unique, innovative solutions to tomorrow's challenges.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong relationships with Marketing companies to ensure clear communication and high service standards.
• Participate in Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) calls organized by Global Supply Chain.
• Liaise proactively with internal departments—Production, Technical, Quality, Purchasing, Dispatch, Product Engineering, and Finance—to gather information, resolve issues, and collaborate on continuous improvement initiatives.
• Oversee and evaluate the performance and costs of freight forwarding companies.
• Identify and communicate supply issues that may impact production, providing early warnings to Supply Chain Management (SCM) and Customer Solution Centres (CSC) about potential order delays.
• Ensure accurate and timely processing of commercial enquiries and orders through the ERP system for prompt customer responses.
• Maintain precise records of orders, export movements, and military documentation for audit and compliance purposes.
• Complete and submit intercompany surveys as required.
• Lead, coach, and support the MPS Planning Team, managing workload and delegating tasks effectively.
• Conduct regular one-to-one meetings with team members to provide feedback and guidance.
• Assess training needs and coordinate relevant development opportunities for the team.
• Carry out annual and mid‑year performance reviews (PEPs) for all team members.
• Oversee and support the release and expediting of production orders, providing timely feedback on capacity issues to production teams.
• Resolve documentation issues promptly as they arise.
• Assist with general data entry and administrative tasks when required.
• Monitor on‑time delivery (OTD) and production lead times, driving continuous improvement in these areas.
• Contribute to business improvement and manufacturing excellence projects by identifying and implementing process efficiencies.
• Develop and maintain KPIs for the team, actively engaging with OTD, arrears, and backlog metrics to identify improvement opportunities.
• Investigate and address complaints, implementing corrective actions to enhance customer satisfaction and process quality.

Qualifications

• Customer orientation
• Stakeholder management
• Effective communication skills (negotiation, persuasion, influence)
• Commercial awareness
• Ability to effectively lead a team and be a team player
• Ability to delegate and empower others
• Change management
• Conflict resolution
• Knowledge of basic production processes, including product lines and dispatch processes
• Holistic business understanding
• Good analytical skills
• Attention to detail
• Continuous improvement mindset
• Self‑motivated to improve performance and results
• Microsoft Office experience
• Knowledge of Fourth Shift and/or SAP (desirable, not essential), GCSE Maths & English
• IT and Data inputting experience
• Relevant industry background in a similar role
• Minimum 2 years’ work experience in customer services within a Manufacturing environment
• Leadership experience

Travel Requirements

Occasional travel within UK to Trelleborg Manufacturing sites.