Demand & Production Planner

JR United Kingdom; Ludlow; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in soft drinks production is seeking a Demand and Production Planner to enhance operational efficiency and align customer demand with production capabilities. This pivotal role involves leading the demand planning process, collaborating across multiple departments, and utilizing advanced analytical skills to improve forecasting accuracy. With a commitment to environmental sustainability and a focus on quality, this company offers a dynamic work environment where your contributions will directly impact the success of their diverse product range. If you thrive in a fast-paced setting and have a passion for supply chain management, this opportunity is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in demand forecasting or production planning role.
• Strong academic background in Supply Chain, Business, or Maths.

Responsibilities

• Lead the monthly demand planning process with Sales and Marketing.
• Generate detailed production plans balancing demand with resources.
• Maintain strong supplier relationships for timely supply chain alignment.

Skills

Demand Forecasting

Production Planning

ERP/MRP Systems

Analytical Skills

Inventory Management

Cross-functional Collaboration

Education

Degree in Supply Chain

Degree in Business

Degree in Maths

Tools

Analytical Tools

ERP Systems

Job description

Social network you want to login/join with:

Radnor Hills is an award-winning leading soft drinks producer based in beautiful countryside at Heartsease in Knighton, Powys. Established in 1990 by founder William Watkins, independent and family-owned, Radnor Hills produces over 400 million still, sparkling and flavoured water drinks every year. Radnor is a multi-format facility manufacturing glass, PET, cans and Tetra Pak all from one site.

Our brands include a full range of Radnor Hills spring water, Heartsease Farm, Radnor Splash, and our market-leading range of school-approved children’s drinks, Radnor Fizz. Radnor’s diverse drinks portfolio is all made using exceptionally pure Welsh spring water sourced from our family farm’s land, just minutes from the production line for maximum freshness.

Environmental sustainability is a bedrock of our company. We have been a zero-to-landfill site since 2018 and have an on-site state-of-the-art recycling facility and an expert in-house team to facilitate this. Our environmental management system and site have been certified to ISO 14001 standards.

All of Radnor’s products are fully recyclable - our plastic bottles and shrink wraps are 100% recyclable and are also made up of 30% recycled material, our cartons are straw free, and our cans are infinitely recyclable and sourced only 65 miles from our farm in the heart of the Welsh countryside.

The Role

The Demand and Production Planner plays a critical role in aligning customer demand with operational capabilities, acting as a key liaison between Sales, Marketing, Production, Procurement and Logistics. This position is responsible for managing and continually improving the demand forecasting and production planning processes through the effective use of data, systems, and cross-functional collaboration. The role supports the successful execution of the monthly Sales and Operations Planning cycle, converting market and customer insights into an accurate demand plan and translating this into a feasible, cost-effective production schedule.

Main duties will include:

- Lead the monthly demand planning process in collaboration with Sales, Marketing, and Finance, incorporating historical trends, customer run rates, promotional activity, product lifecycle changes, delists and broader market insights.

- Facilitate and lead cross-functional monthly demand review and S&OP meetings to gain consensus and sign off on a rolling 3–6 month forecast horizon. Monitor forecast accuracy and variance against actual sales, reporting KPIs and root cause analysis to Channel Heads and the Sales Director.

- Manage bi-weekly exceptions meetings to assess and respond to late demand changes or opportunities, working with Operations and Sales to assess impact.

- Generate detailed, efficient production plans that balance forecasted demand with available labour, machine capacity, materials, storage and energy consumption. Work closely with Engineering, Production and Quality to incorporate maintenance, cleaning and labour constraints into production schedules.

- Develop weekly and monthly raw material forecasts and liaise with Procurement to ensure timely supply chain alignment.

- Maintain strong external supplier relationships, advising on delivery schedules and managing key planning inputs.

- Deputise for the Procurement Manager during periods of absence.

Candidate requirements:

- Advanced proficiency in ERP/MRP systems and analytical tools.

- Minimum 3 years in a demand forecasting or production planning role, ideally in FMCG or manufacturing.

- Strong academic background in Supply Chain, Business, Maths or related discipline.

- Proven experience working cross-functionally to build and manage a consensus forecast.

- Track record of improving planning accuracy and operational efficiency.

- Solid knowledge of inventory management, scheduling, and manufacturing processes.

- Experience dealing directly with customers to understand forecasts, resolve issues, and maintain service levels.

- Strong analytical and statistical skills with the ability to interpret complex data sets.

- Strong interpersonal skills to influence and collaborate with cross-functional teams.

Hours and Location:

This role is based at our main site in Knighton, Powys and you will be required to work 40-hours per week, Monday to Friday. We offer a competitive salary dependent upon experience.