Sales & Operation Planner

ZipRecruiter; Oxford; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in manufacturing is seeking a detail-oriented Sales and Operations Planner to drive integrated planning processes. The ideal candidate will balance demand and capacity constraints while collaborating with cross-functional teams to optimize production and inventory management.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in S&OP, production planning, or supply chain management.
• Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, lead times, and capacity planning.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the monthly S&OP process.
• Develop and maintain a rolling demand forecast.
• Monitor and adjust inventory levels to meet customer service targets.

Skills

Forecasting & Demand Planning

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Data-Driven Problem Solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management

MBA

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Excel

Job description

Job Description

Position Summary:
Rate: (Negotiable)
We are looking for a detail-oriented and strategic Sales and Operations Planner (S&OP Planner) to join our manufacturing team. This role is responsible for driving the integrated planning process that aligns sales forecasts, production schedules, and inventory management to support business objectives and customer satisfaction. The ideal candidate has strong experience in manufacturing environments, with a deep understanding of how to balance demand and capacity constraints.
Key Responsibilities:
* Lead and coordinate the monthly S&OP process, aligning sales, production, procurement, and finance teams.
* Develop and maintain a rolling demand forecast using historical data, sales trends, and customer input.
* Translate demand forecasts into actionable production and inventory plans while considering manufacturing lead times and capacity constraints.
* Collaborate closely with production planning and scheduling teams to ensure timely and efficient manufacturing output.
* Monitor and adjust inventory levels to meet customer service targets while minimizing holding and obsolescence costs.
* Analyse variances between actual and forecasted results and drive root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
* Identify production bottlenecks or supply chain risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
* Utilize ERP/MRP systems and advanced planning tools to manage and optimize the end-to-end planning process.
* Support new product introductions and engineering changes with effective planning and ramp-up strategies.
Qualifications:
* Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, Industrial Engineering, Operations, or a related field; MBA or relevant certifications (e.g., APICS CPIM) .
* Excellent experience in S&OP, production planning, or supply chain management in a manufacturing environment.
* Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, JD Edwards).
*
Key Competencies:
* Manufacturing Process Understanding
* Forecasting & Demand Planning
* Capacity & Resource Planning
* Cross-Functional Collaboration
* Data-Driven Problem Solving
* Solid understanding of manufacturing processes, lead times, and capacity planning.
* Proficient in Excel and data analysis; experience with forecasting tools is a plus.
* Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
* Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced, cross-functional manufacturing environment.
Join us and play a key role in ensuring the backbone of our product data is solid, accurate, and efficient.
If you are interested in hearing more about the opportunities, please apply now, by sending your CV.
Eligibility: Sponsorship is not offered, and you must be eligible to work in the UK