Lead Production Planner: Drive Planning Excellence

JamesFisher; Elrick; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance

Cycle to work scheme

Company Pension

Job summary

James Fisher invites applications for a Lead Production Planner role in the UK to optimise production, balance demand and capacity, and lead the planning team to deliver on-time results.

The position requires strong ERP/MRP knowledge, advanced Excel skills, and proven leadership. You will collaborate across Production, Procurement, Engineering and other stakeholders, driving continuous improvement and ensuring high standards of planning integrity.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in production planning within a complex manufacturing environment.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret complex data, identify trends and translate insights into actionable plans.
• Expert knowledge of ERP/MRP systems, including production planning, master data management and process optimisation.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel or equivalent analytical tools, with experience in forecasting, capacity planning and scenario modelling.
• Proven leadership experience, with the ability to develop high‑performing teams, drive accountability and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead the UK Production Planning team, driving planning excellence and aligning across sites.
• Act as the escalation point for planning challenges, resolving issues quickly to minimise disruption.
• Own planning KPIs and continuously improve delivery performance and operational maturity.
• Develop and maintain robust production schedules using MRP outputs to balance demand and capacity.
• Collaborate with Production, Procurement, Engineering and other stakeholders to ensure schedule adherence and manage risks.
• Monitor production performance, identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions for on‑time delivery.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance planning processes and drive efficiency.

Skills

Leadership

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Forecasting

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Excel

Master data management

Process optimisation

Job description

James Fisher invites applications for a Lead Production Planner role in the UK to optimise production, balance demand and capacity, and lead the planning team to deliver on-time results.

The position requires strong ERP/MRP knowledge, advanced Excel skills, and proven leadership. You will collaborate across Production, Procurement, Engineering and other stakeholders, driving continuous improvement and ensuring high standards of planning integrity.