Master Planner EMEA (NL/UK)

Driscoll Strawberry Associates, Inc; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Driscoll’s is seeking a Master Planner EMEA in Maidstone to drive the EMEA Master Plan, balancing demand, supply, and capacity across the region. The role focuses on translating forecasts into actionable plans and maintaining capacity plans to support the weekly and longer horizon.

You will work with ERP systems and planning tools in a dynamic, international environment. Ideal candidates have 1–3 years in planning, strong Excel skills, and a collaborative, results-focused approach to meet

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Supply Chain Management or related field.
• 1–3 years of planning and scheduling experience.
• Experience with S&OP processes and ERP/planning systems.
• Advanced Excel skills and ability to quickly learn new tools.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Ability to communicate complex planning concepts to stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering the EMEA Master Plan in line with S&OP objectives.
• Aligning demand, supply, production capacity, inventory and material requirements across the region.
• Identifying risks to the plan and presenting alternative scenarios for decisions.
• Translating forecasts into planning systems and aligning demand with capabilities.
• Maintaining the Rough Cut Capacity Plan and supporting daily manufacturing orders.
• Optimising labour, equipment and production capacity, especially during seasonal fluctuations.
• Coordinating Material Requirements Planning across EMEA and managing obsolete materials.
• Establishing safety-stock levels for finished goods and raw materials.
• Ensuring timely fulfilment of harvest, sales, production and transfer orders.
• Monitoring KPIs related to order fulfilment, capacity, and inventory.
• Sharing knowledge with Junior Master Planners and supporting their development.

Skills

Analytical

Results-driven

Strong communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in Supply Chain Management or related field

Tools

ERP systems

Planning software/tools

Excel

Job description

About the Opportunity At Driscoll’s, planning is at the heart of everything we do. To ensure our berries reach our customers at the right time, in the right condition and through the most efficient supply chain, we are looking for a Master Planner EMEA to join our Supply Chain Planning team in Maidstone. As a Master Planner EMEA, you play a key role in achieving our strategic ambitions and S&OP objectives. You ensure the right products are available at the right time, maintaining an optimal balance between customer demand, operational efficiency and sustainability. You translate our longer-term plans into effective tactical planning for the next 14–52 weeks, while also managing the more immediate operational planning horizon of 0–13 weeks. Working closely with teams across the EMEA region, you continuously adapt the plan to changing demand, supply, capacity and business priorities. You will also participate in a rotating schedule that includes occasional weekend shifts, which are compensated in time or pay according to your preference.

Responsibilities

• Developing and delivering the EMEA Master Plan in line with strategic and S&OP objectives.
• Aligning demand, supply, production capacity, inventory and material requirements across the region.
• Identifying risks to the plan, developing alternative scenarios and presenting clear recommendations to support commercial decision‑making.
• Translating marketing forecasts into planning systems and aligning expected demand with operational capabilities.
• Maintaining the Rough Cut Capacity Plan and supporting the daily planning of manufacturing orders.
• Optimising labour, equipment and production capacity, particularly during seasonal fluctuations.
• Coordinating Material Requirements Planning across EMEA and supporting the effective management of obsolete packaging materials.
• Establishing and adjusting appropriate safety‑stock levels for finished goods and raw materials.
• Ensuring the timely and accurate fulfilment of harvest, sales, production and transfer orders.
• Monitoring and analysing KPIs related to order fulfilment, capacity utilisation, obsolete materials, lead times and inventory fruit age.
• Identifying performance gaps and developing practical actions to improve results and meet customer commitments.
• Supporting the continuous improvement of planning tools, processes, efficiency and service levels.
• Acting as a backup for the Master Planner Lead when required.
• Sharing knowledge and best practices with Junior Master Planners and supporting their development and cross‑functional relationships.

Candidate Profile

• You are an analytical and results‑oriented planner who enjoys turning complex information into a clear and workable plan.
• You are comfortable operating in a dynamic, international environment where priorities can change quickly, and you understand the importance of strong communication and collaboration across different functions.
• A bachelor’s or master’s degree, preferably in Supply Chain Management or a related field.
• Approximately 1–3 years of experience in planning and scheduling.
• Experience with S&OP processes and working with ERP and planning systems.
• Advanced Excel skills and the ability to quickly learn new software and planning tools.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
• The ability to communicate complex planning concepts clearly to different stakeholders, including senior colleagues.
• A results‑driven approach and the ability to prioritise effectively and meet deadlines.

  Driscoll’s is the global market leader for fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. With more than 100 years of farming heritage and hundreds of independent growers around the world, Driscoll’s is passionate about growing fresh, beautiful and delicious berries. Our values of humility, passion and trustworthiness have guided our mission to delight consumers around the world. Driscoll’s exclusive patented berry varieties are developed through years of research using only natural breeding methods – meaning, no GMOs. From farm‑to‑table, we focus on delivering a high quality, premium berry experience with our many supply chain partners. Driscoll’s is the trusted brand for Only the Finest Berries™.