Master Scheduler

JFD Ltd; Westhill; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Private Medical Insurance

Life Assurance

Cycle to work scheme

Company Pension

Early finish on Fridays

Job summary

James Fisher Defence (JFD) seeks a Master Scheduler to drive production planning and on-time delivery across projects. You will develop and maintain the site master schedule, coordinating demand with operations to ensure work is planned and sequenced.

You will provide visibility of workload, risks and priorities for informed decisions in a fast-paced environment. Working with leadership and teams, you will reflect milestones and capacity constraints in the schedule, supporting successful project

Qualifications

• Experience in master scheduling, production planning and ERP-based scheduling within a complex manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of ERP, material planning and engineering to order operations.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret complex data and make informed decisions.
• Solid knowledge of project management principles, commercial considerations and delivery challenges within customer focused projects.
• Passion for continuous improvement and driving efficiencies with best-practice methods.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills across all levels and international teams.
• Experience on commercially sensitive projects with security and confidentiality requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain the integrated site master schedule, ensuring all customer demand is accurately planned and prioritised.
• Establish, govern and improve scheduling processes, tools and reporting to enhance visibility, accuracy and efficiency.
• Identify schedule risks and conflicts, working with operations to develop mitigation plans and support decision-making through analysis and scenario planning.
• Approve customer Sales Orders, validating ERP requirements and coordinating inputs across Sales, Production and Planning teams.
• Collaborate with Business Analysts and Business Systems teams to develop reporting capabilities and support system upgrades.

Skills

Master scheduling

Production planning

ERP systems

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Project management

Continuous improvement

Communication

Tools

ERP systems

Reporting tools

Job description

Please note that this role requires security checks.

The Role:

We are seeking a Master Scheduler to play a pivotal role in driving efficient production planning and ensuring on time delivery across multiple projects.

In this role, you will develop and maintain the site master schedule, coordinating customer demand with operational capabilities to ensure work is effectively planned and sequenced.

Working closely with leadership, operations, and project teams, you will provide clear visibility of workload, delivery risks, and scheduling priorities, enabling informed decision-making and proactive resource management.

The successful candidate will ensure key milestones, capacity constraints, and customer commitments are accurately reflected within the schedule, helping to optimise site performance and support the successful delivery of projects. This is a fantastic opportunity for a proactive and analytical professional to make a real impact in a dynamic and fast paced environment.

What you’ll be doing:

• Develop and maintain the integrated site master schedule, ensuring all customer demand is accurately planned and prioritised.
• Establish, govern and continuously improve scheduling processes, tools and reporting to enhance visibility, accuracy and efficiency.
• Identify schedule risks, constraints and conflicts, working with operational teams to develop mitigation plans and support informed decision-making through schedule analysis and scenario planning.
• Approve customer Sales Orders, validating ERP requirements and coordinating inputs across Sales, Production and Planning teams.
• Collaborate with Business Analysts and Business Systems teams to develop reporting capabilities and support system upgrades and improvements.

What we’re looking for:

• Demonstrated experience in master scheduling, production planning and ERP-based scheduling within a complex manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of ERP systems, material planning processes and engineering to order operations.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex data and make informed decisions.
• Solid knowledge of project management principles, commercial considerations and delivery challenges within customer focused projects.
• Passion for continuous improvement, driving efficiencies and developing best-practice ways of working.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence across all levels and international teams.
• Experience working on commercially sensitive projects, with an understanding of associated security and confidentiality requirements.
• Early finish on Fridays
• Competitive salary and benefits package aligned with experience (Private Medical Insurance, Life Assurance, Cycle to work scheme, Company Pension, etc.)
• Clear pathways for career development and organisational visibility
• Inclusive and supportive culture that values individual contributions
• Meaningful work with impact across safety, innovation, and global operations

About Us:

James Fisher is a global engineering services company operating across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport. With a strong heritage in maritime operations, we now deliver innovative solutions in challenging environments. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business within the Blue Economy, driving progress through technology, expertise, and collaboration.

Visit our website at: Home | James Fisher and Sons plc

For more information about our values and behaviours, follow the link: About us | James Fisher and Sons plc

James Fisher Defence (JFD), part of the James Fisher Group, is a global leader in underwater capability, delivering cutting-edge diving, submarine rescue, and hyperbaric solutions to both commercial and defence markets. Operating worldwide, JFD is the foremost provider of submarine rescue services and a trusted name in submarine escape training. We’re also at the forefront of hyperbaric rescue innovation and a leading supplier of advanced diving equipment and saturation systems across the industry. Explore more about JFD

At James Fisher and Sons, we are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success is driven by the talent and diversity of our workforce.