Operations Planner

iO Associates; England; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading aerospace & defence manufacturer is seeking an experienced Operations Planner to enhance production efficiency and optimize workflow. The ideal candidate will have 3-5 years in manufacturing planning, strong ERP/MRP knowledge, and excellent communication skills. You will develop manufacturing plans, schedule production orders, and ensure compliance with quality standards. This is a dynamic role suitable for someone experienced in the aerospace sector, ready to collaborate closely with engineering and supply chain teams.

Qualifications

• Experience in manufacturing planning or production control, ideally aerospace/defence.
• Highly organized with excellent planning capabilities.
• Confident interpreting engineering drawings and specifications.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed manufacturing plans.
• Schedule and prioritize production orders.
• Monitor work in progress and resolve bottlenecks.
• Collaborate with engineering on deviations and rework.

Skills

Manufacturing planning

Lean manufacturing

ERP/MRP systems

Analytical problem-solving

Strong communication

Education

Degree in Operations Management or related field

Job description

Operations Planner

A leading aerospace & defence manufacturer is expanding and looking for an experienced Operations Planner to help drive production efficiency, optimise workflow and ensure customers receive high-quality, precision-engineered products on time.

This is a key role within a growing organisation and perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, high-mix, low-volume environment and enjoys working closely with engineering, manufacturing and supply chain teams.

As an Operations Planner, you will be responsible for shaping and maintaining the manufacturing plan, ensuring resources are aligned and production runs smoothly. Your duties will include:

• Developing and maintaining detailed manufacturing plans and routings for aerospace components and assemblies
• Scheduling and prioritising production orders based on customer demand and delivery deadlines
• Working with procurement and materials teams to secure timely availability of parts, tooling and consumables
• Monitoring WIP and proactively resolving bottlenecks or delays
• Collaborating with engineering to address deviations, rework and non-conformance issues
• Supporting capacity planning, resource allocation and load levelling across production cells
• Maintaining accurate data in ERP/MRP systems
• Driving continuous improvement across planning and scheduling processes
• Ensuring compliance with ISO 9001 and wider aerospace quality standards

Skills and Experience

Essential:

• 3-5 years' experience in manufacturing planning or production control (ideally aerospace/defence)
• Strong ERP/MRP experience and familiarity with work order management
• Confident interpreting engineering drawings and technical specifications
• Solid understanding of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement principles
• Highly organised with excellent planning capability
• Analytical and proactive problem-solver
• Strong communicator across engineering, production and supply chain teams
• Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to quality

Desirable:

• Knowledge of ISO 9001, NADCAP, EASA/CAA requirements
• Understanding of aerospace materials, machining, assembly or design-to-production processes
• Degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business Administration or similar
• Certifications such as APICS CPIM, Lean Six Sigma, PMP/Prince2
• Experience within CNC machining or aerospace assembly planning