Operations Scheduling Lead

Sunseeker International Ltd; Poole; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6% employer pension contribution

Private medical insurance

Dental insurance

Annual leave increases with service

Health Assured EAP

Mental Health First Aiders

Death in service

Perkbox employee discounts

Job summary

Sunseeker International Ltd in Poole seeks an experienced Operations Scheduling Lead to translate business demand into achievable production plans. You will balance priorities, resources and customer commitments in a complex marine manufacturing environment.

You will analyse data, influence decisions across Production, Supply Chain and Manufacturing, and drive continuous improvement in scheduling governance and operational performance.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in production planning within a complex manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of production flow, capacity planning and schedule governance.
• Proven ability to translate demand into practical operational plans.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills with attention to impacts and trade‑offs.

Responsibilities

• Developing and maintaining integrated production schedules aligned to business priorities and customer commitments.
• Leading scheduling activities and providing guidance on sequencing and schedule changes.
• Monitoring capacity across labour, facilities, equipment and critical resources to identify constraints and risks.
• Translating complex planning data into clear recommendations for stakeholders at all levels.
• Collaborating with cross‑functional teams to ensure alignment across the wider production programme.

Skills

Production planning

Scheduling

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Microsoft Excel

Job description

About Sunseeker International

Sunseeker was founded on a bold vision: to create a new kind of yacht and redefine what was possible on the water. From our earliest designs in 1967, we’ve pushed boundaries and reshaped the motor yacht industry through innovation, craftsmanship and relentless ambition.

At the heart of every Sunseeker lies a legacy of expert hands and meticulous attention to detail, skills refined and passed down through generations. These are the qualities that set our yachts apart - and the qualities that continue to drive our craft today.

In a world increasingly defined by automation, we remain committed to building hand‑finished boats. With over 1,800 talented team members across our busy shipyards - from long‑serving specialists to more than 180 apprentices - our Sunseeker workforce reflects the strength, diversity and pride of our local community. It’s this blend of heritage, skill and passion that makes our shipyards unlike any other place in the world.

Who We Are Seeking

At Sunseeker International, we are looking for an experienced and commercially minded Operations Scheduling Lead to play a pivotal role in translating business demand into achievable production plans. This is an exciting opportunity for a planning professional who thrives in a complex manufacturing environment and enjoys balancing operational priorities, resource constraints and customer commitments.

You will be a proactive problem-solver with strong analytical skills, capable of turning large volumes of planning data into clear, practical recommendations. Working across multiple departments, you will influence decision-making, drive alignment and ensure production schedules remain realistic, integrated and focused on delivering business objectives.

A Day in the Life

As an Operations Scheduling Lead, you will be at the heart of our production planning function, ensuring schedules are coordinated, achievable and aligned with operational capability. You'll work closely with Production, Supply Chain, Manufacturing and leadership teams to provide visibility of capacity, identify potential bottlenecks and support business-critical decisions.

Your day could involve analysing production plans, assessing resource requirements, evaluating recovery scenarios, reviewing schedule performance and collaborating with stakeholders to ensure priorities remain aligned. You'll provide forward-looking insight into delivery risks and opportunities while continually seeking ways to improve planning accuracy, governance and operational performance.

Example Responsibilities Include

• Developing and maintaining integrated production schedules aligned to business priorities and customer commitments.
• Leading scheduling activities and providing expert guidance on sequencing, prioritisation and schedule changes.
• Monitoring capacity across labour, facilities, equipment and critical resources to identify constraints and potential risks.
• Providing visibility of schedule performance, delivery confidence and operational risks.
• Supporting tactical and strategic decision-making through scenario planning and operational analysis.
• Translating complex planning data into clear recommendations for stakeholders at all levels.
• Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment across the wider production programme.
• Representing Production Planning in business forums and contributing to decision‑making discussions.
• Driving continuous improvement initiatives to enhance scheduling processes, planning capability and operational effectiveness.
• Encouraging data-driven decision-making and best‑practice planning methodologies across the business.

To Be Considered for This Role You Should Have

• Significant experience in production planning, operational planning or master scheduling within a complex manufacturing environment.
• A strong understanding of production flow, capacity planning, resource management and schedule governance.
• Proven experience translating demand into practical and achievable operational plans.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills with the ability to evaluate impacts and trade‑offs.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence across multiple functions and levels.
• Advanced experience using planning systems, ERP/MRP solutions and Microsoft Excel.
• The ability to work effectively in a fast‑paced environment with competing priorities and changing demands.
• A proactive, resilient and collaborative approach with a strong focus on continuous improvement.
• Experience within marine, shipbuilding, aerospace, automotive or other complex project‑based manufacturing environments would be advantageous, as would knowledge of workforce planning, forecasting, integrated business planning processes and continuous improvement methodologies.

Sunseeker employees benefit from

With 7 miles of golden sandy beaches, flanked on both sides by the New Forest National Park and the Jurassic Coast line, working in Poole for a genuinely premiere international brand offers an enviable opportunity to truly live the dream. All the usual benefits you would expect from a sophisticated manufacturing organisation are available, including:

• A generous company pension scheme - 6% employer contribution
• Private medical insurance, including baby bonus and Digital GP (after 2 years)
• Dental insurance (after 2 years)
• Annual leave increases with continued service
• Health Assured EAP
• Trained Mental Health First Aiders
• Death in service scheme (£)
• Employee discounts with a wide range of third party businesses (up to 30% off) including Perkbox