Planning Manager

Hozelock; Minworth; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading manufacturer in gardening equipment located in Minworth is seeking a Planning and Procurement Manager to oversee and improve all related activities. This role demands extensive experience in a manufacturing environment, with a strong focus on managing stock, customer requirements, and team development. The ideal candidate will have exceptional organizational and problem-solving skills, and the ability to effectively communicate across departments. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to operational excellence within a dynamic team.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in a Manufacturing/Planning Management environment.
• Ability to manage numerous projects and tasks simultaneously.
• Experience of managing stock targets and achieving deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Manage production planners to ensure customer requirements are met.
• Create and maintain manufacturing projections on stock.
• Develop planning and procurement teams through regular reviews.
• Hold weekly meetings with key customers to discuss product availability.

Skills

Project management

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Stakeholder communication

Team development

Commercial awareness

Education

Degree in Manufacturing/Planning Management or related fields

Job description

Job Purpose

Responsible for the management of all Planning and Procurement activities to ensure customer requirements are met within the agreed COTIF targets.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage production planners to ensure plans reflect customer requirements ensuring Cotif and KPI targets are met or exceeded.
• Create and maintain Manufacturing projections on stock to reflect stock profiles and determine temporary labour requirements to then be discussed with Director of Operations.
• Manage exit plans and obsolescence because of business planning and business simplification reviews.
• Manage stock of both finished and components to ensure Customer's requirements are met and stock KPI’s are maintained.
• Implement and control model specs within the workflow from set up to production samples, bulk production, and release to customer.
• Effectively implement Engineering Changes on all products to avoid or reduce potential obsolescence. Maintain workflow on ECO’s.
• Support NPD development by creating ramp up plans, pilot builds, sample builds and full production with sign off and release to ship.
• Category code management - for all products at risk of obsolescence manage stock effectively to minimise exposure and liability of components and finished stock.
• Liaise with sales office to advise product availability dates and manage customer expectations.
• Determine improved processes and ways of working for Planning/Procurement team.
• Establish Kanban systems opportunities.
• Manage relationships with suppliers to ensure continuity of supply for all components and factored products.
• Manage and approve all production plans, FE schedules in line with requirements.
• Generate capacity plans for specific bottleneck assembly operations to identify potential problem areas to obtain resolution with manufacturing managers.
• Generate pre-build and ABC plans to utilise labour efficiently.
• Develop planning and procurement teams through regular reviews.
• Responsible for production plan sign off and handover to manufacturing.
• Hold weekly review with Sales team on Cotif achievement and identify solutions for improvement where needed.
• Comply with the Health and Safety responsibilities as defined in the company health and safety policy and ensure that any specific responsibilities are adequately delegated in their absence.
• Hold weekly meetings with key Customers to discuss product availability/current & future demands /promotional activity.

Person Profile

• Ability to manage numerous projects, tasks simultaneously.
• Highly organised.
• Root cause analysis and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to build relationships with all departments in the business to ensure excellent internal communications.
• Able to successfully develop continually improving planning and procurement team.
• Ability to motivate and develop direct reports.
• Ability to communicate clearly at all levels of the business.
• Wide commercial awareness and understanding.
• Show positive and strong personal impact, whilst maintaining professionalism.
• Excellent people management skills.

Education and/or Experience

• 5+ years' experience in a Manufacturing/Planning Management environment.
• Degree or equivalent in a Manufacturing/Planning Management related subjects.
• Experience of managing stock targets and achieving deadlines essential.