Planning Manager

Owen Daniels; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A well-established electronics manufacturing organisation is seeking a Planning Manager to lead the end-to-end planning function. This role is crucial for ensuring customer delivery commitments in a fast-paced environment. Responsibilities include managing the planning process from sales order entry to delivery while driving continuous improvement initiatives. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical skills, proven experience in planning, and effective communication abilities. This hands-on role requires balancing multiple priorities and managing change effectively.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Planning Manager or similar role within electronics manufacturing.
• Ability to manage end-to-end planning from order entry through to delivery.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the end-to-end planning process.
• Lead and coordinate all planning activities in the ERP system.
• Translate customer demand into achievable production plans.
• Monitor planning and delivery metrics.

Skills

Planning Manager experience

Customer-focused mindset

Excellent communication skills

Strong analytical skills

Ability to manage multiple priorities

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Job Title: Planning Manager

Location: Stevenage

Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 per annum

A well-established electronics manufacturing organisation is seeking a Planning Manager to lead and own the end-to-end planning function within a fast-paced, customer-focused environment. This is a key role responsible for ensuring customer delivery commitments are achieved through effective planning, coordination, and execution across the business.

Working closely with operations, sales, engineering, purchasing, and production, the Planning Manager will translate customer demand into achievable production plans, balancing capacity, materials availability, and changing priorities. This role requires strong leadership, attention to detail, and the confidence to challenge and elevate where required to protect delivery performance.

This is a hands-on management role suited to someone who thrives in a dynamic electronics manufacturing environment and is comfortable managing complexity, change, and competing priorities while keeping customer delivery at the forefront.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and manage the end-to-end planning process from sales order entry through works order creation, scheduling, and delivery
• Lead and coordinate all planning activities within the ERP system, ensuring data accuracy and timely updates
• Translate customer demand into realistic and achievable production plans, balancing capacity, materials, and delivery priorities
• Drive works order loading and contract review processes to support on-time-in-full (OTIF) performance
• Act as the central point of coordination between sales, engineering, purchasing, and production
• Proactively chase, challenge, and elevate missing, late, or incomplete information that could impact planning or delivery
• Effectively manage change including order amendments, priority shifts, material shortages, and capacity constraints
• Clearly communicate priorities and schedules across all relevant departments
• Review customer delivery commitments, identify risks early, and drive mitigation actions
• Monitor and report on key planning and delivery metrics including OTIF, backlog, and schedule adherence
• Lead, coach, and develop the planning team, setting clear expectations and accountability
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve planning efficiency and customer delivery performance
• Develop and maintain robust planning processes aligned with best practice in electronics manufacturing

Skills, Experience & Qualifications

Essential

• Proven experience in a Planning Manager, Planning Supervisor, or Senior Planner role within electronics manufacturing or a similarly regulated industry
• Demonstrated ability to manage end-to-end planning from order entry through to production and delivery
• Strong customer-focused mindset with a track record of meeting delivery commitments
• Excellent communication skills with the confidence to challenge, chase, and elevate where required
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with frequent change
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a practical, solutions-focused approach
• Experience working cross-functionally with sales, engineering, supply chain, and production teams
• Proactive, accountable, and ownership-driven approach

Desirable

• Strong working knowledge of ERP systems (e.g. Epicor E10 or equivalent), particularly planning, scheduling, and works order management
• Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives within planning or supply chain functions
• Detail-focused mindset while maintaining awareness of wider business objectives