Planning Manager

DHL Supply Chain; Wednesbury; On-site; Confidential; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free on-site parking

33 days annual leave

Pension with 8% employer contribution

24/7 confidential GP consultations

Retail and lifestyle discounts

Loans and mortgage advice

Job summary

DHL Supply Chain in the West Midlands is seeking a Planning Manager to lead the production and delivery of robust transport plans using Paragon and TMS systems, with weekly travel to Bootle. You will manage the Planning function, drive efficiency, coach the team, and ensure cost control and service excellence while building strong relationships with customers and sites.

This permanent, full-time role requires proven planning management experience in transport logistics and a proactive,

Qualifications

• Previous Planning Management experience within a Transport Logistics sector is essential
• Strong communication, organisational and problem-solving skills, with a commitment to health and safety, compliance and delivering high levels of customer service
• Strong knowledge of transport planning systems (TMS), Paragon or similar route planning software is desirable
• Demonstrated ability to manage transport plans, driver labour planning and fleet resources to achieve service, cost and operational KPI targets
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of transport costs, backhaul opportunities, budget management and financial performance drivers
• Excellent people and stakeholder management skills
• Proven track record of successfully supporting change programmes, business integrations, new customer implementations and peak planning activities
• Happy to undertake weekly business travel to Bootle (Liverpool)

Responsibilities

• Manage the production and delivery of robust transport plans using Paragon and TMS systems, ensuring service, utilisation, load fill, compliance and customer KPI targets are consistently achieved
• Drive network efficiency by identifying and implementing planning improvements, reducing empty running, maximising backhaul opportunities and supporting overall EBIT performance
• Maintain strong relationships with customers, transport sites, warehouse operations and suppliers, ensuring excellent service delivery and a proactive one-network approach
• Own driver labour planning, fleet and resource forecasting, ensuring staffing levels align with customer demand, seasonal fluctuations and peak volume requirements
• Ensure the effective use, accuracy and continuous development of planning systems, incorporating operational feedback to maintain realistic, achievable and customer-focused plans
• Manage Planning function resources and budgets, working closely with Finance and operational stakeholders to control costs, support invoicing requirements and deliver best-in-class service
• Support business continuity, change programmes, new customer implementations and network integration projects, ensuring successful delivery, training and operational readiness
• Lead, coach and develop the Planning team, fostering a high-performing culture focused on safety, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence

Job description

Position: Planning Manager
Location: Wednesbury, West Midlands (1 day per week travel to Bootle, Liverpool)
Grade: RCS. L
Shift patterns: Monday-Friday. Day time hours
Contract Type: Permanent (Full-Time)

A TYPICAL DAY MAY INVOLVE

• Manage the production and delivery of robust transport plans using Paragon and TMS systems, ensuring service, utilisation, load fill, compliance and customer KPI targets are consistently achieved
• Drive network efficiency by identifying and implementing planning improvements, reducing empty running, maximising backhaul opportunities and supporting overall EBIT performance
• Maintain strong relationships with customers, transport sites, warehouse operations and suppliers, ensuring excellent service delivery and a proactive one-network approach
• Own driver labour planning, fleet and resource forecasting, ensuring staffing levels align with customer demand, seasonal fluctuations and peak volume requirements
• Ensure the effective use, accuracy and continuous development of planning systems, incorporating operational feedback to maintain realistic, achievable and customer-focused plans
• Manage Planning function resources and budgets, working closely with Finance and operational stakeholders to control costs, support invoicing requirements and deliver best-in-class service
• Support business continuity, change programmes, new customer implementations and network integration projects, ensuring successful delivery, training and operational readiness
• Lead, coach and develop the Planning team, fostering a high-performing culture focused on safety, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence

THIS ROLE WOULD SUIT PEOPLE WHO

• Previous Planning Management experience within a Transport Logistics sector is essential
• Strong communication, organisational and problem-solving skills, with a commitment to health and safety, compliance and delivering high levels of customer service
• Strong knowledge of transport planning systems (TMS), Paragon or similar route planning software is desirable
• Demonstrated ability to manage transport plans, driver labour planning and fleet resources to achieve service, cost and operational KPI targets
• Commercial awareness with an understanding of transport costs, backhaul opportunities, budget management and financial performance drivers
• Excellent people and stakeholder management skills
• Proven track record of successfully supporting change programmes, business integrations, new customer implementations and peak planning activities
• Happy to undertake weekly business travel to Bootle (Liverpool)

WHY JOIN US?

• Free on-site parking
• 33 days annual leave
• Join our generous pension scheme and benefit from an 8% employer contribution, alongside a 4% employee contribution
• Free confidential 24/7 GP consultations
• Hundreds of retail and lifestyle discounts
• Affordable loans, savings schemes and free mortgage advice
• Visit https://careers.dhl.com/global/en/working-at-dhl-supply-chain to learn more

WHO WE ARE

We're the global leaders in supply chain management with 188,000 people in over 50 countries. Our expert teams work together to deliver for our customers across a range of industries including retail, automotive, healthcare and more.

BUILDING AN INCLUSIVE WORKPLACE

At DHL, we're all about creating a workplace where everyone's skills and experiences matter, and where you can be your true self every day.

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