Planning Project Lead - Manufacturing

Abbott; Oxford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Share ownership

Private healthcare

Life assurance

Flexible benefits

Wellbeing initiatives

Job summary

Abbott is seeking a Manufacturing Planning Project Lead to join the Operations Planning team at our Witney site. You will lead projects that enhance planning capabilities, drive operational excellence, and ensure demand is met in a dynamic manufacturing environment.

You will manage projects end-to-end, including New Product Introduction, partnering across Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality and Commercial teams.

Qualifications

• Experience leading projects or major workstreams.
• Experience supporting planning activities in NPI, product changes, or business transformation.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret data and identify root causes.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects from concept through to implementation to improve planning processes, systems and ways of working.
• Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality and Commercial teams.
• Support New Product Introduction (NPI) activities and ensure planning requirements are integrated into production.

Skills

Project leadership

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Planning experience

Regulated manufacturing

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

We have an exciting opportunity for a Manufacturing Planning Project Lead to join our Operations Planning team. In this role, you will lead projects that enhance our planning capabilities, support operational excellence, and ensure we continue to meet customer demand effectively in a dynamic manufacturing environment. Working closely with stakeholders across Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, and Commercial teams, you will manage projects from concept through to implementation, driving improvements in planning processes, systems, and ways of working. You will also play a key role in New Product Introduction (NPI) activities, ensuring planning requirements are identified early and successfully integrated into production. This role requires someone who combines strong project leadership skills with hands-on planning experience. You will be comfortable working at both a strategic and operational level, using data and analysis to identify opportunities, solve complex problems, and support informed decision-making.

You will have experience working within a Manufacturing, Production Planning, Supply Planning, or Operations Planning environment and a strong understanding of planning processes within a manufacturing setting. You will bring:

• Experience leading projects, business improvements, or significant workstreams.
• Experience supporting or managing planning activities relating to New Product Introduction (NPI), product changes, or business transformation initiatives.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, identify root causes, and develop practical solutions.
• The ability to work comfortably within the detail while maintaining focus on overall project objectives.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Experience working in a regulated manufacturing environment.
• A degree qualification or equivalent experience.
• A recognised Project Management qualification would be advantageous but is not essential.

  Abbott is about the power of health. For more than 135 years, Abbott has been helping people reach their potential - because better health allows people and communities to achieve more. With a diverse, global network serving customers in more than 160 countries, we create new solutions - across the spectrum of health, around the world, for all stages of life. World Leader in Glucose Monitoring, Abbott Diabetes Care designs, develops and manufactures glucose monitoring systems for use in both home and hospital settings. Our Centre of Excellence in Witney is at the heart of innovation, producing electrodes and biosensors that support the day-to-day management of diabetes.

  The site has played a key role in the development of the FreeStyle Libre Flash Glucose Monitoring System and its successors, including FreeStyle Libre 2, FreeStyle Libre 3 and Libre Sense.

• At Abbott, you'll be part of a dynamic team making a real difference in diabetes care. You'll work on cutting-edge technology and contribute to innovative solutions that improve lives. In addition to a competitive salary, Abbott offers a highly attractive benefits package including:
  • Defined-contribution pension scheme# Share ownership scheme
  • Private healthcare
  • Life assurance
  • Flexible benefits tailored to your needs
  • We also offer a range of wellbeing initiatives including onsite allotments, bee keeping, yoga and more!