Planning Team Manager

L'OREAL GROUP; Bury St Edmunds; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

L'OREAL GROUP in Bury St Edmunds is looking for a collaborative Planning Team Manager to lead the Planning Team at the Bury Distribution Centre. You will translate the division's needs into actionable plans, develop your people, and build strong relationships with stakeholders to influence operations.

You will drive safety, capacity planning, and continuous improvement, manage peak periods, and ensure accurate scheduling, with a hands-on leadership style that motivates the team to perform at

Qualifications

• Strong leadership and people-development capabilities.
• Hands-on leadership with ability to influence stakeholders.
• Experience with distribution planning and scheduling.
• A proactive problem-solver focused on process improvements.
• Excellent communication and collaboration across teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead a safe, efficient shift and manage daily routines.
• Plan capacity and workload for peak periods and promotions.
• Direct planning activities across order waving, date management, and bookings.
• Coordinate site execution with Team Leaders to ensure smooth operations.
• Resolve issues and communicate risks with Divisional Order to Cash and Customer Supply Chain teams.
• Drive continuous improvement and cross-training to grow team capability.

Skills

Leadership

Planning

Communication

Continuous improvement

Integrity

Growth mindset

Job description

Planning Team Manager- Bury Distribution Centre

We’re looking for a collaborative, results-focused Team Manager to lead our Planning Team and deliver continuous improvement. You’ll bring a strong understanding of the division’s needs and priorities, develop and motivate your team, and build effective relationships with stakeholders with the ability to influence. Success will mean turning those needs into effective plans and creating a positive, accountable environment where people can perform at their best.

We Are Looking For

You bring a calm, hands-on leadership style and the communication skills to keep transport and DC operations aligned under tight turnarounds. You bring:

• Operational Planning Capability: Practical background in distribution scheduling, order waving, and transport coordination.
• Lead with Enthusiasm: You inspire and motivate your team to achieve shared goals.
• Collaborative Communication: You keep your team and other stakeholders informed and up to date through clear and concise communication with the confidence to manage and influence stakeholders.
• Digital & Analytical Skill: Aptitude for working with planning systems and operational dashboards to solve daily flow bottlenecks.
• Embrace Continuous Improvement: You're a proactive problem-solver who consistently seeks ways to optimise processes.
• Value Integrity: You hold yourself and your team accountable for delivering results and maintaining high standards.
• Develop and Grow: You're open to feedback, eager to learn, and committed to your own professional development.
• Safety & Process Focus: Commitment to safe working standards and consistent operational discipline.

Planning Department Expectations. You Will:

• Champion Safety and Operational Excellence: Lead a safe, efficient shift by identifying and mitigating risks, maintaining control measures, and holding the team accountable for daily routines, service and quality standards. Promote an interdependent safety culture.
• Plan Capacity and Workload: Report into the Planning & Transport Manager to manage day-to-day capacity and volumes. Prepare robust operational plans for peak periods, bank holidays and promotions, balancing resources and priorities.
• Lead Specialist Planning Activities: Direct the team’s work across order waving and date management, customer delivery bookings, transport proformas and out-of-schedule requests. Monitor progress, allocate workload and maintain accuracy and service standards.
• Coordinate Site Execution: Partner daily with Team Leaders across departments to align plans, manage changing priorities and support smooth operational execution throughout the distribution centre.
• Communicate and Resolve Issues: Act as a key operational contact for Divisional Order to Cash and Customer Supply Chain teams. Resolve delivery queries, communicate risks and progress, and balance workloads in line with service requirements.
• Develop and Improve: Build team capability through cross-training, regular feedback and quarterly Connects. Identify and implement improvements to planning processes, efficiency and productivity.

You have:

• Enthusiastic Leadership: You inspire and motivate those around you to achieve common goals.
• Proactive Communication: You naturally keep your team and others informed with clear and concise updates.
• A Continuous Improvement Mindset: You’re a proactive problem-solver, always looking for ways to optimize processes and make things better.
• Strong Integrity: You hold yourself and others accountable for results and maintain high standards.
• A Growth Mindset: You embrace feedback, are eager to learn, and are committed to your own development.