Job Title: Production Planner
Location: Gloucester
Pay Range: £30,000 - £35,000
Contract Type: Permanent
A growing manufacturing business is looking for an experienced Production Planner to take ownership of the day-to-day planning and coordination of production activities. Reporting directly to the Operations Manager, this is a hands‑on role where you'll work closely with Production, Purchasing, Sales, Quality and Dispatch to ensure work flows efficiently through the factory and customer requirements are consistently achieved. This is not a role where you'll be sat away from operations simply moving dates around a system. You'll be actively involved with production teams, balancing customer demand against available capacity and making practical decisions to keep manufacturing on track.
Key Responsibilities – Production Planner
Production Planning & Scheduling
- Create and maintain detailed production schedules.
- Review sales orders and stock agreement requirements.
- Create production and subcontract orders within the company database.
- Plan material picking, CNC machining, fabrication, assembly and packing activities.
- Balance customer requirements against machine and labour capacity.
- Monitor production progress and adjust schedules as priorities change.
- Identify potential delays before they impact delivery performance.
Production Coordination
- Work closely with Production Team Leaders and operators to ensure production targets are achieved.
- Liaise with Purchasing to ensure materials are available when required.
- Coordinate subcontract operations and external suppliers where necessary.
- Maintain accurate planning information within company systems.
- Communicate realistic delivery dates and schedule changes to relevant departments.
- Support the smooth flow of work throughout the manufacturing process.
Continuous Improvement
- Support improvements to production planning processes and efficiencies.
- Assist with longer‑term capacity and resource planning.
- Identify recurring planning issues and recommend practical solutions.
- Contribute to ongoing operational and manufacturing improvements.
Qualifications & Requirements – Production Planner
- Previous experience in Production Planning, Production Scheduling or Manufacturing Coordination.
- Experience using MRP and/or ERP systems.
- Strong understanding of manufacturing operations and capacity planning.
- Experience within CNC machining, fabrication, engineering or a similar manufacturing environment would be advantageous.
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills.
- Strong problem-solving ability and commercial awareness.
- Confident decision-maker able to work in a fast-moving environment
- Proficient with Microsoft Excel and production planning systems.
- Strong communication skills, able to engage with both office and shop‑floor personnel.
- Ability to remain calm and organised under pressure.
- Solutions-focused mindset with a proactive approach to challenges.
What We're Looking For – Production Planner
- Strong understanding of manufacturing.
- A planner who can walk onto the factory floor, understand what's happening and make practical planning decisions.
- An individual who can adapt quickly when priorities change.
- A strong communicator who can build relationships across all departments.
- Someone who takes ownership and follows tasks through to completion.
- A team player who thrives in a collaborative manufacturing environment.
What’s On Offer – Production Planner
- 25 Days Holiday + Bank Holidays
- Additional Birthday Holiday
- Monthly Team Lunches
- Staff Social Events Throughout the Year
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Ongoing Development of Employee Benefitsi>
- Opportunity to Take Ownership of the Planning Function
- Influence Production Priorities and Factory Performance
- Work Closely with All Areas of the Business
- Opportunity to Improve Planning Processes and Systems
- Career Development Within a Growing Manufacturing Organisation