Production Planner

Workforce Recruitment and Training; Ledbury; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Workforce Recruitment and Training is partnering with a fast-paced food manufacturer to recruit an experienced Production Planning Lead. You will own daily schedules, ensure material availability and drive operational performance in a busy production environment.

You will collaborate with Production, Warehouse and Logistics teams, monitor KPIs, and lead planning meetings while developing the planning support function. Experience in ERP/MRP and strong Excel skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in production planning in food manufacturing.
• Experience with materials planning and supplier liaison.
• Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Developing and managing daily, weekly and medium-term production schedules.
• Ensuring production plans align with demand, capacity and material availability.
• Monitoring stock levels, inventory accuracy and supply shortages.
• Adjusting production schedules to changing priorities and customer requirements.
• Leading planning meetings and supporting day-to-day planning activities.
• Providing guidance to the planning support function and collaborating with relevant teams.
• Monitoring planning performance and key operational KPIs.
• Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce waste.

Skills

Production scheduling

Materials control

Forecasting

Tools

ERP systems

MRP systems

Inventory management software

Job description

Ready to Take the Lead in Production Planning?

We're recruiting an experienced and highly organised Production Planning & Materials Control Lead to join a well-established business within the fast-paced food manufacturing sector. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a background in production planning, materials management or supply chain operations who enjoys solving problems, improving efficiency and keeping production running smoothly.

Our client is looking for a proactive individual who can take ownership of production schedules, ensure material availability and play a key role in driving operational performance.

If you thrive in a busy manufacturing environment, enjoy taking responsibility and have the confidence to make things happen, we want to hear from you.

What You'll Be Doing

• Developing and managing daily, weekly and medium-term production schedules.


• Ensuring production plans align with customer demand, manufacturing capacity and material availability.


• Monitoring stock levels, inventory accuracy and potential supply shortages.


• Adjusting production schedules to meet changing priorities and customer requirements.


• Leading planning meetings and supporting day-to-day planning activities.


• Providing guidance and direction to the production planning support function.


• Working closely with Production, Warehouse, Logistics and Customer Service teams.


• Monitoring planning performance, stock levels and operational KPIs.


• Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste and streamline processes.

About You

We're looking for a confident, analytical and organised individual with experience in production planning, materials control or supply chain operations within manufacturing.

You'll ideally have:

• Experience in food manufacturing, FMCG or a similar fast-paced production environment.


• Strong production scheduling and materials planning experience.


• Good knowledge of inventory management and stock control.


• Experience using ERP, MRP or inventory management systems.


• Strong Microsoft Excel, analytical and reporting skills.


• Excellent organisational, communication and problem-solving abilities.


• The confidence to manage competing priorities and make decisions under pressure.


• Previous experience supporting or leading a small planning team would be advantageous.

Your Background Could Include

Production Planning Lead, Senior Production Planner, Production Planning Supervisor, Materials Controller, Materials Planning Manager, Supply Chain Planner, Manufacturing Planner, Production Scheduler, Inventory Controller or Planning Team Leader.

What's On Offer

• Opportunity to join an established business within the food manufacturing sector.


• A key role with responsibility for production planning and materials control.


• Opportunity to lead and develop the planning support function.


• Varied and challenging work within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.


• The chance to influence operational efficiency and continuous improvement.


• Opportunity to develop your career within production planning and supply chain management.

Interested?

If you're currently working in production planning, materials control or supply chain operations and are ready for a new challenge, we'd love to hear from you.

This is an excellent opportunity to take ownership of a key operational function and make a real difference within a busy manufacturing business.