Production Planner

MWH Treatment; Watford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A global fragrance company is seeking a highly skilled Production Planner to oversee end-to-end production and materials planning. The role involves managing supplier relationships, monitoring inventory, and ensuring timely execution of production plans. With a keen eye on quality and cost-effectiveness, the ideal candidate will have a strong background in ERP systems like SAP, excellent data analysis skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments. This position promises a dynamic working environment in a fast-growing company.

Qualifications

• Proficiency with ERP systems like SAP or Netstock is essential.
• Experience in production planning and inventory management is required.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills to improve production flows.
• Excellent communication skills to collaborate across functions.

Responsibilities

• Own the operational relationship with key suppliers to ensure on-time delivery.
• Monitor inventory health and mitigate out-of-stock risks.
• Create and maintain Purchase Orders in SAP, ensuring data accuracy.
• Collaborate across departments to support product launches and planning.

Skills

Proficiency with ERP systems (SAP, Netstock)

Production planning experience

Inventory management

Quality control activities

MS Excel for data visualization and analysis

Analytical and problem-solving skills

Excellent communication skills

Organizational skills

Education

Degree in a relevant field

Tools

SAP

Netstock

MS Excel

Job description

Designer Parfums (DP) is seeking a highly skilled Production Planner to take full ownership of end-to-end production and materials planning for an assigned portfolio of brands. This role is responsible for ensuring the timely, cost‑effective, and quality‑driven execution of production plans—ensuring all finished goods, components, and materials are available in line with commercial requirements, customer demand, and launch calendars.

Supplier & Manufacturing Partner Management

• Own the operational relationship with key suppliers, contract manufacturers, and fillers—driving performance, communication, and issue resolution.
• Ensure all partners meet production commitments, quality specifications, and on‑time delivery targets for both components and finished goods.
• Conduct regular stock reconciliations with contract fillers and drive corrective actions for discrepancies.

Inventory, Availability & Risk Management

• Monitor inventory health and drive initiatives to optimise stock holding, reduce obsolescence, and support financial and operational targets.
• Proactively identify and report potential out‑of‑stock (OOS) risks, proposing mitigation strategies to protect customer service levels.
• Maintain responsibility for stock availability, intake management, and sales forecast support—providing regular updates and insights to the Brand and Commercial teams.

Systems, Data & Process Ownership

• Create and maintain Purchase Orders (POs) and Production Orders (PVs) in SAP, ensuring master data and transactional accuracy.
• Lead Netstock implementation for your brand and maintain full ownership of stock management within Netstock, including parameter setup, replenishment policies, exception management, and reporting.
• Champion data integrity across SAP and Netstock to ensure reliable planning outputs.
• Process and approve supplier invoices in accordance with finance controls.
• Contribute to the development of supply chain digital tools and enhancements, ensuring systems align with operational best practices.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives aimed at efficiency, process optimisation, and enhanced planning visibility.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Act as a key liaison across Marketing, NPD, Demand Planning, Logistics, Procurement, QC, Master Data, Customer Service, Finance, and the China Supply Team.
• Provide operational support for launches, supply reviews, and business planning cycles.
• Ensure technical, regulatory, and quality standards are consistently upheld across suppliers and internal stakeholders.

Operational KPIs

• Deliver and continuously improve:
  • OTIF (On‑Time In‑Full)
  • Inventory on hand
  • Production Plan Adherence
  • Customer Service Level
  • Cost Savings & Efficiency Gains
  • Quality & Compliance Metrics

Qualifications

• Proficiency with ERP systems such as SAP or Netstock.
• Experience with production planning, inventory management, and quality control activities.
• Excellent with MS Excel for data visualisation, analysis, and reports.
• Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP): Experience with MRP and MPS systems is often required.
• Knowledge of the manufacturing processes and principles.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills to identify and eliminate production bottlenecks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to liaise with different departments, suppliers, and manufacturers.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage priorities and deadlines effectively.
• Ability to use data and forecasting to make informed decisions.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Degree beneficial but not essential.

About Designer Parfums

Designer Parfums is a fast‑growing, dynamic global fragrance company in the perfume & cosmetics industry, with a UK base in London and international ambition. We are a small family‑owned business proud to create, develop, and distribute brands from a portfolio of heritage classics to celebrity trend‑led fragrances, including GHOST, JENNIFER LOPEZ, HAWAIIAN TROPIC, CERRUTI, PLAYBOY & JEAN LOUIS SCHERRER, and distributors for ARIANA GRANDE, GUY LAROCHE, PILOMA PICASSO, AIGNER & GANT.