Production Planner: Optimize Capacity & Risk (Kegworth)

Refresco Group; Dale Abbey; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Annual pay review

Early finish on a Friday

28 days annual leave + bank holidays

Purchase up to an additional 3 days

Life assurance

Employee referral scheme

GroceryAid

Cheers benefit platform access

Free onsite parking

Job summary

Refresco is seeking a Production Planner to join its Supply Chain team at our Kegworth site. You will develop robust production plans, balance customer service with efficiency, and mitigate supply risks while optimising capacity.

Reporting to the Planning Manager, you will translate forecasts into schedules, manage stock builds around shutdowns, and drive continuous improvement across planning processes to reduce working capital.

Qualifications

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to implement effective solutions.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills with understanding of production planning and S&OP processes.
• Ability to analyse data, identify trends, and make informed decisions to support operational performance.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management across functions.
• Proactive and resilient, with the ability to manage risks and deliver successful outcomes.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (e.g. SAP) and strong numerical skills would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain short, medium, and long-term production and capacity plans, ensuring customer demand is met while optimising factory utilisation and service levels.
• Translate sales forecasts into achievable production schedules, planning stock builds around maintenance shutdowns, seasonal demand, and promotional activities.
• Proactively identify and mitigate supply, capacity, material, labour, and service risks through scenario planning, trend analysis, and effective contingency planning.
• Investigate stock shortages, service issues, and planning variances, implementing corrective actions and collaborating with cross-functional teams to resolve operational challenges.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across planning processes, systems, and reporting, supporting automation opportunities and inventory optimisation to improve efficiency and reduce working capital.
• Monitor and analyse key planning KPIs, ensuring data accuracy and providing insight‑based recommendations to improve service levels, plan adherence, capacity utilisation, and overall business performance.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Planning and organisation

Data analysis

Communication skills

Stakeholder management

ERP/MRP (SAP)

Tools

SAP

Job description

Refresco is seeking a Production Planner to join its Supply Chain team at our Kegworth site. You will develop robust production plans, balance customer service with efficiency, and mitigate supply risks while optimising capacity.

Reporting to the Planning Manager, you will translate forecasts into schedules, manage stock builds around shutdowns, and drive continuous improvement across planning processes to reduce working capital.