Production Planning Lead

Marshall Land Systems; Merthyr Tydfil; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Marshall Land Systems in the United Kingdom is seeking a Production Planning Lead to coordinate capacity, materials and ERP/MRP-driven delivery across production, supply chain and engineering teams.

You will drive data integrity, master data accuracy and planning processes within the ERP/MRP landscape, balancing project demands with cost and on-time delivery, while leading a team of production planners and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in production planning or operations planning within manufacturing.
• Proven ability to lead and coordinate planning activities across production, assembly or vehicle build environments.
• Strong track record using ERP/MRP systems to manage capacity, materials and flow.
• Experience driving improvements in planning processes, systems or data accuracy.
• Ability to influence and coordinate across multiple functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead capacity planning strategy and resource utilisation aligned with production demands.
• Own material planning, inventory management and stock control via ERP/MRP.
• Integrate capacity and material planning within ERP/MRP to optimise delivery and cost.
• Provide leadership and guidance to Production Planners for consistency and best practice.
• Maintain ERP master data accuracy and timely MRP execution; resolve system issues.
• Oversee project loading into ERP, setting up Master Parts, BOMs and data.
• Coordinate release of projects to planning, procurement and production against schedules.
• Coordinate change management in MRP to reflect latest design intent.
• Link shop orders and parent orders for cost tracking and financial visibility.
• Monitor planning performance, identify risks and take corrective actions.
• Lead continuous improvement across planning systems/processes (Lean, 5S, digital).
• Contribute to bids, forecasts and long-term capacity planning.
• Support project closure with material issues and cost roll-up.

Skills

Production planning

ERP/MRP systems

Team leadership

Capacity planning

Inventory management

Data analysis

Stakeholder collaboration

Tools

IFS ERP

Excel

Job description

Brief Description

Why join Marshall Land Systems in this role:

The Production Planning Lead is responsible for leading and coordinating all production planning, capacity management and material control activities to ensure efficient and effective delivery of operational and project objectives.

The role drives the optimisation of ERP/MRP systems, planning processes and data integrity, providing leadership and direction to the planning function while ensuring alignment across production, supply chain and engineering to achieve on-time, cost-effective delivery.

Your responsibilities in this role include:

• Lead the development and execution of capacity planning strategies, ensuring optimal utilisation of resources and alignment with production demands and maintenance cycles
• Own and drive material planning, inventory management and stock control through ERP/MRP systems to meet customer and project requirements
• Ensure full integration of capacity and material planning within ERP/MRP systems to optimise delivery performance, efficiency and cost
• Provide leadership, guidance and support to Production Planners, ensuring consistency, accuracy and best practice across the planning function
• Own data integrity within the ERP system (IFS), ensuring accurate master data, timely MRP execution and resolution of system and stock issues
• Oversee project loading into ERP systems, ensuring accurate setup of Master Parts, BOMs and key planning data following design release
• Control the timely release of projects to planning, procurement and production, ensuring alignment with delivery schedules
• Govern change management within MRP systems, ensuring all amendments are controlled, traceable and reflect latest design intent
• Ensure accurate linking of shop orders and parent orders to enable robust cost tracking and financial visibility
• Monitor planning performance, proactively identifying risks, constraints and deviations, and implementing corrective actions
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across planning systems, processes and methodologies (Lean, 5S, digital optimisation)
• Provide planning expertise and input into bids, forecasting and long-term capacity planning
• Ensure effective project closure processes, including material issuing, system accuracy and cost roll-up for finance and project teams
• Act as the subject matter expert for ERP/MRP systems, delivering training, guidance and support to stakeholders
• Collaborate cross-functionally to align planning with operational priorities and business

Apply if you have most of the following:

• Significant experience within a production planning, manufacturing engineering or operations planning environment
• Proven experience in leading or coordinating planning activities within a production, assembly or vehicle build environment
• Strong track record of using ERP/MRP systems to manage capacity, materials and production flow
• Experience in driving improvements in planning processes, systems or data accuracy
• Demonstrated ability to influence and coordinate across multiple functions

Technical Skills/Education:

• Advanced experience in production or factory planning roles
• Strong working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and end-to-end planning processes
• High level of IT proficiency, including Excel and ERP platforms
• In-depth understanding of capacity planning, inventory management and production flow optimisation
• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills
• Effective communication skills with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work accurately under pressure

Additional local needs:

• Onsite working
• Candidates will need to be able to obtain BPSS clearance

The benefits of this role include:

• Opportunity to lead and shape the production planning function within a complex manufacturing environment
• Increased ownership and influence over end-to-end planning, delivery and operational performance
• Development of leadership, strategic planning and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Exposure to business-critical decision-making and long-term capacity planning
• Opportunities for progression into senior operations, supply chain or planning leadership
• Involvement in driving system, process and digital transformation initiatives

Marshall Land Systems is a Canadian-owned global company with an unrivalled pedigree of British engineering excellence. From its origins in Cambridge, UK, through more than a century of innovation, pioneering advances from the nose of Concorde to the early Hydrogen fuel cell technology that ultimately powered the moon landings, Marshall engineers now continue to innovate specialist vehicles and infrastructure for NATO forces across the world. From bomb disposal vehicles to deployed shelters, from command and control to CT scanners on the battlefield, Marshall Land Systems protects people in critical situations with the very best in engineering. It employs 600 people with major facilities the UK, Canada, and the Netherlands.