Sales and Operations Planner

Jonathan Lee Recruitment; Ellesmere Port; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Jonathan Lee Group is seeking a Sales and Operations Planner based in Ellesmere Port. You will connect demand, capacity, inventory, and critical materials to ensure customer promises are met in a fast-moving manufacturing environment.

Responsibilities include coordinating S&OP monthly processes, translating forecasts into feasible production plans, and maintaining rolling demand forecasts. You will work with commercial, operations, procurement, technical, and finance teams to improve performance

Qualifications

• A degree or equivalent experience in supply chain, operations, business, engineering, manufacturing, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in production planning, demand planning, supply chain planning, or S&OP within a manufacturing setting.
• Strong analytical skills, with advanced Excel ability and experience using ERP/MRP systems.
• Confidence working cross-functionally and communicating effectively with stakeholders to drive alignment.
• A continuous improvement mindset, with proven attention to detail and data accuracy.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and facilitate the monthly Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process across key functions.
• Consolidate demand forecasts and translate customer requirements into achievable production plans.
• Balance customer demand against manufacturing capacity and operational constraints, identifying risks and improvement opportunities.
• Build and maintain rolling demand forecasts, using historical trends, market insight, and commercial pipeline information.
• Create and update production schedules aligned to customer needs, ensuring schedule adherence and delivery performance.
• Monitor and optimise inventory of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods, working with procurement to avoid critical shortages.

Skills

Analytical skills

Cross-functional communication

Data accuracy

Continuous improvement mindset

Education

Degree or equivalent in supply chain/related discipline

Tools

Excel

ERP/MRP systems

Job description

If you thrive on structure, accuracy, and problem-solving, the Sales and Operations Planner role is a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference in a fast-moving manufacturing environment. As a Sales and Operations Planner, you will help keep customer promises on track by connecting demand, capacity, inventory, and critical materials. This is a career-boosting chance to influence planning decisions, improve performance through insightful reporting, and work closely with commercial, operations, procurement, technical, and finance teams.

What You Will Do:

• Coordinate and facilitate the monthly Sales and Operations Planning (S&OP) process across key functions.
• Consolidate demand forecasts and translate customer requirements into achievable production plans.
• Balance customer demand against manufacturing capacity and operational constraints, identifying risks and improvement opportunities.
• Build and maintain rolling demand forecasts, using historical trends, market insight, and commercial pipeline information.
• Create and update production schedules aligned to customer needs, ensuring schedule adherence and delivery performance.
• Monitor and optimise inventory of raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods, working with procurement to avoid critical shortages.

What You Will Bring:

• A degree or equivalent experience in supply chain, operations, business, engineering, manufacturing, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in production planning, demand planning, supply chain planning, or S&OP within a manufacturing setting.
• Strong analytical skills, with advanced Excel ability and experience using ERP/MRP systems.
• Confidence working cross-functionally and communicating effectively with stakeholders to drive alignment.
• A continuous improvement mindset, with proven attention to detail and data accuracy.

This Sales and Operations Planner position plays a key role in reliable supply, customer service excellence, and operational efficiency. By creating clear, fact-based plans and highlighting risks early, you will support better decision-making across the business, help protect service levels, and ensure that critical materials are available for production. The role also supports ongoing improvements through planning dashboards, KPIs, and performance reporting, strengthening the company's ability to meet customer timelines consistently in the advanced materials and industrial manufacturing sector.

Location:

Based in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, this Sales and Operations Planner role is office-based.