Senior Material Planner

Candid Hire; Thirsk; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday including bank holidays

Hands-on senior role in a collaborative team

Stability in a growing business

Job summary

A well-established manufacturing firm in Thirsk is seeking a Senior Material Planner to lead material planning activities within a collaborative supply chain team. Responsibilities include managing purchase orders, overseeing supplier relationships, and ensuring inventory accuracy. Ideal candidates will have over 35 years of experience, strong ERP/MRP system proficiency (such as SAP or Sage), and excellent analytical and communication skills. This full-time role offers a salary between £38,000 and £42,000, along with 28 days of holiday.

Qualifications

• 35+ years of experience in material planning, production, or operations.
• Comfortable working independently and guiding a small team.
• Proficient with ERP/MRP systems and strong Excel skills.
• Strong grasp of BOMs, lead times, and inventory strategies.

Responsibilities

• Manage and reschedule open purchase orders based on production.
• Support new product development and supplier onboarding.
• Oversee supplier relationships and inventory accuracy.
• Identify and mitigate supply risks proactively.

Skills

Material planning

ERP/MRP systems

Strong Excel skills

Supply chain knowledge

Analytical mindset

Effective communication

Tools

SAP

Sage

Job description

Location: Thirsk, North Yorkshire
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM 5:00 PM (40 hours/week)
Salary: £38,000 £42,000 per annum, depending on experience

(This role is based on site)

Overview

A well-established manufacturing business in Thirskis looking for a Senior Material Planner to join its close-knit supply chain team. Reporting to the Operations Director, you will play a key role in leading material planning activity across the site. This is a senior-level position within a small team of two, offering autonomy and ownership of material flow, supplier coordination, and inventory optimisation.

This role is ideal for an experienced planner ready to take a lead position in a dynamic, hands‑on environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and reschedule open purchase orders in line with production requirements
• Support new product development by sourcing materials and coordinating with R&D and project teams
• Oversee supplier relationships, including onboarding, performance tracking, and ongoing collaboration
• Take ownership of inventory accuracy and stock value performance
• Use purchasing and sales history to improve planning accuracy
• Support site-wide inventory strategies for new, existing, and phased‑out products
• Work closely with production planners to align materials with forecasts
• Identify and mitigate supply risks proactively
• Optimise inbound logistics and transport utilisation
• Drive productivity improvements through tighter MRP controls
• Establish and maintain Kanban levels at production cells
• Collaborate with warehouse supervisors on inventory holding levels
• Attend daily logistics meetings to ensure alignment of priorities

What We're Looking For

• Experience: 35+ years in material planning / production / operations
• Leadership: Comfortable working independently and guiding a small team or assistant planner
• Systems: Proficiency with ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Sage) and strong Excel skills
• Supply Chain Knowledge: Strong grasp of BOMs, lead times, inventory strategies, and lean methodologies
• Analytical Mindset: Confident using data to make informed decisions
• Communication: Able to liaise across departments and negotiate with suppliers effectively
• Salary between £38,000 – £42,000, depending on experience
• 28 days holiday including bank holidays
• Monday–Friday daytime hours
• A hands‑on senior role within a small, collaborative team
• Stability and ownership in a growing manufacturing business