Senior Planning Manager – Food Manufacturing Lead

The Compleat Food Group; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary Sacrifice Schemes

33 days’ annual leave

Retail discounts

Free product handouts

EV charging points

Private Medical Insurance

GroceryAid access

Wellbeing resources

Online LMS access

Career development conversations

Mentoring scheme

Club Compleat rewards

Volunteer days

Job summary

The Compleat Food Group in Milton Keynes is seeking a Planning Manager to lead our Planning team and create robust production plans balancing demand, labour, capacity and materials. You'll collaborate with Commercial, Supply Chain, Operations and Finance to forecast demand and capacity.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will drive continuous improvement across planning systems and processes, manage KPIs, and ensure on-time availability of materials while minimising costs.

Qualifications

• Experience in planning role within food manufacturing.
• Strong production planning and forecasting abilities.
• Experience with ERP systems and advanced Excel.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; effective communicator.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of Production Planners and Material Controllers.
• Create robust production plans balancing demand, labour, capacity, and material availability.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Supply Chain, Operations and Finance to forecast demand and capacity.
• Ensure timely availability of raw materials and packaging while controlling stock and waste.
• Manage labour planning to match demand and production requirements.
• Monitor and improve KPIs: service levels, plan attainment, labour variance, stock disposals.
• Identify and mitigate supply chain risks to minimise disruption.
• Coordinate seasonal and peak-period planning for continuity of supply.
• Drive continuous improvement in planning systems and processes.
• Support logistics to optimise service and cost.
• Build cross-functional relationships to meet business priorities.
• Promote food safety, quality, compliance and operational excellence.

Skills

Team leadership

Production planning

Forecasting

Materials management

Inventory control

ERP systems

Excel (Advanced)

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

UK food standards

Continuous improvement

Driving licence

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

The Compleat Food Group in Milton Keynes is seeking a Planning Manager to lead our Planning team and create robust production plans balancing demand, labour, capacity and materials. You'll collaborate with Commercial, Supply Chain, Operations and Finance to forecast demand and capacity.

Reporting to the General Manager, you will drive continuous improvement across planning systems and processes, manage KPIs, and ensure on-time availability of materials while minimising costs.