Senior Production Planner

Owen Daniels; Worcester; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Owen Daniels, an established manufacturing organisation, seeks a Senior Production Planner to lead end-to-end materials execution, production planning and site logistics, ensuring uninterrupted operations in a regulated environment.

The role requires strategic and hands-on leadership across planning, stores, warehousing and logistics, driving performance through people, process and systems while partnering with cross-functional teams to optimise supply.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in materials management and planning leadership within regulated manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of production planning, inventory control, warehousing and logistics.
• Experience participating in SIOP/S&OP processes and operational planning.
• Proven track record of improving inventory, service and delivery metrics.

Responsibilities

• Lead site materials management, production planning, warehousing and logistics to sustain operations.
• Translate medium/long-term demand into short-term execution plans to maximise schedule attainment.
• Own production scheduling to align capacity, material availability and customer requirements.
• Develop robust inventory management to deliver high stock accuracy and optimise working capital.
• Drive warehouse, stores and internal logistics for efficient material flow to use and shipment.
• Lead shipping and distribution to meet customer commitments cost-effectively.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to manage supply chain risks and constraints.
• Act as escalation point for issues affecting production continuity and delivery.
• Support and enhance SIOP/S&OE processes with clear communication between planning, operations and commercial teams.
• Champion Lean/CI across materials and logistics, using value stream mapping and standard work.

Skills

Production planning

Inventory management

Logistics

SIOP processes

Lean & CI

Job description

Owen Daniels are supporting an established advanced manufacturing organisation is seeking an experienced Senior Production Planner to lead end-to-end materials execution, production planning, inventory control and site logistics operations.

Operating within a highly regulated manufacturing environment, this position plays a critical role in ensuring materials availability, schedule adherence and operational performance while supporting wider business objectives around quality, compliance, customer delivery and continuous improvement.

Reporting into senior site leadership, the successful candidate will lead a multi-functional team spanning planning, stores, warehousing and logistics, whilst acting as a key stakeholder within the Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning (SIOP) process.

This is an excellent opportunity for an accomplished supply chain leader who combines strategic thinking with strong operational execution and enjoys driving performance through people, process and systems.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all site materials management, production planning, warehousing and logistics activities to ensure uninterrupted manufacturing operations.
• Translate medium and long-term demand plans into effective short-term execution strategies that maximise schedule attainment and customer delivery performance.
• Own production scheduling activities, ensuring alignment between operational capacity, material availability and customer requirements.
• Develop and maintain robust inventory management processes that deliver high stock accuracy, inventory optimisation and working capital performance.
• Drive warehouse, stores and internal logistics operations, ensuring efficient material flow from goods receipt through to point of use and final shipment.
• Lead shipping and distribution activities to ensure customer commitments are achieved whilst maintaining cost-effective freight performance.
• Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Procurement and Customer Service teams to proactively manage supply chain risks and constraints.
• Act as the primary escalation point for issues affecting production continuity, delivery performance and execution of the operational plan.
• Support and enhance the organisation's SIOP/S&OE processes, ensuring effective communication between planning, operations and commercial functions.
• Champion Lean and Continuous Improvement initiatives across the materials and logistics function, utilising tools such as value stream mapping, visual management, standard work and root-cause problem solving.
• Maintain governance and accuracy across ERP and planning systems, ensuring integrity of master data, inventory transactions, planning parameters and reporting structures.
• Lead improvements in operational systems and processes, including participation in ERP enhancement or implementation projects where required.
• Manage indirect purchasing and MRO inventory controls to support operational reliability and cost management objectives.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Provide leadership, coaching and development to a team across planning, stores, warehouse and logistics functions.
• Create a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Establish clear objectives, performance measures and succession plans across the team.
• Develop capability within the function through mentoring, training and structured development initiatives.
• Foster strong cross-functional relationships to ensure alignment of priorities and successful execution of business objectives.

About You

We are seeking a polished and commercially aware supply chain professional with a proven track record of leading materials, planning and logistics functions within a regulated manufacturing environment.

You will be comfortable operating at both strategic and operational levels, capable of influencing senior stakeholders whilst maintaining a strong focus on execution and performance.

Experience Required

• Significant experience within Materials Management, Supply Chain, Planning or Operations leadership roles.
• Demonstrable success leading teams within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience operating within regulated industries such as aerospace, automotive, medical devices, life sciences, advanced engineering, electronics, defence or highly controlled industrial manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of production planning, inventory control, warehousing, logistics and material flow principles.
• Experience participating in SIOP/S&OP and operational planning processes.
• Track record of driving measurable improvements in inventory, service, delivery and operational efficiency.
• Exposure to ERP implementation, optimisation or business transformation projects would be highly advantageous.