Strategic Planning Lead - FMCG Manufacturing

Pilgrim's Europe; Southall; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Career progression

Ongoing training

Collaborative environment

Opportunity to lead improvement projek

Job summary

Pilgrim's Europe is seeking a Planning Manager to lead production planning, scheduling, and material call-off activities at our site in the UK. You will ensure on-time delivery to customers while driving efficiency and continuous improvement across the operation.

You will manage a planning team, partner with Operations and Engineering, and use data-driven insights to optimise the end-to-end supply chain. A strong manufacturing background and Lean/CI experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in production planning, scheduling, or supply chain management within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Experience working with planning and material management systems.
• FMCG or food manufacturing experience.
• Knowledge of Operational Excellence (OPEX), Lean, or Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Understanding of end-to-end supply chain operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Planning team to deliver business and customer service objectives.
• Create and manage production plans and schedules to maximise efficiency and meet demand.
• Manage material availability and inventory levels for smooth operations.
• Collaborate with Operations, Technical, Engineering, Procurement, and customer supply chain teams to optimise performance.
• Identify risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities for improvement across the supply chain.
• Drive Operational Excellence (OPEX) and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Use data and analysis to support decision-making and improve planning effectiveness.
• Develop team capability through coaching, training, and leadership.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Communication

Analytical skills

Excel

Planning systems

FMCG / food manufacturing

Lean / CI

End-to-end supply chain

Education

Intermediate Food Safety Qualification

Level 3 HACCP Qualification

IOSH Managing Safely

Job description

Pilgrim's Europe is seeking a Planning Manager to lead production planning, scheduling, and material call-off activities at our site in the UK. You will ensure on-time delivery to customers while driving efficiency and continuous improvement across the operation.

You will manage a planning team, partner with Operations and Engineering, and use data-driven insights to optimise the end-to-end supply chain. A strong manufacturing background and Lean/CI experience are essential.