Supply Chain Manager

pladis Global; Sefton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

pladis Global is seeking a senior operations leader to oversee warehouse and planning functions at the Sefton site. You will drive safety, quality, and productivity while aligning with central S&OP and budget targets.

The role requires strong leadership, union experience, and a proven track record of delivering multiple projects on time in a fast-moving FMCG environment. You will report to the ALT and shape a high-performance culture.

Qualifications

• Must have manufacturing and warehousing experience.
• Proven ability to lead teams through change and drive performance.
• Experience working in a unionised environment and across functions.

Responsibilities

• Lead the warehouse leadership team and safety/quality initiatives.
• Oversee planning/MRP and ensure alignment with central S&OP.
• Manage budgets and drive productivity, cost reductions and financial accountability.
• Coordinate inbound/outbound logistics and site scorecard execution.
• Mentor and develop staff, deliver multi-project execution on time.

Skills

Manufacturing experience

Warehousing experience

Change leadership

Union experience

Cross-functional teamwork

Performance management

Strong communication

Project delivery

Operational losses reduction

Job description

Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you.

As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits.

To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led , resilient and positive to succeed here because we expect pace and agility , we insist on collaboration and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact

Our story

Family and ideas have always been our ingredients. Our founding families believed biscuits and chocolates could bring moments of happiness to the world. Their ideas have stood the test of time. Their spirit continues to inspire our future. It’s in the care and the craft we bake into biscuits and chocolates that have been loved for generations. And it’s in the fresh ideas, the new twists, flavours and textures we add to old and new favourites.

Our 16,000 colleagues across our global network of bakers, distribution sites and offices each with their own unique, diverse experience. To bring happiness with every bite.

If you’re a part of the pladis team, you know what it means to bring it. Whether it’s or resilience, team spirit or go-getting attitude. Our courage and compassion. Our ownership. Our whole selves. We Bring it. Day in, day out.

Inspired by you

Our founders didn’t follow rules and recipes, they created them. We’re looking for fresh thinkers to help us create the next chapter for pladis.

pladis succeeds because of people like you. People who wake up in the morning excited to get to work. Who believe in themselves and their potential. Who want to grow as part of a global community of like-minded colleagues! Because growth is our oxygen and our fuel. And it’s our deep and abiding belief that growth comes from working together, helping each other out, always passionate about our purpose to bring happiness with every bite.

Our Purpose

Bring happiness with every bite!

It’s a purpose that every one of our colleagues, all around the world believes in. And while we’re all unique, we also share the same values.

Each of our values is important on its own. In combination they’re incredibly powerful.

Our values have deep personal meaning to us. They’re part of who we are and what we stand for as an employer.

Living our pladis values is a key part of success, look out for questions in your interview that link to these key pladis values.

What will this role achieve?

A pivotal role reporting into the site Factory General Manager, and forming part of the site Leadership Team, ensuring customer demand and supply are kept in balance in the short, medium and long term whilst also ensuring seamless management of inbound and outbound to and from site.

The role is multi-faceted, and you will provide strategic leadership to the site as well as manage both analytically and operationally.

What will be your key deliverables?

Leadership of warehouse:

• Lead departmental safety improvement plan through area ownership, accountability and behavioural change programme

• Act as a role model to always ensure the site H&S policy is implemented and followed and to encourage the importance of being mindful to potential hazards and ensuring a behavioural safety culture is developed and sustained on site.

• Accountable for delivering departmental quality improvement plan achieving good housekeeping standards and audit (including retailer) programme

• Accountable for mentoring, developing and leading team members to deliver continuously improving operating performance

• Manage the design and delivery of Manufacturing Prime, Overhead and Operational budgets

• Responsible for developing and delivering area productivity programme, offsetting inflation and achieving a departmental cost reduction

• Responsible for ensuring that standard methodology is shared between pladis sites and implemented on own site

• Facilitate the creation of a dynamic performance orientated culture with aligned and motivated people, ensuring that recognition and financial rewards are clearly linked to measurable performance at all levels

• Build a performance climate where people expect to be held accountable for delivery of their commitments

• Responsible for the motivation of your team, for leading, mentoring and performance management, to ensure skill and proficiency levels are maintained

• Ensure that all manufacturing metrics are well defined, understood by all and achieved

Leadership of planning / MRP team:

• Delivery of strategic labour plans whilst always responding to a fluctuating customer demand, ensuring optimal labour cost performance (Prime Cost Variance - PCV)

• Key interface between site and central S&OP function, ensuring production plans can be operationalized and CTP achieved

• Strive for the perfect balance between labour costs and meeting our demand forecast to achieve great customer service (ISL).

• Working closely with the central S&OP team to produce the Constrained Production Plan which should be communicated effectively.

• Overall responsibility for planning inbound & outbound materials activity and the management thereof.

• Build a performance climate where people expect to be held accountable for delivery of their commitments

• Responsible for the motivation of your team, for leading, mentoring and performance management, to ensure skill and proficiency levels are maintained

• Ensure that all manufacturing metrics are well defined, understood by all and achieved

Key part of the ALT (Aintree Leadership Team):

• Critical role supporting the site FGM with Management Information coordinating the site operational scorecard

• Assuming leadership of key site wide activities as deemed vital, ie that may be broader than own function and involve leading other members of the site leadership team ensuring teamwork, leadership and influence

What do you need for this role?

Essential

• Manufacturing and warehousing experience

• Leading a team in a change environment

• Experience of working in a unionised environment

• Experience of working in a cross functional team

• Experience of performance management of a large team

• Strong communicator

• The ability to deliver multiple projects on time and in full

• In-depth OU and OE understanding and demonstrable improvement of losses

Desirable

• Experience of operating in a FMCG organisation

• Project Management skills

• Specific experience of handling continuous improvement processes

• Previous budget management experience

• Excellence plan implementation

• IOSH Managing Safely

• Food Safety Level 3

• Degree qualified

Our Values

Purpose led – We’re energised and guided by our purpose to bring happiness with every bite

Agile – We’re ever evolving, we never stand still, always improving for our customers and our consumers

Positive – We’re highly motivated optimistic, courageous, and we inspire each other to be better

Resilient - We’re persistent in the face of setbacks, quick to adapt, learn and move forward

Collaborative – We gain strength from operating as one pladis, winning and succeeding together.

Best mix of ingredients

pladis is an equal opportunities employer, like every great recipe we’re a thoughtful mix. A happy and inclusive place to work that’s as diverse as our consumers and the communities we support, live and work in, all around the world. Where every voice is heard, and difference is celebrated. Where fresh perspectives and new ideas help us grow and thrive.

pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.