Supply Chain - Material Planner

Finsbury Foods; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Finsbury Foods in the United Kingdom is seeking a Materials Planner who ensures timely arrival of ingredients and packaging, creates accurate MRPs from forecasts and demand, and schedules purchase orders to align with production needs.

You will work closely with suppliers and internal teams to monitor deliveries, maintain optimal inventory, and drive continuous improvement in planning while upholding food safety and traceability standards.

Qualifications

• Experience in materials planning or supply chain, preferably FMCG/food.
• Strong knowledge of MRPs and ERP systems like SAP or Dynamics.
• Excellent communication and supplier management skills.
• Analytical, organised and detail‑oriented mindset.
• Proactive problem solving and adaptability to priorities.
• Proficient in Excel and data analysis tools.
• Understanding of food safety and traceability is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Create and maintain accurate material requirements plans from forecasts and demand.
• Schedule and release purchase orders to match production needs.
• Monitor supplier deliveries and proactively resolve issues.
• Collaborate with procurement, warehouse and finance to optimise inventory.
• Provide reports on material availability, usage and forecast accuracy.

Skills

Materials planning

MRP systems

ERP platforms

Supplier management

Excel

Data analysis

Food safety

Traceability

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Dynamics

Excel

Job description

This is what you’ll actually do!

As our Materials Planner, you’ll play a key role in ensuring that every ingredient and packaging component arrives on time to keep our bakeries running seamlessly. You’ll take ownership of creating and maintaining accurate material requirements plans (MRPs) based on production forecasts and actual demand, making sure purchase orders are scheduled and released in line with production needs.

Working closely with suppliers, you’ll monitor delivery schedules to ensure materials arrive on time, proactively resolving any issues that could impact production. You’ll also collaborate with our procurement, warehouse, and finance teams to maintain optimal inventory levels — supporting production efficiency while minimising excess or obsolete stock and resolving any discrepancies that arise.

You’ll be the link between suppliers and production, ensuring that materials are available when and where they’re needed to avoid downtime. Alongside this, you’ll prepare insightful reports on material availability, usage, and forecast accuracy, helping to drive continuous improvement in our planning processes.

In everything you do, you’ll champion compliance with food safety, traceability, and quality standards such as BRC and HACCP, and you’ll contribute to a culture of efficiency and collaboration across the wider supply chain.

Ideally this is you!

• Proven experience in a materials planning or supply chain role, ideally within FMCG or food manufacturing
• Strong understanding of MRP systems and ERP platforms (e.g., SAP, Microsoft Dynamics or equivalent)
• Excellent communication and supplier management skills
• Highly analytical, organised, and detail-oriented
• Proactive problem-solver with the ability to adapt to changing priorities
• Proficient in Excel and data analysis tools
• Understanding of food safety, allergen control, and traceability is a plus