Supply Chain Planner

Brook Street; Skelmersdale; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 35,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension

Life assurance

Wellbeing / employee support package

Bonus scheme (potential)

Job summary

Brook Street in Skelmersdale is seeking a hands-on Supply Chain Planner. The role supports availability of the right products at the right time, balancing demand, lead times and cost, with a focus on international suppliers.

You will forecast, replenish and manage inventory, monitor supplier performance and place purchase orders end-to-end, collaborating with sales, procurement and operations. Hours are Monday to Friday 08:30-17:00, with a £30,000–£35,000 salary and benefits including pension,

Qualifications

• Previous experience in supply chain planning, materials planning, inventory planning, demand planning, purchasing or a closely related role.
• Strong understanding of stock control, replenishment, forecasting and supplier order management.
• Experience managing purchase orders, supplier dates, lead times and availability risks.
• Confident communication skills with the ability to build relationships across suppliers and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Supply Planning & Forecasting
• Monitor demand patterns and product performance to ensure availability is maintained while avoiding unnecessary overstock.
• Review and update planning data, including lead times, minimum order quantities, economic order
• Use supply chain planning systems and data tools to support informed decision-making and identify risks before they impact customers.
• Work closely with sales, procurement, marketing, operations and finance teams to ensure supply plans are aligned with wider business objectives.
• Stock & Inventory Management.
• Identify and escalate potential stock shortages, overstock risks, supplier delays or demand changes.
• Supplier Management / Monitor supplier performance.
• Manage purchase orders from placement through to delivery, ensuring dates, quantities and supplier commitments are accurate and up to date.
• Expedite materials where required to support customer demand, backorders and service level targets.
• Consider inbound freight options, order consolidation, shipment timing and cost impact when making supply decisions for both domestic and international logistics.
• Identify process improvements that reduce waste, duplication or inefficiency within day-to-day planning activity.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives using lean principles such as Kaizen, 5S and waste elimination.

Job description

Role: Supply Chain Planner
Location: Skelmersdale
Hours: Monday-Friday 08:30-17:00
Salary: £30,000 - £35,000 annual salary (experience dependent)
The Supply Chain Planner will be responsible for ensuring the right products are available in the right quantities, at the right time, while balancing customer demand, supplier lead times, stock investment and cost effectiveness.
You will manage forecasting, replenishment, inventory control and supplier order management across a defined product/category area, with particular focus on international suppliers, including Far East supply routes. The role requires strong analytical skills, confident supplier communication and the ability to make informed decisions in a commercially sensitive, customer-focused environment.

Key Responsibilities:

• Supply Planning & Forecasting
• Monitor demand patterns and product performance to ensure availability is maintained while avoiding unnecessary overstock.
• Review and update planning data, including lead times, minimum order quantities, economic order
• Use supply chain planning systems and data tools to support informed decision-making and identify risks before they impact customers.
• Work closely with sales, procurement, marketing, operations and finance teams to ensure supply plans are aligned with wider business objectives.
• Stock & Inventory Management.
• Identify and escalat potential stock shortages, overstock risks, supplier delays or demand changes.
• Supplier Management / Monitor supplier performance.
• Manage purchase orders from placement through to delivery, ensuring dates, quantities and supplier commitments are accurate and up to date.
• Expedite materials where required to support customer demand, backorders and service level targets.
• Consider inbound freight options, order consolidation, shipment timing and cost impact when making supply decisions for both domestic and international logistics.
• Identify process improvements that reduce waste, duplication or inefficiency within day-to-day planning activity.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives using lean principles such as Kaizen, 5S and waste elimination.

Essential Experience

• Previous experience in supply chain planning, materials planning, inventory planning, demand planning, purchasing or a closely related role.
• Strong understanding of stock control, replenishment, forecasting and supplier order management.
• Experience managing purchase orders, supplier dates, lead times and availability risks.
• Confident communication skills with the ability to build relationships across suppliers and internal teams.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-moving environment.
• Comfortable working with ERP, MRP, forecasting or inventory management systems.

Desirable Experience

• Experience working with Far East or international suppliers., purchasing or a closely related role.
• Experience planning around long lead times, freight movements and overseas shipping schedules.
• Forecasting/inventory planning tools.
• Exposure to continuous improvement, lean, Kaizen, 5S or waste reduction projects.

Skills & Attributes:

This role would suit someone who is:

• Analytical, organised and detail-focused.
• Proactive rather than reactive.
• Comfortable challenging suppliers and internal stakeholders when needed
• Able to balance customer service with commercial decision-making.
• Calm under pressure and solutions focused.
• Naturally collaborative and team oriented.
• Curious about improving processes and removing inefficiency.

What The Client Offer:

Competitive salary based on experience, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays, Company pension, Life assurance, Wellbeing / employee support package, Potential Group bonus scheme, subject to business and individual performance. Office-based role within a collaborative team environment