Factory Planner - South Africa

BIC; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consumer goods company in South Africa is seeking a Factory Planner to develop and execute production plans aligned with demand forecasts. This role requires strong analytical skills and collaboration across functions to ensure efficient operations and inventory management. Candidates should possess a relevant bachelor's degree and 3–5 years of experience in production planning within the FMCG sector. Join us to enhance planning capabilities and contribute to organizational success.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in factory or production planning, preferably in FMCG or manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of supply chain principles, production processes, and planning systems.
• Proficiency in managing large datasets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute short‑to‑mid‑term production plans aligned with demand forecasts.
• Optimize production output while managing capacity, material availability, and labor constraints.
• Collaborate to ensure timely availability of materials and adherence to inventory targets.

Skills

Planning & Prioritization

Analytical Thinking

Collaboration & Communication

Agility & Adaptability

Systems Thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or related field

Tools

ERP and advanced planning tools (e.g., SAP PP, APO, OMP, Kinaxis, JDE, Blue Yonder)

Excel and data analysis tools

Job description

For over 75 years, BIC has been creating ingeniously simple and joyful products that are a part of every heart and home. As a member of our team, you'll be a part of reigniting a beloved brand as we continue to reimagine everyday essentials in new, sustainable and responsible ways.

Our "roll up your sleeves and get the job done" approach to work creates an environment where self-starters, problem solvers and innovative thinkers thrive. BIC team members are empowered to take ownership of their careers and bring their unique perspectives to the table to make a meaningful impact on our mission.

It's a colorful world - make your mark by joining the BIC team today.

Job Summary

The Factory Planner for the South Africa cluster will be responsible for developing and executing short‑to‑mid‑term production plans that align with demand forecasts, inventory targets, and factory capabilities. This role ensures that manufacturing operations are synchronized with supply chain objectives, enabling high service levels, cost efficiency, and agility in response to market dynamics. This position is critical to strengthening local planning capabilities and will form part of the 2026 Operating Plan structure.

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Translate demand plans into feasible production schedules for the South Africa factory.
• Balance capacity, material availability, and labor constraints to optimize production output.
• Monitor adherence to production plans and adjust schedules proactively to mitigate risks.

Inventory & Material Management

• Ensure alignment between production plans and inventory targets to avoid stockouts or excess.
• Collaborate with procurement and material planners to secure timely availability of raw and packaging materials.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

• Track key planning KPIs (e.g., schedule adherence, OTIF, inventory turns).
• Provide regular updates and insights to factory leadership and regional planning teams.

Cross‑functional Collaboration

• Act as the planning interface between factory operations, demand planning, logistics, and procurement.
• Support S&OP and pre‑S&OP processes with factory‑level inputs and scenario planning.

Continuous Improvement

• Identify and implement improvements in planning processes, systems, and data accuracy.
• Contribute to digitalization and automation initiatives within factory planning.

Key Interfaces

• Factory Operations & Site Leadership
• Demand Planning MEA
• Procurement & Material Planning
• Logistics & Distribution
• Quality Assurance
• Finance & Controlling
• Regional Supply Chain Leadership

Skills, Knowledge, Compensies

Planning & Prioritization

• Ability to manage complex schedules and competing priorities.

Analytical Thinking

• Strong problem‑solving skills and data‑driven decision‑making.

Collaboration & Communication

• Effective stakeholder engagement across functions and levels.

Agility & Adaptability

• Comfortable working in a dynamic, fast‑paced environment.

Systems Thinking

• Understands end‑to‑end supply chain impact of factory planning decisions.

Additional Notes

• This role is part of the strategic workforce planning for 2026 and supports the decentralization of planning responsibilities.
• The position will contribute to improved responsiveness, reduced lead times, and enhanced service levels in the South Africa cluster.

Role may require occasional travel to other cluster sites or regional planning meetings.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management, Industrial Engineering, Business Administration, or related field.
• 3–5 years of experience in factory or production planning, preferably in FMCG or manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of supply chain principles, production processes, and planning systems.
• Experience with ERP and advanced planning tools (e.g., SAP PP, APO, OMP, Kinaxis, JDE, Blue Yonder).
• Proficiency in Excel and data analysis tools; ability to work with large datasets.

BIC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strongly commit to hiring people with different backgrounds and experiences to help us build better products, make better decisions, and better serve our customers. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability status, or similar characteristics. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.

BIC is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, all resumes submitted by search firms to any team member at BIC via email, or directly to a BIC team member in any form without a valid written search agreement in place for that position will be deemed the sole property of BIC, and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by BIC as a result of the referral or through other means.