Operations Planner Coordinator

Fruitways; Somerset West; On-site; ZAR 300,000 - 420,000; Full time

Job summary

Fruitways is seeking an Operations Planner Coordinator to support our Somerset West planning team. You will coordinate harvest delivery schedules, update supply plans and ensure cross-functional communication to meet demand.

The role requires a tertiary qualification in logistics or related field and at least 2 years' experience in fruit packaging. Proficiency with Excel and planning tools, plus weekend work during peak season, are expected.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of relevant experience in fruit packaging environment.
• Strong analytical and data-driven decision-making.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate harvest delivery schedules to support fruit availability and align with requirements.
• Create and coordinate weekly presort and production plans across sites.
• Plan storage, stock movements, and room utilization for capacity management.
• Align fruit supply, production and demand; monitor changes and adjust as needed.
• Coordinate internal fruit and bin movements between packhouses and external parties.
• Plan empty-bin movements with growers and external parties.
• Monitor actuals vs. plans; investigate variances and advise corrective action.
• Maintain planning information and updates for day-to-day decisions.
• Communicate planning priorities to growers, packhouses, and teams.
• Support reporting and continuous improvement of planning processes.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Education

Tertiary qualification in Logistics/Industrial Engineering/Operations Management

Tools

Excel

Operations planning tools

Job description

OPERATIONS PLANNER COORDINATOR

Fruitways is a leading agri-business in South Africa. We specialise in the growing, packing and marketing of apples and pears to retailers, traders and wholesalers around the globe.

We have an exciting career opportunity for and individual supporting our Planning team based at our Somerset West office. We are looking for a self-motivated, deadline-driven, and detail-oriented individual with a willingness to learn. The main purpose of the role is to coordinate fruit handling operations, update and execute supply plans, and ensure seamless communication among stakeholders to meet the required demand.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and monitor harvest delivery schedules to support optimal fruit availability and ensure deliveries are aligned with technical and operational requirements.
• Create and coordinateweekly presort and production plans, considering RA/CA allocations, rebin requirements, fruit availability, and operational priorities across sites.
• Plan and monitor storage requirements and stock movements, including RA/CA loading, CA room utilisation, stock age and fruit availability, to support efficient capacity management and timely product flow, in line with the planning framework and guidance provided by the Operations Planner.
• Support the alignment of fruit supply, production, and operational capacity with demand by monitoring changes, identifying deviations, and communicating required adjustments.
• Coordinate internal fruit and bin movements between packhouses, including the loading and opening of CA rooms for presorting and packing.
• Plan and coordinate empty-bin movements between packhouses, growers and external parties to support harvest and operational requirements.
• Monitor actuals against the production and supply plans, investigate variances, and provide accurate feedback for follow-up and corrective action.
• Maintain accurate planning information, schedules and operational updates to support effective day-to-day decision-making and execution.
• Communicate planning priorities, changes and potential constraints to growers, packhouses, Commercial, Logistics and Operations teams.
• Follow up with relevant stakeholders to ensure agreed planning actions, movements and operational requirements are completed within the required timeframes.
• Support the Operations Planning function with reporting, coordination and continuous improvement of planning processes and operational flow.

Requirements

• Tertiary qualification in Logistics, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field.
• 2+ years of relevant experience, preferably within a fruit packaging environment.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to handle data-driven decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for engaging with cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in Excel and experience with operational planning tools.
• Willingness to work over weekends during peak season as needed.
• Own vehicle and a valid driver's license are required due to travel requirements between operational units.

Employment Equity

The Fruitways Group's employment equity requirements will be considered in evaluating candidates. By submitting your application, you are giving The Fruitways Group implicit consent to the storage and processing of your personal information.