PRODUCTION PLANNER

McCormick & Company, Inc.; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the food industry is seeking a Production Planner in Midrand, South Africa. The role involves optimizing manufacturing processes, coordinating production schedules, and managing inventory levels. Candidates should have a solid supply chain experience, preferably in the FMCG sector, along with a relevant degree. Strong skills in SAP and Excel are required. This position offers opportunities to enhance productivity and drive continuous improvements.

Qualifications

• Solid experience in a supply chain role working with customers and suppliers.
• Practical experience of production planning in an FMCG company.
• Proven leadership skills and ability to influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and oversee long-term production plans.
• Coordinate with demand planning to match production schedules.
• Maintain production-related data in SAP/Excel.
• Monitor plan execution and track adherence.

Skills

Supply Chain Management

Production Planning

Stakeholder Communication

Analytical Problem Solving

Education

Degree in Industrial/Supply Chain/Business/Accounting

Tools

SAP

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Overview

Production Planner

Midrand, South Africa

Do you want to save the world from boring food? Joins us and we will save you from boring work!

McCormick & Company is a world leader in the spice, flavor, and seasonings industry.

As a Production Planner, you will play a pivotal role in optimizing manufacturing processes by coordinating production schedules, managing inventory levels, and ensuring seamless material flow. Your strategic planning will drive efficiency while balancing demand forecasts, resource allocation, and operational constraints. Working closely with cross-functional teams, you will ensure timely delivery of products, minimize downtime, and contribute to continues improvement initiatives.

This role requires analytical precision, proactive problem-solving, and a keen ability to adapt dynamic production environments.

Main Responsibilities

• Production Planning & Execution: Develop, adjust, and oversee long-term (extending up to 12 months forward) production plans to ensure seamless execution while balancing demand, inventory targets, cost efficiency, and operational constraints.
• Demand & Capacity alignment: Coordinate closely with demand planning / customer services, and production teams to match production schedules with market requirements while optimizing resource utilization.
• Material Requirements Planning: Coordinate closely with procurement and material planning to ensure timely procurement of raw material and packaging based on production schedules, minimizing excess inventory and stockouts.
• New Product introduction & Discontinuations: Schedule product launches and phase -outs efficiently, mitigating risks of obsolete stock and ensuring smooth transitions.
• Data accuracy & system maintenance: Maintain and validate production-related data in SAP / Excel, including BOMs, routings and capacity parameters, ensuring reliable decision making.
• Efficiency & Continues improvement: Identify bottlenecks and collaborate with operational teams on Continuous improvement projects to enhance productivity and reduce waste.
• Stakeholder Collaboration & Communication: Serve as a key liaison between supply chain, production, procurement, commercial, and customer service to address constraints, optimize workflows, and drive alignment.
• Production plan Adherence & Reporting: Monitor plan execution, track adherence at SKU level.

Candidate Profile

• Solid experience in a supply chain role working with customers, suppliers, and other internal stakeholders.
• Practical experience of production planning in FMCG company (preferably in food industry).
• Degree in Industrial / Supply Chain / Business / Accounting.
• Proven leadership skills and ability to influence stakeholders on all levels in the organization.
• Excellent presentation skills and ability to proactively contribute to customer presentations.
• Proven experience in managing and executing CI projects within a dynamic environment.
• Cross functional team player and able to operate effectively within a matrix structure.
• Flexible approach & innovative problem solver.
• Exposure to ERP / SC systems (SAP) and Advanced level Microsoft Office (Excel).
• Potential and desire to build career within Supply Chain.
• Flexibility in complex, ambiguous and fast-paced environment with changing priorities.

Agencies : McCormick as needed will work with external recruitment vendors through our Agency Portal. Unless previously contacted, McCormick does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiting agencies.

McCormick & Company is an equal opportunity / affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy / ies.