Job Title: Planning Manager
Location: Stevenage
Salary: £50,000 - £55,000 per annum
A well-established electronics manufacturing organisation is seeking a Planning Manager to lead and own the end-to-end planning function within a fast-paced, customer-focused environment. This is a key role responsible for ensuring customer delivery commitments are achieved through effective planning, coordination, and execution across the business.
Working closely with operations, sales, engineering, purchasing, and production, the Planning Manager will translate customer demand into achievable production plans, balancing capacity, materials availability, and changing priorities. This role requires strong leadership, attention to detail, and the confidence to challenge and escalate where required to protect delivery performance.
This is a hands-on management role suited to someone who thrives in a dynamic electronics manufacturing environment and is comfortable managing complexity, change, and competing priorities while keeping customer delivery at the forefront.
Key Responsibilities
Own and manage the end-to-end planning process from sales order entry through works order creation, scheduling, and delivery
Lead and coordinate all planning activities within the ERP system, ensuring data accuracy and timely updates
Translate customer demand into realistic and achievable production plans, balancing capacity, materials, and delivery priorities
Drive works order loading and contract review processes to support on-time-in-full (OTIF) performance
Act as the central point of coordination between sales, engineering, purchasing, and production
Proactively chase, challenge, and escalate missing, late, or incomplete information that could impact planning or delivery
Effectively manage change including order amendments, priority shifts, material shortages, and capacity constraints
Clearly communicate priorities and schedules across all relevant departments
Review customer delivery commitments, identify risks early, and drive mitigation actions
Monitor and report on key planning and delivery metrics including OTIF, backlog, and schedule adherence
Lead, coach, and develop the planning team, setting clear expectations and accountability
Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve planning efficiency and customer delivery performance
Develop and maintain robust planning processes aligned with best practice in electronics manufacturingSkills, Experience & Qualifications
Essential
Proven experience in a Planning Manager, Planning Supervisor, or Senior Planner role within electronics manufacturing or a similarly regulated industry
Demonstrated ability to manage end-to-end planning from order entry through to production and delivery
Strong customer-focused mindset with a track record of meeting delivery commitments
Excellent communication skills with the confidence to challenge, chase, and escalate where required
Highly organised with strong attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment with frequent change
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a practical, solutions-focused approach
Experience working cross-functionally with sales, engineering, supply chain, and production teams
Proactive, accountable, and ownership-driven approachDesirable
Strong working knowledge of ERP systems (e.g. Epicor E10 or equivalent), particularly planning, scheduling, and works order management
Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives within planning or supply chain functions
Detail-focused mindset while maintaining awareness of wider business objectives