Production Planner – Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire – Up to £40,000 per annum DOE
Hours: Monday - Friday 8.00am-4.00pm with some flexibility as required.
Our leading FMCG client are looking to recruit an experienced Production Planner who will be responsible for controlling, managing and guiding the planning team and planning systems to ensure customer requirements are met in full, on time, and in the most cost‑effective and efficient manner. This role plays a key part in safeguarding food safety, quality, service, and operational performance across the business.
Key Responsibilities
* Ensure all planning activities are carried out with integrity, safeguarding food safety and product quality at all times.
* Maintain full compliance with all relevant food safety legislation, legal standards, and internal technical procedures.
* Ensure all raw material, finished product, and frozen/up‑tempered product controls are strictly adhered to by the planning team.
* Review sales orders and forecast data to set planning parameters for Production and Material Schedulers, providing medium‑to long‑term planning direction.
* Collate sales order data for IQF products to create daily and weekly production plans and communicate these clearly to all relevant stakeholders.
* Ensure robust build and deliver plans are in place and executed using available labour and resources, including the implementation of peak‑period scheduling.
* Maintain IQF finished goods stock sheets, ensuring minimum stock levels are met and all customer orders are fulfilled in full and on time.
* Ensure raw material supplier parameters and lead times are agreed, maintained, and configured correctly within planning systems.
* Provide ongoing support to the Material Scheduler to ensure materials availability aligns with production requirements.
* Provide full cover for Production and Material Schedulers during periods of holiday, sickness, or training.
* Attend and contribute to daily production meetings, reporting on production plans, KPI's, stock levels, waste, and any risks to food safety, health & safety, productivity, or service.
* Drive continuous improvement through efficient planning, waste reduction, and improved operational performance.
* Lead, manage, and develop direct reports, ensuring compliance with technical rules, planning constraints, and system requirements.
* Support site and business strategic objectives, including continuous improvement initiatives, system enhancements, new ways of working, and cost reduction.
The ideal candidate
* Supply Chain or Planning qualification, or demonstrable equivalent experience.
* Proven FMCG experience within a food manufacturing environment.
* Experience of planning capacity, materials, and production using MS Navision or a similar ERP system.
* Advanced Excel skills with the ability to analyse and interpret complex data.
* Strong people management skills with experience developing and leading teams.
* Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively across departments.
* A continuous improvement (CI) mindset with a proactive, can‑do approach.
* Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
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