Location: Cardiff
Salary: £55,000–£60,000 per annum + 10% bonus
Hours: Monday–Friday (Days)
Contract: Permanent | Full-time
Industry: Manufacturing
About the business
A well-established manufacturing business is investing heavily and experiencing rapid growth. You’ll be joining a new, state-of-the-art factory in Cardiff equipped with modern technology and systems. The business is scaling fast and — due to internal promotion — is now seeking an accomplished Planning Manager to own planning & scheduling and lead a small, high-performing team.
The role
As the Planning Manager you will be responsible for end-to-end production planning and scheduling to ensure the site delivers on customer service, minimises waste and inventory, and meets commercial targets. This is a hands-on leadership role that combines day-to-day planning with people management, stakeholder engagement and continuous improvement.
Key responsibilities
* Lead and develop a team of planners/schedulers to deliver accurate production schedules and on-time customer service.
* Own demand planning, short-term scheduling and capacity planning across multiple lines/areas.
* Manage inventory levels and drive initiatives to reduce stock, obsolescence and cost.
* Run S&OP / IBP activities and collaborate with Commercial, Supply Chain, Procurement and Production.
* Maintain and optimise planning processes within the ERP/MRP system; champion system improvements and data accuracy.
* Monitor and report on planning KPIs (OTIF, stock days, schedule attainment, yield) and deliver continuous improvement projects.
* Coach, mentor and develop planners; create a culture of accountability, accuracy and collaboration.
* Support change and implementation activities as the site grows and new technology is deployed.
What we’re looking for
* Proven experience managing planning teams in a manufacturing environment (food/FMCG desirable).
* Strong technical knowledge of MRP/ERP systems and planning tools; confident with forecasting and S&OP. Experience with Oracle ERP would be advantageous.
* Excellent people leader with a track record of coaching, developing and motivating a team.
* Commercially aware — able to balance customer service with inventory and working capital control.
* Strong stakeholder management and communication skills; comfortable presenting to senior leaders.
* Analytical mindset with experience using data to drive decisions and improvements.
How to apply
Click Apply Now with your CV and a short covering note outlining your planning leadership experience. Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an initial call