Job Title: Supply Chain Planning Manager
Reports To: Head of Operations
Department: Supply Chain Planning
Location: Birmingham
Position Overview:
We are seeking an experienced and proactive Supply Chain Planning Manager to take ownership of demand planning, materials coordination, and order management within a busy manufacturing environment. This position is instrumental in aligning production schedules with customer expectations, optimising stock levels, and enhancing overall planning efficiency. You’ll lead a dedicated team, work cross-functionally across departments, and liaise with key customers and suppliers to maintain a high-performance supply chain.
Key Responsibilities:
Lead and coordinate the planning team to ensure production schedules align with customer demand, achieving delivery performance targets and internal KPIs.
Produce forward-looking forecasts to help guide inventory planning and temporary staffing needs.
Oversee product phase-outs and manage stock run-down strategies in line with simplification or product lifecycle plans.
Maintain optimal levels of finished goods and component inventory to balance availability with stock holding efficiency.
Ensure smooth implementation of product models into the production system, from specification setup through to sample approval and release.
Administer engineering change processes to minimise disruption, control obsolescence, and maintain configuration accuracy.
Support product development launches with detailed build strategies, including initial pilot and pre-launch volume plans.
Monitor ageing stock and categorise risk-based items, proactively reducing excess or slow-moving inventory.
Work closely with the commercial team to provide accurate timelines and manage expectations around availability and delivery.
Drive improvements in planning and procurement processes to increase reliability, agility, and responsiveness.
Identify opportunities to introduce lean inventory systems such as Kanban, and other efficiency-enabling tools.
Build and maintain supplier relationships to ensure component continuity and rapid response to demand shifts.
Sign off production schedules and escalate capacity concerns across bottleneck areas to operational leadership.
Develop pre-production strategies (including ABC builds) to support labour utilisation and readiness.
Conduct regular reviews and development conversations with the planning and procurement teams to support growth and performance.
Collaborate with sales and operations on delivery performance reviews and lead continuous improvement initiatives.
Ensure compliance with all health and safety requirements and delegate responsibilities appropriately.
Attend regular meetings with major clients to review forecasts, availability, promotional volumes, and product changes.
Experience & Qualifications:
Proven strong track record in a senior planning or supply chain leadership role within a manufacturing setting.
Track record of successfully managing inventory, meeting delivery targets, and leading teams.
Analytical mindset with a solutions-focused approach.
Good experience of working with & improving MRP systems
Track record of delivering continuous improvement within the supply chain