We’re recruiting for a Manufacturing Planning Manager to support our Runcorn manufacturing site. This is a key leadership role where you’ll take full ownership of planning, reporting, raw material scheduling, and stock control activities across the site.
You’ll develop both short and longer-term production plans, ensuring customer demand is met while balancing capacity, space, and cost. You’ll also provide clear, data-led insight to support decision-making and continuous improvement
Location: Runcorn
Reports to: Site General Manager
Why join Howdens as a Manufacturing Planning Manager
This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a pivotal role at the heart of a large-scale, fast-moving manufacturing operation. As a Manufacturing Planning Manager, you’ll play a key part in ensuring our production runs smoothly, efficiently, and in line with customer demand, while shaping the future of planning at the site.
- Take ownership of a complex and varied portfolio, including 120+ finished goods, 420+ WIP SKUs and 160+ raw materials
- Support the supply of rigid kitchens to over 1,000 depots across the UK and Europe, directly impacting customer delivery every day
- Work in a highly responsive environment with short lead times and limited demand visibility, giving you genuine pace and challenge
- Operate within tight space constraints and lean stock levels, driving efficiency and smart decision-making across the site
- Influence production across multiple assets, including 10 assembly lines and 8 machining processes, with further investment underway
- Manage planning at real scale, supporting millions of units annually and significant production value
- Lead and develop a small team, driving performance and building capability across the function
Alongside the challenge, you’ll be part of a business that continues to invest, grow, and innovate, offering real opportunity to make an impact and develop your career.
Key responsibilities
- Lead and coordinate the planning team, ensuring alignment across the site and a strong focus on customer service
- Develop and deliver annual and tactical plans, balancing seasonality, capacity, space constraints, and cost targets
- Continuously review and improve planning systems and processes to support a growing operation
- Maintain and oversee key SAP planning data (e.g. MOQs, safety stock levels), working closely with Master Data teams
- Ensure raw material availability to support production in a fast-changing and high-volume environment
- Maintain stock accuracy through effective controls and regular stock checks, ensuring audit compliance
- Deliver accurate and timely reporting to support both site and wider business decision-making
- Support the successful introduction of new products (NPI) into the business
- Lead, coach and develop a small team, building capability and flexibility across the function
What you’ll need to succeed
Knowledge & Experience
- Experience in a Planning Manager (or similar) role, with responsibility for production planning and stock control
- Proven experience within a high-volume manufacturing or FMCG environment, delivering results through sharp demand peaks and rapid change
- Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to lead, develop and motivate teams in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.
Skills & Abilities
- Highly analytical, with the ability to interpret data quickly and translate it into clear actions
- Strong numerical and problem-solving skills, with excellent attention to detail
- Experience using SAP or similar ERP systems, alongside strong Excel capability Able to adapt to changing priorities and respond effectively in a fast-paced environment Solutions-focused and results-driven, with the confidence to challenge and improve performance
- Strong communication skills, with the ability to build relationships across all levels of the business
What we can offer you
- Competitive salary + bonus + car allowance
- Pension with up to 12% company contribution
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays, with the option to buy more
- Staff discount
- Ongoing training, development, and career opportunities
- A supportive, friendly environment with great recognition and rewards
About Us:
Howdens Joinery is the UK’s number one trade kitchen supplier, providing thousands of products across kitchens, joinery, and hardware. We have over 900 depots throughout the UK and Europe, making us the first choice for more than 460,000 loyal trade professionals. With an ambitious and credible growth plan, we continue to build on our £2.2 billion sales made last year.
There is a strong entrepreneurial ethos and the opportunity to develop within a fast-paced and commercial environment. That, along with a competitive salary, development opportunities, and exciting rewards, are among the reasons why our people enjoy working for Howdens – and why we have been named as one of the 10 Best Big Companies to Work For.
How to Apply:
We are building a future where world-class service, innovation, and sustainability are embedded within our DNA. If Howdens sounds like the kind of place where you can build and develop your career as a Planning Manager then we are keen to hear from you.
Howdens is founded on the principle of being Worthwhile for ALL concerned. We’re working hard to ensure we provide an inclusive environment where everyone feels welcome. We will do everything we can to support you during your application. If you need us to make any adjustments to our recruitment process, please email (url removed) with the job title and location, and we will be happy to help you