Senior Production Planner Location: Pickering, North Yorkshire Type: Permanent | Full-time (Site-based) Working Hours: 37 hours per week. Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm, Friday 8.30am to 4.00pm (30-minute unpaid lunch break) Salary: Competitive (Dependent on Experience) Benefits: 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays 5% salary sacrifice pension scheme 2 x base salary life insurance Private healthcare Flexi-time available Overview A leading engineering and manufacturing organisation near Pickering is seeking a highly capable Senior Production Planner to lead and develop the planning function across operational areas. This is a key site-based role focused on ensuring optimal scheduling, resource planning and inventory management to meet customer delivery expectations. The successful candidate will play a pivotal part in production performance, working cross-functionally with key stakeholders including Production, Engineering, Projects, Sales and Procurement. Key Responsibilities Lead and develop the Planning team, managing day-to-day planning activities Collaborate with senior management to align operational planning with strategic goals Oversee and direct all Master Scheduling activity, incorporating demand forecasts into production plans Generate and maintain daily, weekly and monthly production status reports and dashboards Ensure effective MRP system use including maintenance of timing, routings and inventory parameters Support procurement processes, change order implementation and resolution of supply issues Maintain accurate inventory levels and monitor kit availability, stock thresholds and order increments Facilitate communication across departments to ensure visibility and accountability in planning Analyse capacity data to align staffing and production output to agreed delivery targets Maintain and enhance planning visual management tools to track KPIs and performance trends Drive improvements in on-time-in-full (OTIF) delivery and overall schedule adherence Support new product introduction and R&D planning activities Contribute to the organisation’s continuous improvement and lean initiatives Develop and monitor planning KPIs and provide data-driven insight to support decision making Assess production capacity and identify constraints, supporting load balancing and resource optimisation Manage works order creation, maintenance and closure in line with operational needs Qualifications and Experience Essential: Education in a technical or business management discipline Proven experience in production planning within a manufacturing or engineering setting Minimum 5 years’ experience in MRP/MRP II or ERP-based planning environments 5 years of leadership experience in planning or scheduling functions Working knowledge of production processes and ability to read and interpret engineering drawings Desirable: Technical training or qualifications in project management Experience with Microsoft Dynamics Navision or similar ERP systems Key Skills and Competencies Strong knowledge of MRP system functionality and planning principles Advanced MS Excel skills (e.g. pivot tables, vlookups) Excellent organisational, communication and leadership skills High level of accuracy and attention to detail Proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement Ability to collaborate effectively across functions and levels Data-driven mindset with the ability to analyse and interpret performance metrics QHSE Commitment Comply with health, safety and environmental policies and procedures Maintain responsibility and accountability through professional behaviour Report any unsafe acts or conditions to enable timely corrective actions Additional Information This is a site-based position offering a great opportunity to shape and lead planning operations in a technically innovative and quality-driven environment. You’ll be part of a team that values reliability, technical excellence and continuous improvement. If you are an experienced production planning professional ready to take on a senior role with influence and impact, we would welcome your application.