Planning Manager

Job Specification

The Role

• The Planning Manager will be responsible for the end-to-end planning process for the business, including Customer Demand, Production and Material Supply Planning.
• Work closely with the Commercial Team to implement solutions to improve forecast accuracy.
• Monitor and report on important changes in sales forecasts.
• Co-ordinate the monthly S and OP meeting by liaising with commercial and operations.
• Create and maintain an optimized production schedule ensuring on-time delivery of products to customers, re-evaluating frequently to optimise customer service and operational costs.
• Liaise directly with supplier accounts regarding their forecasts.
• Work with the Operations Team and produce rolling monthly capacity reports.
• Planning of production lines to maintain an efficient achievable fixed schedule, keeping plans as stable as possible, reporting, and logging any changes.
• Work with the supply chain to develop a Raw Material Stock Holding policy, ensuring a balance is struck between availability and cashflow.
• Regular review with the Operations Team to help improve run speeds and reduce downtime, changeovers, improving accuracy of the plan.
• Manage inventory issues, schedule changes and cancellations ensuring timely delivery of an accurate supply plan for Raw Material scheduling.
• Run a weekly planning meeting, ensuring all relevant parties are informed on all aspects of upcoming schedules.
• Maintain and upkeep of BOMs and Planning Master Data in all systems.
• Responsible for Key KPI delivery on the overall Supply Chain scorecard.
• Effective management of the Planning of NPD activities, ensuring customer launch requirements are met.

The Person

• An understanding of working with make to order and make to stock products.
• Educated to degree level or equivalent qualification in Business or Planning discipline is preferred, however qualification by experience is also considered. 
• Demonstrable experience within fast paced manufacturing is essential, preferably within an FMCG environment.
• Ability to effectively manage and develop the wider planning team.
• Capability of business process development and continuous improvement.
• IT literacy coupled with good analytical skills required to create and interpret relevant data.
• A logical and systematic approach to work.
• Excellent time management abilities.
• The ability to solve problems and make decisions, as well as think laterally and offer creative solutions.
• Commercial awareness and numeracy skills.
• The ability to manage change.
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills and the ability to work well as part of a team.
• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written.
• A positive attitude to continued learning.