Production Planning Lead

As a Production Planning Lead, you play a pivotal role in coordinating and optimizing our production processes to ensure efficiency, on-time delivery, and cost-effectiveness. Your expertise in production planning, and analytical skills is critical in driving the success of our operations.

Working hours

Monday to Friday: 08:00am –17:00pm

Responsibilities

• Lead daily and weekly production planning, aligning schedules with customer orders, forecasts, raw material availability and factory capacity.


• Manage and develop the Production Scheduler, Raw Materials Planner, Production Planner and Planning Assistant through clear objectives, coaching and performance reviews.


• Work with Operations, Purchasing, Commercial and Logistics to resolve shortages, capacity constraints and changing demand; communicate schedule changes and recovery plans promptly.


• Analyse demand, forecasts, stock and production data to support planning decisions and identify service risks early.


• Maintain accurate planning parameters, master data and schedules in ERP/MRP systems, supported by effective Excel analysis and reporting.


• Monitor schedule adherence, customer service, forecast accuracy, stock and waste, and drive improvements to planning processes and team resilience.


• Follow company health and safety, food safety, quality, ethical, environmental and energy standards, maintaining accurate records and traceability.


• Essential skills and experience:


• Substantial production planning experience, ideally in fast-paced manufacturing with short shelf-life products or complex production constraints.


• Experience supervising, leading or managing a team while remaining hands-on.


• Strong Excel skills and the ability to turn large datasets into practical planning decisions.


• Working knowledge of ERP/MRP, production scheduling, capacity planning, inventory control and demand forecasting.


• Strong communication, sound judgement and the ability to prioritise calmly under pressure.


• Desirable skills and experience


• Food manufacturing experience, particularly chilled or short shelf-life products.


• Power BI or similar reporting tools, and experience improving planning systems, data or processes.


• Exposure to sales and operations planning or execution, rough-cut capacity planning and KPI reporting.


• A relevant supply chain, operations or business qualification, or equivalent practical experience.

Job Types: Permanent, Full-time

• Canteen


• Company events


• Cycle to work scheme


• Enhanced maternity leave


• Enhanced paternity leave


• Flexitime


• Free parking


• On-site parking


• Sick pay

Ability to commute/relocate

• Leeds LS25 6PL: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Experience

• Production Scheduling: 2 years (preferred)


• Production Management: 1 year (required)

#J-18808-Ljbffr