Planning and Procurement Manager; Maternity Cover

About the role

We’re looking for a Planning & Procurement Manager to manage our raw material and packaging sourcing, and to plan weekly factory production. You’ll make sure the factory has the right materials and packaging, in the right volumes, at the right price, on site to meet production demand.

The role is located at our Deliciously Ella factory at Greenways Business Park, Winslow and will report to our Factory Head of Supply Chain. We ideally would like someone to start by no later than April 2026.

About you

• 3+ years’ experience in production planning and/or procurement
• Strong Excel and numerical skills
• Experience working with MRP/ERP systems
• Confident communicator and negotiator
• Highly organised, detail-focused, and deadline-driven

• Develop short-, medium-, and long-term buying strategies
• Source, purchase, and contract raw materials (such as fruit, nuts, oats, fats, sugars) and packaging
• Build and maintain strong supplier relationships and run tenders when required
• Work closely with group procurement colleagues to track ingredient and packaging costs, monitor market trends, and for purchasing opportunities
• Negotiate pricing and ensure quality and service standards
• Play a key role in the NPD pipeline, providing insight into raw material costs and suppliers

• Own and plan weekly and monthly production cycles based on demand forecasts
• Inventory management;
  Ensure the right level of material and packaging are available on site to meet production plans, whilst maintaining steady cash flow
• Work closely with the Production Manager to plan productions in line with operational targets and support production KPI tracking
• Liaise between production team, warehouse, and Plan & Deliver team to ensure production plans are achievable and meet demand

• Track Compliance to Schedule (plan attainment), support production Waste & Giveaway tracking
• Produce weekly performance reports for senior leadership
• Identify opportunities to improve production efficiency and reduce costs

You will have the opportunity to be part of a mission driven business at a hugely exciting point in our growth trajectory, where your voice is heard and where you’re able to actively impact our business. Some great perks in working for Hero UK&I include:

• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of 4 x base salary
• Income Protection insurance
• 25 days holiday plus an extra day off for your birthday and an additional day after 5 years of service
• Health insurance through Vitality
• Twice-yearly team events
• Free Deliciously Ella snacks available in communal areas on site
• Access to Grocery Aid employee assistance resources
• Enhanced maternity leave (16 weeks full pay) and paternity leave (4 weeks full pay)
• Workplace Nursery salary sacrifice scheme offering significant childcare savings
• Up to 8 days per year study leave for job relevant qualifications.
• Free Deliciously Ella App Access for you and five friends and family

Our values are at the heart of everything we do. Developed through an inclusive process involving colleagues from across the business, they guide how we work, collaborate, and succeed together. They reflect who we are today and the future we are building:

Create Wow - We go beyond expectations and strive to make a meaningful impact

Everyone Hero – Every individual matters and every contribution counts.

Nourish Others – We support, inspire, and help each other grow.

Take Responsibility - We own our actions and outcomes, individually and as a team

Our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion

At Hero UK&I we are committed to cultivating and maintaining a culture that is inclusive and diverse. We celebrate differences and continually support all team members to be proud of who they are. We pride ourselves on equal employment opportunity regardless of gender, sex, age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, or social class. We hire the best people based on an evaluation of their abilities and effectiveness, nothing else.