Planning Manager - Food Manufacturing

Planning Manager Food Manufacturing

As this international, market‑leading food and drinks powerhouse accelerates its ambitious growth and expansion journey, a key opportunity has emerged for a dynamic and team‑oriented Planning Manager to play a pivotal role within one of the UK’s most successful food businesses.

This isn’t just another Planning Manager role it is working at a senior management position, at the heart of a pace, complex, multi‑site operation.

You’ll take full ownership of all factory planning, including production planning and materials replenishment and scheduling; driving efficiencies across factory planning and systems efficiencies across the network; ensuring seamless alignment between demand, supply and operational efficiency.

With responsibility for a sizeable, multi‑site team, you will optimise team potential and delivery by leading from the front, elevating performance and embedding best‑in‑class planning across the business. You’ll be instrumental in delivering operational and planning step‑change, maximising efficiencies and supporting the continued growth of a dynamic, evolving organisation.

The role is purpose‑built for an experienced Planning Manager already operating within the food and drink manufacturing arena, someone who understands the pace, complexity, nuances and protocols that come with supplying major UK retailers.

You’ll thrive in a fast‑moving manufacturing environment where service levels, agility and team cohesion is key. You’ll drive planning systems, ensuring plans are robust, agile and aligned to the challenges of UK supply and fluctuating demand.

• A good level of Factory/Production Planning experience, preferably with pace and complex food or drink manufacturing, or FMCG (complexity and pace is key).
• A good level of team leadership is essential. A natural coach and team nurturer, with the ability to maximise team performance and develop high‑performing teams.
• Highly analytical mindset, thriving under pressure within a fast‑paced environment.
• Proven record of initiating cost reduction and the continuous improvement of planning processes and systems.
• An advanced SAP user would be highly beneficial; experience with SAP‑based production planning and scheduling would be ideal but not essential.

If you are already leading in a similar role or relish the challenges this career opportunity presents you with, and curious to explore further, please do get in touch.

This career move could present a future opportunity to progress your career within an international food business, beyond this role.

There is flexibility to work from home one day a week.

Please note that all applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK. Unfortunately, we are unable to progress any applications requiring visa sponsorship.