At a Glance
- Tasks: Create and manage production schedules to keep operations running smoothly.
- Company: Join a leading company recognised for gender equality and diversity.
- Benefits: Starting salary of £30,000, performance bonuses, and comprehensive wellbeing support.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for growth and teamwork across departments.
- Why this job: Be a key player in optimising production and making a real impact.
- Qualifications: Experience in production planning and strong Excel skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 30000 £ per year.
The Role & Key Responsibilities
Location: Fradley, Staffordshire, UK
Contract & Hours: Permanent, 40-hour week, Monday to Friday
Package includes: a starting salary from £30,000, a performance related bonus scheme, a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing and reward your impact, and a matched pension contribution of up to 10%
About the role
We are looking for a Production Planner to join our team, responsible for building and managing detailed production schedules that keep our operations running efficiently and on time. You will play a key role in balancing demand, capacity and resources across multiple production lines, ensuring we meet customer needs while maximising throughput and minimising waste. This is a hands‑on, fast‑paced role where you will work closely with colleagues across operations, procurement and customer services, constantly reviewing and adapting plans to keep things moving smoothly.
What you will be doing:
- Developing and maintaining production schedules based on forecasts, stock requirements and customer orders
- Working closely with procurement, stock control and manufacturing teams to ensure materials and resources are available when needed
- Monitoring production progress and adjusting plans to meet deadlines and resolve any issues or bottlenecks
- Analysing capacity and workload to optimise output and ensure an even spread across production lines
- Supporting cross‑site planning, including balancing workloads and maintaining consistent lead times
- Recording and tracking production data, including output, delays and resource usage
- Communicating schedule changes, priorities and risks to key stakeholders
- Managing urgent orders and understanding their impact on capacity and delivery timelines
- Reporting overages and identifying actions to reduce waste
- Supporting stock takes and ensuring stock accuracy across the warehouse and systems
- Resolving system or journal errors to support accurate stock availability
What we are looking for:
- Experience in production planning, scheduling or supply chain roles
- Good understanding of manufacturing processes and resource planning
- Strong Excel skills and confidence using planning or ERP/MRP systems
- Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills
- Clear and confident communication, with the ability to work across teams
- Comfortable working with data and using it to make decisions
Additional information:
- 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday
- Occasional weekend working required
- Bank holiday working required (excluding Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day)
- Holiday must be coordinated with team members
- Travel between Rugeley and Fradley Park is essential
EEO & Diversity
We’re thrilled to share that AB Agri has been recognised as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2025. As a Disability Confident employer, we’re committed to ensuring our application and recruitment processes work for everyone, so if you need any additional support (like alternative formats for your application, bringing a support dog to the offices, a sign language interpreter – or anything else) just let us know.
Production Planner employer: AB Agri Ltd
At AB Agri, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and growth. Located in Fradley, Staffordshire, our team enjoys a competitive salary, performance-related bonuses, and a comprehensive benefits package, all while working collaboratively in a dynamic environment that fosters innovation and efficiency. Join us to be part of a company recognised for its commitment to diversity and inclusion, where your contributions are valued and rewarded.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Planner
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and understanding their production processes. Be ready to discuss how your skills in scheduling and resource planning can help them optimise their operations.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your analytical skills! Bring examples of how you've used data to solve problems in past roles. This will demonstrate your ability to make informed decisions and adapt plans effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are genuinely interested in joining our team.
We think you need these skills to ace Production Planner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Production Planner role. Highlight your experience in production planning, scheduling, and any relevant skills like Excel or ERP systems. We want to see how your background fits with what we’re looking for!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you’re passionate about this role and how your skills can help us optimise our production schedules. Keep it concise but impactful – we love a good story!
Show Off Your Analytical Skills:Since the role involves a lot of data analysis, make sure to mention specific examples where you've used your analytical skills to solve problems or improve processes. We’re keen to see how you can bring that expertise to our team!
Apply Through Our Website:Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it’s super easy – just follow the prompts and you’ll be all set!
How to prepare for a job interview at AB Agri Ltd
✨Know Your Production Planning Basics
Make sure you brush up on your production planning knowledge. Understand the key concepts like scheduling, resource allocation, and how to balance demand with capacity. This will show that you're not just familiar with the role but genuinely interested in making an impact.
✨Show Off Your Excel Skills
Since strong Excel skills are a must for this role, be prepared to discuss your experience with spreadsheets. Bring examples of how you've used Excel for data analysis or scheduling in past roles. If you can, practice some common functions or formulas beforehand to demonstrate your proficiency.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
As a Production Planner, you'll need to work closely with various teams. During the interview, focus on showcasing your communication skills. Use clear examples of how you've effectively communicated changes or resolved issues in previous jobs. This will highlight your ability to collaborate across departments.
✨Prepare for Problem-Solving Scenarios
Expect to face some hypothetical scenarios during the interview that test your analytical and problem-solving skills. Think about past challenges you've encountered in production planning and how you overcame them. Be ready to explain your thought process and the outcomes of your decisions.
