At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and improve Sales & Operations Planning across two manufacturing sites.
- Company: Coppice, a forward-thinking manufacturing business focused on innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, career growth, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Join a diverse team committed to continuous improvement and making an impact.
- Why this job: Shape critical operational decisions and drive efficiency in a dynamic setting.
- Qualifications: Experience in S&OP or supply chain leadership and strong analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Location: Split across Coppice and Sirane manufacturing sites (with occasional home working where business needs allow)
Contract: Full-Time | Permanent
Salary: Competitive (dependent on experience)
Build the Future of Sales & Operations Planning at Coppice
Are you an experienced S&OP, Demand Planning or Supply Chain professional looking for an opportunity to make a lasting impact? At Coppice, we're investing in the future of our planning capability and are looking for an S&OP Lead to establish, lead and continuously improve our Sales & Operations Planning process across our Coppice and Sirane manufacturing sites. This is more than a planning role; it's an opportunity to shape how our business makes critical operational decisions. You'll bring together Sales, Operations, Supply Chain and Finance to create a single, aligned view of demand, supply, capacity and inventory, ensuring we continue to deliver exceptional service while driving efficiency, reducing waste and supporting profitable growth.
If you enjoy influencing senior stakeholders, turning complex data into meaningful business decisions and leading cross-functional collaboration, we'd love to hear from you.
A Day in the Life and the Impact You'll Make
As S&OP Lead, you'll own and drive the monthly Sales & Operations Planning process across two manufacturing sites, ensuring the business has a clear and aligned plan to meet customer demand while balancing operational capacity, inventory and commercial objectives. Working closely with senior leaders across Sales, Operations, Procurement, Supply Chain and Finance, you'll facilitate planning forums, identify risks and opportunities, improve forecasting accuracy and create data-driven recommendations that support strategic decision-making. You'll also lead a small planning team while embedding robust planning standards and continuous improvement across the business.
What You'll Be Doing
- Establish and lead a structured Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process across Coppice and Sirane.
- Develop aligned demand, supply, capacity and inventory plans that support customer service, operational efficiency and business growth.
- Facilitate cross-functional planning meetings, ensuring decisions, risks and actions are clearly communicated and tracked.
- Analyse planning data, forecasts and operational performance to identify trends, risks and opportunities.
- Drive improvements in forecast accuracy, inventory optimisation, production stability and service performance.
- Lead and develop the planning team while promoting collaboration across Sales, Operations, Supply Chain and Finance.
- Improve planning systems, reporting, master data and governance to support consistent decision-making.
- Champion continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen planning capability across the Group.
About You
We're looking for a commercially minded planning professional who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and enjoys bringing people, processes and data together to drive better business decisions. You'll be comfortable influencing senior stakeholders, challenging assumptions constructively and leading planning discussions that balance customer demand, operational capability and commercial performance.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Proven experience in Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), Demand Planning, Supply Planning or Supply Chain leadership within a manufacturing or FMCG environment.
- Strong understanding of end-to-end planning processes, including demand forecasting, capacity planning, inventory management and supply planning.
- Experience leading cross-functional planning meetings and influencing senior stakeholders.
- Excellent analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex operational and commercial data.
- Experience using ERP/MRP systems, planning tools and advanced Microsoft Excel.
- Strong commercial awareness, balancing customer service, cost, efficiency and working capital.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Experience leading or developing planning teams within an operational environment.
Desirable
- Professional qualifications such as APICS, IBF, CIPS, Lean or Six Sigma.
- Experience implementing or improving S&OP processes across multiple manufacturing sites.
- Background in FMCG, packaging, food manufacturing or another fast-paced production environment.
- Experience supporting ERP implementation, planning system optimisation or master data governance.
- Knowledge of New Product Introduction (NPI), lifecycle planning or promotional demand management.
Why Join Coppice
At Coppice, we work as one team, driven by integrity, accountability and continuous improvement. We believe in empowering our people to take ownership, challenge the status quo and help shape the future of our business.
This role offers the opportunity to:
- Lead and shape the Sales & Operations Planning function across two manufacturing sites.
- Work closely with senior leadership to influence strategic business decisions.
- Drive improvements in forecasting, inventory, production planning and operational performance.
- Lead a planning team while developing best practice processes and governance.
- Be part of a growing manufacturing business investing in continuous improvement and long-term success.
Our Culture
Innovation, sustainability, quality and customer focus underpin everything we do. We encourage collaboration, practical problem-solving and continuous learning, giving our people the opportunity to make a genuine impact every day.
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
We're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to succeed. We welcome applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are dedicated to ensuring our recruitment process is accessible to everyone.
Ready to Shape the Future of Planning
If you're passionate about bringing people, data and operations together to drive smarter business decisions, we'd love to hear from you. Apply today and help build the future of Sales & Operations Planning at Coppice.
S&OP Lead employer: Coppice Alupack Ltd
Coppice is an exceptional employer that fosters a culture of collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement, making it an ideal place for professionals looking to make a significant impact in Sales & Operations Planning. With opportunities to lead cross-functional teams across two dynamic manufacturing sites, employees benefit from a supportive environment that prioritises personal growth, innovative thinking, and strategic influence on business decisions. Join us to be part of a forward-thinking organisation committed to sustainability and excellence, where your contributions will be valued and recognised.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land S&OP Lead
✨Join Supply Chain Meetups
Get yourself out there by attending supply chain meetups and industry events. It's a great way to meet fellow professionals, learn about trends, and maybe even hear about job openings before they’re posted online.
✨Show Off Your Skills on LinkedIn
Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities! Post insights or articles on LinkedIn about supply chain challenges or solutions you’re passionate about. This not only showcases your expertise but can catch the eye of recruiters looking for someone like you.
✨Engage with Supply Chain Communities
Dive into online communities related to supply chain operations like forums or groups on Reddit and LinkedIn. Engaging in discussions can help you network, get advice, and you might even stumble upon some hidden job opportunities.
✨Apply through Our Website
When you spot a position at Coppice Alupack Ltd, make sure to apply through our website directly. It's often the quickest way to get your application in front of the right people and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role of S&OP Lead.
We think you need these skills to ace S&OP Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supply chain operations. Whether it’s managing logistics or coordinating with suppliers, we want to see examples of how you've navigated the complexities of the supply chain. Concrete achievements, like reducing costs or improving delivery times, will definitely catch our eye!
Quantify Your Impact:When listing your previous roles on your CV, go for numbers! Mention percentages or actual figures where possible—like how much you've improved efficiency or reduced waste. It's all about showing us the tangible impact you've made in your past positions in supply chain operations.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don’t just regurgitate your CV. Instead, connect your experiences specifically to the role at Coppice Alupack Ltd. Share why you're passionate about supply chain operations and how this full-time role aligns with your career goals—I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear that!
Research and Reflect:Before you apply, take some time to research Coppice Alupack Ltd and its supply chain operations. Reflect on how your skills and experiences can fit into their operations. Being able to discuss their challenges and how you can contribute to solving them in your application will really make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at Coppice Alupack Ltd
✨Know Your Basics in Supply Chain Management
Make sure you've got a solid grasp of key supply chain concepts like demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics. We could be quizzed on these during technical rounds, so brush up on any software tools commonly used in the industry like SAP or Oracle. This knowledge will help us show we can hit the ground running!
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss real-world scenarios where you've used data analysis to solve supply chain challenges. If you've got experience with tools like Excel or Tableau, get ready to talk about how you've used these to optimise processes or improve efficiencies. Employers love seeing that we can turn data into actionable insights!
✨Highlight Your Teamwork and Project Management Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Think of examples where you've worked on cross-functional teams or managed projects. Sharing how you navigated challenges while working with diverse groups will show that we can thrive in a dynamic environment like at Coppice Alupack Ltd.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by Coppice Alupack Ltd
Look into any unique supply chain challenges Coppice Alupack Ltd might be facing, whether it's sustainability, supplier relationships, or global disruptions. Being prepared to discuss these topics shows that we're not only informed but also genuinely interested in how we can contribute to their success. That’s a big plus in any interview!
