Senior Production Planner in Pickering

Find out if this opportunity is a good fit by reading all of the information that follows below.

Location: Pickering, North Yorkshire

Type: Permanent | Full-time (Site-based)

Working Hours: 37 hours per week. Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm, Friday 8.30am to 4.00pm (30-minute unpaid lunch break)

Salary: Competitive (Dependent on Experience)

Benefits:

• 25 days annual leave plus 8 bank holidays
• 5% salary sacrifice pension scheme
• 2 x base salary life insurance
• Private healthcare
• Flexi-time available

Overview

A leading engineering and manufacturing organisation near Pickering is seeking a highly capable Senior Production Planner to lead and develop the planning function across operational areas. This is a key site-based role focused on ensuring optimal scheduling, resource planning and inventory management to meet customer delivery expectations. The successful candidate will play a pivotal part in production performance, working cross-functionally with key stakeholders including Production, Engineering, Projects, Sales and Procurement.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and develop the Planning team, managing day-to-day planning activities
• Collaborate with senior management to align operational planning with strategic goals
• Oversee and direct all Master Scheduling activity, incorporating demand forecasts into production plans
• Generate and maintain daily, weekly and monthly production status reports and dashboards
• Ensure effective MRP system use including maintenance of timing, routings and inventory parameters
• Support procurement processes, change order implementation and resolution of supply issues
• Maintain accurate inventory levels and monitor kit availability, stock thresholds and order increments
• Facilitate communication across departments to ensure visibility and accountability in planning
• Analyse capacity data to align staffing and production output to agreed delivery targets
• Maintain and enhance planning visual management tools to track KPIs and performance trends
• Drive improvements in on-time-in-full (OTIF) delivery and overall schedule adherence
• Support new product introduction and R&D planning activities
• Contribute to the organisation’s continuous improvement and lean initiatives
• Develop and monitor planning KPIs and provide data-driven insight to support decision making
• Assess production capacity and identify constraints, supporting load balancing and resource optimisation
• Manage works order creation, maintenance and closure in line with operational needs

Qualifications and Experience

Essential:

• Education in a technical or business management discipline
• Proven experience in production planning within a manufacturing or engineering setting
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in MRP/MRP II or ERP-based planning environments
• 5 years of leadership experience in planning or scheduling functions
• Working knowledge of production processes and ability to read and interpret engineering drawings

Desirable:

• Technical training or qualifications in project management
• Experience with Microsoft Dynamics Navision or similar ERP systems

Key Skills and Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of MRP system functionality and planning principles
• Advanced MS Excel skills (e.g. pivot tables, vlookups)
• Excellent organisational, communication and leadership skills
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement
• Ability to collaborate effectively across functions and levels
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to analyse and interpret performance metrics

QHSE Commitment

• Comply with health, safety and environmental policies and procedures
• Maintain responsibility and accountability through professional behaviour
• Report any unsafe acts or conditions to enable timely corrective actions

Additional Information

This is a site-based position offering a great opportunity to shape and lead planning operations in a technically innovative and quality-driven environment. You’ll be part of a team that values reliability, technical excellence and continuous improvement. If you are an experienced production planning professional ready to take on a senior role with influence and impact, we would welcome your application.