At a Glance
- Tasks: Create and manage production schedules to ensure smooth operations and timely deliveries.
- Company: Join Lightbody of Hamilton, the UK's largest celebration cake supplier with a rich baking heritage.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, enhanced maternity leave, and opportunities for career growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on continuous improvement and effective communication.
- Why this job: Be part of a dynamic team in a fast-paced environment where your contributions matter.
- Qualifications: Experience in production scheduling or factory operations, plus strong Excel skills.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
Location: Lightbody of Hamilton Ltd
Shift: Monday to Friday
Salary: Competitive with opportunity for growth
With over 135 years of craft baking heritage, Lightbody is proud to be the UK’s largest supplier of celebration cakes. From branded favourites like Disney, Mars, Universal and Thorntons to supermarket own-label products, we produce over 55 million cakes and sweet treats every year right here in Hamilton. This is a fantastic opportunity to join a dynamic, fast-paced manufacturing environment where quality, efficiency and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do.
This is what you'll actually do!
- As a Scheduler, you’ll be responsible for creating and managing daily and weekly production schedules, ensuring they align with customer demand, site capacity, and material availability.
- Your mission is to ensure production runs smoothly, efficiently, and delivers finished goods on time.
- You’ll work closely with Demand Planners, Production Teams, and Warehousing to ensure all schedules are realistic, achievable, and optimised for efficiency and service.
- You will play a key role in balancing customer demand, production capability, and operational cost.
- You’ll monitor live production performance and make real‑time schedule adjustments when issues occur such as machine breakdowns, material delays, staffing changes, or demand fluctuations.
- You’ll ensure all updates are accurately reflected in ERP/MRP systems so that all departments are working to the latest plan.
- You will act as a key communication link between departments, flagging risks such as late orders, capacity constraints, overtime requirements, or bottlenecks before they impact service levels.
- You will also support resolution of production planning issues by working cross‑functionally to ensure alignment and clarity.
- You’ll liaise directly with Demand Planners on delivery commitments, product launches, delists, stock levels, and customer requirements, ensuring scheduling decisions support both service and business priorities.
- You will actively monitor stock levels, including slow‑moving and short shelf‑life products, and work with planning teams to minimise waste and ensure optimal stock positioning.
- You’ll attend daily production meetings, provide clear updates on schedule performance, and support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance planning accuracy, efficiency, and overall scheduling performance.
Ideally this is you!
- Previous experience in production scheduling or factory operations within an FMCG or manufacturing environment.
- Experience of ERP/Scheduling tools.
- Experience in Excel to an intermediate level is essential.
- Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build effective working relationships.
- Confident communicator at all levels.
- Proactive, results‑driven mindset with the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced setting.
- Basic reading, writing, numeracy, and computer literacy skills.
What's in it for you? Enhanced Maternity
Scheduler employer: Finsbury Food Group
Lightbody of Hamilton Ltd is an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that prioritises quality and continuous improvement in a fast-paced manufacturing environment. With over 135 years of heritage, employees benefit from competitive salaries, enhanced maternity leave, and ample opportunities for professional growth, all while contributing to the production of beloved celebration cakes for renowned brands. Join us in Hamilton, where your role as a Scheduler will be pivotal in ensuring operational excellence and customer satisfaction.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Scheduler
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the industry, attend events, and connect with current employees at Lightbody. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by knowing your stuff! Research Lightbody’s products and their production processes. Show us you’re genuinely interested in how we operate and how you can contribute as a Scheduler.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As a Scheduler, you’ll need to liaise with various teams. Role-play common interview scenarios with a friend to boost your confidence and clarity.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team at Lightbody!
We think you need these skills to ace Scheduler
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Scheduler role. Highlight any previous experience in production scheduling or factory operations, and don’t forget to mention your skills with ERP/Scheduling tools and Excel. We want to see how you fit into our fast-paced environment!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the Scheduler position and how your skills align with our needs. Be sure to mention your proactive mindset and ability to thrive under pressure – we love that!
Show Off Your Communication Skills:As a Scheduler, you'll be the communication link between departments. In your application, give examples of how you've effectively communicated in past roles. We want to know how you handle challenges and keep everyone on the same page!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of getting noticed. It’s super easy, and you’ll be able to showcase your application in the best light. Plus, we love seeing applications come directly from our site!
How to prepare for a job interview at Finsbury Food Group
✨Know Your Scheduling Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your production scheduling knowledge. Familiarise yourself with ERP and MRP systems, as well as any specific tools mentioned in the job description. Being able to discuss your experience with these systems will show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
✨Show Off Your Communication Skills
As a Scheduler, you'll be the link between various departments. Prepare examples of how you've effectively communicated with teams in the past. Think about times when you resolved issues or improved processes through collaboration—this will highlight your interpersonal skills.
✨Be Ready for Real-Time Problem Solving
Expect questions about how you handle unexpected challenges, like machine breakdowns or material delays. Have a few scenarios in mind where you successfully adapted schedules on the fly. This will demonstrate your proactive mindset and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
✨Understand the Business Priorities
Research Lightbody of Hamilton Ltd and their products. Knowing their customer demands and production capabilities will help you align your answers with their business priorities. Show that you understand the importance of balancing efficiency with service levels in your responses.
