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- Tasks: Lead production scheduling and manage a small team in a fast-paced bakery environment.
- Company: Join Finsbury Food Group, a leading UK bakery known for delicious sharing cakes.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, enhanced leave, retail discounts, and extensive learning opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on production efficiency while working in a supportive team culture.
- Qualifications: Experience in scheduling, strong leadership skills, and proficiency in Excel and MRP tools required.
- Other info: Opportunity for career progression in a growing organisation with a focus on employee development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
We have an exciting opportunity to join our Supply Chain function as a Senior Production Scheduler at our Memory Lane Cakes site in Cardiff, part of the Finsbury Food Group. This is a hands-on leadership role, ideal for someone with strong planning and organisational skills who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is ready to take ownership of production scheduling on site. Every day is different, and this role offers the chance to lead a small, focused team, contribute to continuous improvement (CI) initiatives, and directly influence production efficiency and customer satisfaction.
Our Memory Lane Cakes site is one of our cake bakeries within Finsbury Food Group. We make a large percentage of the UK's sharing cakes from retailer own brands cakes, tray bakes through to party cakes like Caterpillar cakes. They employ over 850 people on site and the site runs 24/7, which encompasses a culture of teamwork, friendly and respectful leadership and a focus on Continuous Improvement at all levels.
This is what you'll actually do! As a Senior Production Scheduler, you will be responsible for producing and publishing accurate production plans that align with customer needs while maintaining operational efficiency. You’ll be the bridge between the scheduling function and manufacturing, ensuring that production runs smoothly and efficiently. You’ll lead a small team of on-site schedulers, supporting their development while ensuring that daily plans are executed effectively and deliver on our OTIF (On Time In Full) goals. A key challenge in this role is managing the complexities of short shelf-life fresh food products, where tight timelines and planning accuracy are critical to minimising waste and ensuring delivery success. You’ll work closely with key internal stakeholders including manufacturing, supply planning, NPD, logistics, and distribution, providing proactive scheduling support and ensuring alignment across the operation. You’ll also have the opportunity to get involved in CI projects that drive value across the site.
Strong systems knowledge is essential – you’ll need to be proficient in Excel, MRP tools, and ideally Optimity. Familiarity with M3 would be advantageous but isn’t essential.
Ideally, this is you:
- Experienced in a similar scheduling or planning role, ideally in FMCG or food manufacturing
- A strong team leader with people management experience
- Self-motivated, ambitious, and looking for career progression
- Confident communicator who works well under pressure and prioritises effectively
- Highly organised with a sharp eye for detail and a commitment to high standards
- IT literate, comfortable using Excel, MRP systems, and planning tools like Optimity
- Degree-level qualification preferred (especially in a Supply Chain-related discipline)
What’s in it for you?
- Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
- Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees
- Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families)
- Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform!
- Company shop available at sites (heavily discounted, yummy products!)
- Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – t&cs dependent)
- Employee Recognition Awards
- Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in-house development course!)
- An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation.
Our vision is to be the leading speciality bakery group in the UK and we want the best people in place to achieve this. Our continued success is built entirely on the talented people who work here, so employee development is important to us because everyone is a valued member of the team and we want every individual to have the skills and capabilities to achieve both your own personal goals and our business goals. We want good people to join our company, to help our company continue to go from strength to strength. If this sounds like you, please get in contact to learn more!
Senior Production Scheduler employer: Finsbury Food Group
Contact Detail:
Finsbury Food Group Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Production Scheduler
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific challenges of scheduling in the food manufacturing sector, especially regarding short shelf-life products. Understanding these nuances will help you demonstrate your expertise during discussions.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the FMCG and food manufacturing industries. Engaging with others in similar roles can provide insights into best practices and may even lead to referrals for the position.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your Excel and MRP tool skills, particularly Optimity. Being able to showcase your proficiency in these systems during interviews will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your leadership style and how you've successfully managed teams in high-pressure environments. Highlighting your experience in team development will resonate well with the hiring managers.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Production Scheduler
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in scheduling or planning roles, particularly in FMCG or food manufacturing. Emphasise your leadership skills and any specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to manage teams and improve operational efficiency.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your passion for food and operations. Discuss how your skills align with the responsibilities of the Senior Production Scheduler role, particularly your experience with production planning and your ability to work under pressure.
Highlight Relevant Skills: In your application, be sure to mention your proficiency in Excel, MRP tools, and any experience with planning software like Optimity. If you have familiarity with M3, include that as well, as it could set you apart from other candidates.
Showcase Continuous Improvement Experience: If you have been involved in Continuous Improvement projects, make sure to detail these experiences in your application. Explain how your contributions led to enhanced efficiency or reduced waste, as this aligns closely with the expectations of the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Finsbury Food Group
✨Showcase Your Planning Skills
As a Senior Production Scheduler, your ability to create accurate production plans is crucial. Be prepared to discuss specific examples from your past experience where you successfully managed scheduling complexities, particularly in fast-paced environments like FMCG or food manufacturing.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Experience
This role involves leading a small team of schedulers. Highlight your previous leadership roles and how you've supported team development. Share instances where you motivated your team to achieve goals, especially in high-pressure situations.
✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement Initiatives
The company values continuous improvement, so be ready to talk about any CI projects you've been involved in. Discuss how these initiatives improved efficiency or reduced waste, particularly in relation to short shelf-life products.
✨Be IT Savvy
Strong systems knowledge is essential for this position. Familiarise yourself with Excel, MRP tools, and planning software like Optimity. During the interview, mention your proficiency with these tools and how they have helped you in previous roles to enhance production scheduling.
