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- Tasks: Lead a dynamic planning team to optimise production and inventory in a fast-paced environment.
- Company: Join Danish Crown, a global leader in food production with a culture of trust and teamwork.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, early finishes on Fridays, and a strong work-life balance.
- Other info: Be part of a supportive team that values your ideas and fosters career growth.
- Why this job: Drive digital transformation and make a real impact on sustainability and efficiency.
- Qualifications: Experience in production planning and strong leadership skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 55000 £ per year.
Lead a system-driven planning function to synchronise production, raw materials and customer demand in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
What you will be doing
- As the Planning Manager, you will be the architect of our operational flow, ensuring our factory operates with precision across short-term execution (0–13 weeks) and long-term strategic horizons (up to 78 weeks).
- You will lead a dedicated planning team, fostering a culture of cross-training and flexibility to ensure 100% operational resilience.
- Production & Inventory Control: Oversee production scheduling, feedstock procurement, and dry goods supply while maintaining strict control over shelf life and working capital.
- System Leadership: Drive a "system-led" environment by maximising the use of ERP, MOM, and SAP IBP platforms to reduce manual reliance and improve data accuracy.
- Strategic Collaboration: Challenge forecast assumptions with commercial teams and work alongside Operations to optimise raw material yields and manufacturing efficiency.
- Team Development: Upskill and rotate your team members to ensure they are capable of covering all planning responsibilities, maintaining continuity during peak periods.
What you will bring
- We are looking for a structured, analytical leader who can balance the technical demands of supply chain systems with the interpersonal skills required to influence stakeholders across the business.
- Experience: Proven background in production or supply planning within a manufacturing setting – ideally food production – with specific experience in leading and developing resilient teams.
- Hard Skills: High proficiency in ERP, MOM, or advanced planning systems (such as SAP APO/IBP) and a deep technical understanding of inventory management and yield optimisation.
- Soft Skills: A constructive and influential communicator who is comfortable challenging data-driven assumptions and remains calm in a fast-paced operational environment.
Why join us
At Danish Crown, you won’t just be managing a schedule; you will be the driving force behind a digital transformation in our planning department. This role offers significant autonomy to shape a system-driven culture and the opportunity to have a direct impact on the efficiency and sustainability of our production processes. You will be joining a supportive leadership team that values transparency and operational excellence, providing a platform for you to grow your career within a global food leader. Beyond the professional challenge, we offer a work-life balance that respects your time. With a competitive salary of £55,000 and an early finish every Friday, we ensure you have the space to recharge. You will work in an environment where your expertise is respected, your ideas are heard, and your contribution to delivering food people believe in is truly valued.
About us
Danish Crown UK is a business built on trust, teamwork and ambition. We exist to deliver food that people believe in, and we know that takes strong leadership and collaborative cultures. Our leadership principles guide us. We act for the good of the whole organisation. We hire brilliant people and help them grow. We are ambitious, curious and open to new ideas. We build trust by accepting mistakes as part of development. We believe real leadership is earned through example, not title. Whoever joins us will help create a workplace where people feel safe to speak up, share ideas, challenge old ways of working and stretch themselves to achieve more. If that sounds like the environment where you thrive, we would love to hear from you.
Planning Manager employer: Friland
Contact Detail:
Friland Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Planning Manager
✨Network Like a Pro
Get out there and connect with people in the industry! Attend events, join relevant groups on LinkedIn, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current employees at Danish Crown. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised.
✨Show Off Your Skills
When you get the chance to meet potential employers, make sure to highlight your experience with ERP and inventory management systems. Share specific examples of how you've optimised processes in the past – this will show them you’re the structured, analytical leader they need!
✨Prepare for the Interview
Do your homework on Danish Crown and their operations. Understand their values and how they align with your own. Prepare questions that show you’re genuinely interested in their planning function and how you can contribute to their digital transformation.
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply directly through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re proactive and really keen on joining the team at Danish Crown.
We think you need these skills to ace Planning Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the Planning Manager role. Highlight your background in production or supply planning, especially if you have experience in food production. We want to see how you can lead a team and drive operational excellence!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for our team. Talk about your leadership style, your experience with ERP systems, and how you can foster a culture of resilience and flexibility within our planning function.
Showcase Your Soft Skills: While hard skills are important, don’t forget to highlight your soft skills too! We’re looking for someone who can communicate effectively and challenge assumptions. Share examples of how you've influenced stakeholders and maintained calm in fast-paced environments.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates. Plus, we love seeing applications come in through our own platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at Friland
✨Know Your Systems
Make sure you brush up on your knowledge of ERP, MOM, and SAP IBP platforms. Be ready to discuss how you've used these systems in past roles to improve data accuracy and reduce manual processes. This will show that you're not just familiar with the tools but can leverage them effectively.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples of how you've led and developed teams in a fast-paced environment. Highlight your approach to fostering a culture of cross-training and flexibility, as this aligns perfectly with what they're looking for in a Planning Manager.
✨Be Ready to Challenge Assumptions
Since the role involves collaborating with commercial teams and challenging forecast assumptions, think of instances where you've successfully done this before. Demonstrating your ability to influence stakeholders and drive strategic discussions will set you apart.
✨Emphasise Your Analytical Skills
As a structured and analytical leader, be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've balanced technical demands with interpersonal skills. Share how you've optimised raw material yields and manufacturing efficiency, showcasing your problem-solving abilities in real-world scenarios.