Production Planner in Reading

Your new company Hays are working with a business in Staffordshire on an exciting new role. They are looking to recruit a Production Planner to lead, control, and develop the planning function to ensure customer requirements are consistently achieved in full, on time, and in the most cost-effective and efficient manner. The role is responsible for aligning production planning, materials scheduling, and forecasting processes while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, quality, and legal compliance.

Your new role As a Production Planner Planning & Forecasting:

• Review sales orders and forecast data to establish short to medium-term planning parameters (including a 21-day planning horizon) and provide longer-term direction to the business.
• Develop and communicate daily and weekly production plans, ensuring alignment with operational capacity and customer demand.
• Collate and analyse product demand to support accurate production planning.
• Maintain finished goods stock plans, ensuring availability to meet all customer requirements while adhering to agreed stockholding levels.

Materials & Supply Chain Coordination:

• Ensure raw material supplier parameters and lead times are established and managed effectively to support business requirements.
• Provide guidance and support to the Materials Scheduler to ensure continuity of supply.
• Oversee inventory control processes to ensure optimal stock levels and minimise waste.
• Attend and contribute to daily production meetings, reporting on production plans, stock levels, key performance indicators (KPIs), waste, and risks.
• Identify and manage risks that may impact food safety, health & safety, service levels, or operational efficiency.
• Ensure a robust production build and delivery plan is executed, including seasonal demand planning (e.g., peak periods such as Christmas).
• Provide coaching, support, and development opportunities to enable team success.
• Ensure adequate coverage for planning functions during absence (holiday, sickness, training).
• Ensure all activities are carried out in full compliance with food safety, quality standards, and relevant legislation.
• Uphold the highest standards of integrity in all processes and controls.
• Ensure adherence to technical procedures relating to raw material handling, frozen and up-tempered products, and production controls.
• Support business-wide continuous improvement initiatives, systems development, and cost reduction programmes.
• Contribute to long-term strategic goals aligned with organisational planning frameworks and improvement roadmaps.
• Champion the organisation's strategic pillars (e.g., QVIP) within the team and across the site.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, procedures, and standards.
• Undertake any training or development activities required to fulfil the responsibilities of the role.
• Carry out additional duties as reasonably required by the business.

What you'll need to succeed:

• Demonstrable experience in supply chain, planning, or production scheduling within an FMCG environment, preferably food manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of production planning, materials scheduling, and capacity management.
• Experience using ERP systems (e.g., MS Navision or equivalent).
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Proven ability to lead, manage, and develop teams.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to influence and negotiate effectively across functions.
• High attention to detail and organisational ability.
• Proactive, results-driven approach with a continuous improvement mindset.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast-paced operational environment.

If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' to forward an up-to-date copy of your CV, or call us now. If this job isn't quite right for you, but you are looking for a new position, please contact us for a confidential discussion about your career.