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- Tasks: Lead demand planning and oversee multi-site teams to drive strategic insights.
- Company: Join a stable, growth-focused business with an international presence.
- Benefits: Enjoy leadership autonomy, career growth, and a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Make impactful decisions while fostering an inclusive and supportive environment.
- Qualifications: Level 7 qualification in Supply Chain or Engineering; experience in planning required.
- Other info: Fluency in French is a plus; full right to work in the UK needed.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 98000 £ per year.
Are you a collaborative leader who thrives on aligning strategy, data, and people? Join our client to shape demand planning across a diverse international team.
As the Central Planning Manager, you will oversee all planning activities across European manufacturing sites, ensuring forecasts align with capacity and financial targets. Leading a multi-site team, you'll deliver accurate, data-driven insights and drive the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process. This high-impact role supports key decisions across Sales, Operations, Finance, and the Executive Committee. Success will require inclusive leadership, technical expertise, and a commitment to transparency and collaboration.
Benefits:
- Strategic Influence - High-impact role with direct input into executive decisions.
- Leadership Autonomy - Lead and shape a multinational planning team.
- Inclusive Culture - Work in a collaborative, diverse, and supportive environment.
- Career Growth - Access to mentorship, development, and major transformation projects.
- Global Scope - Operate across international sites in a stable, growth-focused business.
Responsibilities:
- Strategic Planning & Forecasting: Lead demand and supply planning, ensuring an accurate and integrated S&OP and Master Production Schedule (MPS) for all product lines across sites.
- Sales Forecast Ownership: Publish monthly sales data and rolling forecasts (3-year view), incorporating risks and opportunities.
- Operational Risk Management: Identify and escalate capacity constraints and risks via the Industrial Operations Risk Register and weekly P&L meetings.
- Executive Reporting: Present monthly S&OP outcomes, progress updates and forecast variances to the Executive Team.
- Cross-Functional Communication: Serve as the planning focal point for senior leaders, providing insight to guide investment and operational decisions.
- Leadership: Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership to the planning team. Foster a culture of excellence, inclusion, development, and collaboration.
- Process Improvement & Systems: Drive standardisation, automation (RPA, AI), and optimisation of planning processes. Shape the long-term vision of the planning function, including ERP upgrade preparation.
- Cross-Site Coordination: Align planning cycles across factories, integrating commercial inputs, sales forecasts, and capacity plans.
- Performance Reporting: Monitor and analyse key performance metrics including factory utilisation, headcount alignment, and OP performance.
Requirements:
Essential
- Level 7 qualification in Supply Chain, Engineering, or related field.
- Significant experience in demand/supply planning or high-level project management in a manufacturing or engineering context.
- Expertise in S&OP processes and scenario planning.
- Proficiency in planning software and tools (SAP, Ortems, Tableau, Excel).
- Experience leading multi-site, international teams.
- Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Highly organised, adaptable, and analytically strong.
- Basic grasp of French.
- Full right to work in the UK.
Desirable
- Fluency in French (preferred but not essential).
- Familiarity with financial reporting and forecasting.
- Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, or CI methodologies.
How to apply:
To apply for this excellent opportunity, please send your CV or contact Rob Hutchings at (phone number removed).
Central Planning Manager employer: Insignis
Contact Detail:
Insignis Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Central Planning Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the S&OP process and be prepared to discuss your experience in leading these initiatives. Highlight any specific examples where you've successfully aligned strategy and operations, as this is crucial for the Central Planning Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Showcase your leadership skills by preparing to discuss how you've managed multi-site teams in the past. Be ready to share your approach to fostering collaboration and inclusivity within diverse teams, as this aligns with the company's values.
✨Tip Number 3
Brush up on your knowledge of planning software and tools like SAP and Tableau. Being able to demonstrate your proficiency in these systems during discussions will set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss your analytical skills and how you've used data-driven insights to influence decision-making. This role requires a strong grasp of performance metrics, so be ready to provide examples of how you've monitored and improved operational performance.
We think you need these skills to ace Central Planning Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in demand and supply planning, especially in a manufacturing or engineering context. Use keywords from the job description to demonstrate your fit for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Write a cover letter that showcases your leadership skills and experience with S&OP processes. Explain how your background aligns with the responsibilities of the Central Planning Manager and express your enthusiasm for the role.
Highlight Technical Proficiency: Emphasise your proficiency in planning software and tools such as SAP, Ortems, Tableau, and Excel. Provide specific examples of how you've used these tools to drive process improvements or enhance forecasting accuracy.
Showcase Leadership Experience: Detail your experience leading multi-site, international teams. Highlight any achievements that demonstrate your ability to foster a culture of collaboration and excellence within a diverse team.
How to prepare for a job interview at Insignis
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Central Planning Manager, you'll be leading a multi-site team. Be prepared to discuss your leadership style and provide examples of how you've successfully managed teams in the past, especially in a collaborative environment.
✨Demonstrate Your Technical Expertise
Familiarise yourself with S&OP processes and the planning software mentioned in the job description, such as SAP and Tableau. Be ready to discuss how you've used these tools to drive data-driven insights and improve planning processes.
✨Prepare for Cross-Functional Scenarios
Since this role involves significant cross-functional communication, think of examples where you've effectively collaborated with other departments. Highlight how you provided insights that influenced key decisions in sales, operations, or finance.
✨Understand the Company’s Global Scope
Research the company's international operations and be prepared to discuss how you would align planning cycles across different sites. Showing an understanding of global supply chain dynamics will demonstrate your readiness for this high-impact role.
