Supply Chain Planning Manager

Supply Chain Planning Manager | Production Planning & Operations (m/f/d)

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced Supply Chain Planning Manager to lead production planning activities and drive operational efficiency within an international manufacturing environment.

This is an opportunity for a supply chain professional who combines strong planning expertise, people leadership and a customer-focused mindset.

The successful candidate will play a key role in ensuring production efficiency, optimising resource utilisation and aligning manufacturing capabilities with customer demand and business priorities.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead, coach and develop a production planning team, fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

• Oversee factory production planning and scheduling activities, ensuring alignment between customer demand, manufacturing capacity and material availability.

• Define planning priorities, manage resources and ensure effective execution of production schedules.

• Drive improvements in delivery performance, inventory management, production efficiency and planning accuracy.

• Manage capacity constraints, material shortages and operational disruptions, implementing effective corrective actions.

• Act as a key interface between customers, Production, Procurement, Logistics and other operational stakeholders.

• Participate in customer meetings, providing visibility on production commitments, delivery schedules and potential supply risks.

• Use SAP to manage production planning, material requirements and scheduling activities.

• Ensure planning data accuracy, including material master data, bills of materials, routings and production orders.

• Contribute to Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes, supporting demand and supply alignment.

• Monitor operational KPIs, including on-time delivery, inventory levels, production lead times and planning performance.

• Identify opportunities for process optimisation, automation and continuous improvement across supply chain operations.

Your Profile

• Degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Engineering, Business Administration or a related discipline.

• At least 5 years of experience in production planning, supply chain planning or manufacturing operations.

• Previous experience leading, supervising or coordinating planning teams within an industrial environment.

• Strong understanding of production scheduling, material requirements planning (MRP), capacity planning and inventory management.

• Hands-on experience with SAP, particularly production planning and materials management functionalities.

• Proven ability to manage complex production priorities and respond effectively to changing customer requirements.

• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving capabilities.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, including experience interacting with customers.

• Ability to work effectively across Production, Procurement, Logistics and Quality functions.

• A proactive, structured and results-oriented approach.

• Knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma or continuous improvement methodologies would be an advantage.

What Sets You Apart

You are a supply chain leader who understands that effective production planning goes beyond schedules and systems.

You know how to balance customer expectations, manufacturing capabilities and operational constraints while keeping teams focused on delivery and performance.

You bring structure to complex environments, anticipate challenges and turn planning data into practical decisions.

Above all, you combine strong operational expertise with a collaborative leadership style and a commitment to delivering results.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Take ownership of production planning activities within an established international manufacturing environment.

• Lead and develop a dedicated planning team.

• Influence operational performance, customer delivery and supply chain efficiency.

• Work closely with cross-functional teams and contribute to business-critical decisions.

• Drive process improvements and strengthen planning capabilities through SAP and continuous improvement initiatives.

Interested in Exploring This Opportunity?

If you are an experienced Supply Chain Planning professional ready to take the next step in your leadership career, we would welcome a confidential conversation.

All applications and discussions will be handled with strict confidentiality.