At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead production planning across multiple sites, ensuring alignment with sales forecasts and demand signals.
- Company: Join pladis, a global leader in biscuits and confectionery with a commitment to quality and innovation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, diverse workforce, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of a dynamic team at one of the world's fastest-growing snacking companies.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a fast-paced environment while driving efficiency and team engagement.
- Qualifications: Extensive supply planning experience in food or FMCG, strong leadership, and analytical skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70089 £ per year.
Job Overview pladis is a global biscuits and confectionery business dedicated to delivering high quality products while investing in its people, technology and people.
The Head of Supply Operational Planning is a senior leadership role responsible for end‑to‑end production planning across a multi‑site manufacturing network.
The role delivers high customer service while optimising cost per tonne, working capital and workforce efficiency across six production sites and a central distribution centre.
It reports directly to the Director of Customer Supply & Operational Planning UKI and is a key member of the leadership team.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead end‑to‑end production planning across the manufacturing network, ensuring supply activities are fully aligned with sales forecasts and demand signals.
- Develop and execute integrated supply plans for six production sites, a co‑packing centre and the central distribution centre.
- Own the production planning strategy for all product categories and manufacturing lines, optimising volume allocation across sites to maximise efficiency, capacity utilisation and service.
- Translate sales forecasts and demand planning signals into actionable production plans in partnership with Demand Planning, Commercial and Finance teams.
- Lead monthly and weekly planning cycles, including S&OP and IBP processes, detailed production scheduling, line sequencing and capacity balancing.
- Drive standardisation of planning processes and tools across all manufacturing sites.
- Own finished goods and WIP inventory strategy across the network, balancing service levels, working capital and waste reduction.
- Act as the central coordination point across production sites and the distribution centre, managing inter‑site flows and stock transfers to support network optimisation.
- Define and track key KPIs such as service level / OTIF, factory CTP, schedule adherence, inventory turns and waste.
- Lead and develop a high‑performing supply planning community, building capability in systems (OMP, SAP), tools and analytical skills while fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Champion the use of planning systems (OMP & SAP) to improve visibility, accuracy and efficiency, and drive process improvement initiatives including digital transformation.
- Key Success Measures
- Improved service levels and OTIF performance
- High alignment between forecast and production plans
- Optimised inventory levels and reduced waste
- Increased efficiency and utilisation across production sites
- Strong team engagement and capability growth
Qualifications, Education and Experience
- Extensive experience in supply planning within a food or FMCG manufacturing environment.
- Proven leadership experience in multi‑site production planning.
- Strong understanding of S&OP / Integrated Business Planning processes and ability to align supply plans with demand signals and commercial priorities.
- Deep knowledge of production planning, capacity management and inventory optimisation.
- Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills with experience managing planning across complex, multi‑product, multi‑line operations.
- Familiarity with advanced planning systems such as SAP, OMP, APO/IBP, Kinaxis or Blue Yonder.
- Experience driving transformation or process improvement initiatives.
- Strategic thinker with strong operational execution capability and stakeholder management and influencing skills.
- Resilient and adaptable in a fast‑paced environment, with a data‑driven mindset.
- Collaborative leadership style and ability to grow high‑performing teams.
Equal Opportunity Employer pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce.
All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.
About pladis pladis is one of the world’s fastest growing snacking companies, home to brands such as Mc Vitie’s, GODIVA, Ülker, Jacob’s, Go Ahead, Flipz, Turtles, BN, Verkade and many more.
The company operates 27 bakeries across 11 countries and employs 16,000 people worldwide, with a purpose to ‘bring happiness with every bite’.
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Head of Operational Supply Planning in London employer: pladis Foods Limited
At pladis, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a vibrant work culture that fosters collaboration and accountability. Our commitment to employee growth is evident through our robust training programmes and clear pathways for career advancement, all while working in a dynamic environment that values diversity and inclusion. Join us in our mission to bring happiness to the world, where your contributions will be recognised and rewarded in a fast-growing global biscuits and confectionery business.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Operational Supply Planning in London
✨Join Supply Chain Meetups
Get yourself out there by attending supply chain meetups and industry events. It's a great way to meet fellow professionals, learn about trends, and maybe even hear about job openings before they’re posted online.
✨Show Off Your Skills on LinkedIn
Don’t just sit back and wait for opportunities! Post insights or articles on LinkedIn about supply chain challenges or solutions you’re passionate about. This not only showcases your expertise but can catch the eye of recruiters looking for someone like you.
✨Engage with Supply Chain Communities
Dive into online communities related to supply chain operations like forums or groups on Reddit and LinkedIn. Engaging in discussions can help you network, get advice, and you might even stumble upon some hidden job opportunities.
✨Apply through Our Website
When you spot a position at pladis Foods Limited, make sure to apply through our website directly. It's often the quickest way to get your application in front of the right people and show that you’re genuinely interested in the role of Head of Operational Supply Planning.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Operational Supply Planning in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Supply Chain Savvy:Make sure to highlight your relevant experience in supply chain operations. Whether it’s managing logistics or coordinating with suppliers, we want to see examples of how you've navigated the complexities of the supply chain. Concrete achievements, like reducing costs or improving delivery times, will definitely catch our eye!
Quantify Your Impact:When listing your previous roles on your CV, go for numbers! Mention percentages or actual figures where possible—like how much you've improved efficiency or reduced waste. It's all about showing us the tangible impact you've made in your past positions in supply chain operations.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:In your cover letter, don’t just regurgitate your CV. Instead, connect your experiences specifically to the role at pladis Foods Limited. Share why you're passionate about supply chain operations and how this full-time role aligns with your career goals—I mean, who wouldn’t want to hear that!
Research and Reflect:Before you apply, take some time to research pladis Foods Limited and its supply chain operations. Reflect on how your skills and experiences can fit into their operations. Being able to discuss their challenges and how you can contribute to solving them in your application will really make you stand out!
How to prepare for a job interview at pladis Foods Limited
✨Know Your Basics in Supply Chain Management
Make sure you've got a solid grasp of key supply chain concepts like demand forecasting, inventory management, and logistics. We could be quizzed on these during technical rounds, so brush up on any software tools commonly used in the industry like SAP or Oracle. This knowledge will help us show we can hit the ground running!
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to discuss real-world scenarios where you've used data analysis to solve supply chain challenges. If you've got experience with tools like Excel or Tableau, get ready to talk about how you've used these to optimise processes or improve efficiencies. Employers love seeing that we can turn data into actionable insights!
✨Highlight Your Teamwork and Project Management Skills
In a full-time role, collaboration is key. Think of examples where you've worked on cross-functional teams or managed projects. Sharing how you navigated challenges while working with diverse groups will show that we can thrive in a dynamic environment like at pladis Foods Limited.
✨Research Specific Challenges Faced by pladis Foods Limited
Look into any unique supply chain challenges pladis Foods Limited might be facing, whether it's sustainability, supplier relationships, or global disruptions. Being prepared to discuss these topics shows that we're not only informed but also genuinely interested in how we can contribute to their success. That’s a big plus in any interview!
