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- Tasks: Lead supply planning in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment and optimise production.
- Company: Join a leading food manufacturing business with multiple sites across the UK.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, bonus, and benefits package in a collaborative culture.
- Why this job: Shape the future of supply planning and make a real impact in the food industry.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in senior supply planning roles within food or FMCG manufacturing.
- Other info: Opportunity for career growth and to lead a high-performing team.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
A leading food manufacturing business with multiple sites across the UK are looking for a Head of Supply Planning to join their team. As Head of Supply Planning you will lead supply planning across a fast-paced food manufacturing environment, ensuring the business consistently delivers outstanding customer service while optimising production capacity, inventory, waste, and cost. This is a senior leadership role responsible for translating demand into robust, executable supply plans across manufacturing, co-packing, and external suppliers. You will play a pivotal role in S&OP leadership, managing supply risk in a time-critical, short-shelf-life operation, and driving continuous improvement across planning processes and systems.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the end-to-end supply planning function within a food manufacturing operation.
- Own the supply side of S&OP, balancing demand, capacity, labour, materials, and inventory.
- Develop and maintain medium- and short-term supply plans across internal production lines and third-party partners.
- Drive inventory optimisation, minimising waste, obsolescence, and stock write-offs while protecting service.
- Manage capacity planning with a clear focus on labour, line efficiency, maintenance, and seasonal demand.
- Proactively identify supply risks (raw materials, packaging, production constraints) and implement mitigation plans.
- Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing supply planning team.
- Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Technical, and Commercial teams.
- Support and lead improvements to planning systems and ERP tools (e.g. SAP, D365, APO/IBP or similar).
- Champion continuous improvement, data accuracy, and planning best practice across the business.
About You
- Proven experience in a senior supply planning or supply chain leadership role within food or FMCG manufacturing.
- Strong understanding of short shelf-life products, service pressure, and production constraints.
- Demonstrated leadership of S&OP/IBP in complex, fast-moving environments.
- Track record of improving service levels, capacity utilisation, and inventory performance.
- Confident people leader with experience building capability and developing planners.
- Commercial, pragmatic, and comfortable influencing at senior leadership level.
Key Skills & Experience
- Supply planning & execution in food manufacturing
- S&OP / IBP leadership
- Capacity & labour planning
- Inventory optimisation & waste reduction
- Team leadership & stakeholder management
- ERP & planning systems (SAP, D365, APS tools)
- Continuous improvement & change management
What's on Offer
- A highly influential leadership role within a growing food manufacturing business
- Opportunity to shape and elevate the supply planning function
- Competitive salary, bonus, and benefits package
- Collaborative, operationally focused culture
To apply for the role please send your CV to Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates.
Head of Supply Planning employer: Robert Walters
Contact Detail:
Robert Walters Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Supply Planning
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry contacts on LinkedIn or at events. A friendly chat can lead to opportunities that aren’t even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its supply chain processes. Show them you understand their challenges and how you can help tackle them.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your experience in supply planning can directly benefit their operations. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed and shows you’re serious about joining the team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Supply Planning
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the job description. Highlight your experience in supply planning, especially in food manufacturing, and showcase how you've tackled challenges similar to those mentioned in the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you're the perfect fit for the Head of Supply Planning role. Share specific examples of your leadership in S&OP and how you've driven improvements in past roles.
Showcase Your Achievements: Quantify your successes! Whether it's improving service levels or optimising inventory, use numbers to back up your claims. This helps us see the impact you've made in previous positions.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Robert Walters
✨Know Your Supply Chain Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you brush up on your knowledge of supply chain management, especially in the food manufacturing sector. Be ready to discuss specific challenges related to short shelf-life products and how you've tackled them in the past.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a senior role, they’ll be looking for strong leadership qualities. Prepare examples of how you've led teams, improved processes, and influenced stakeholders. Highlight your experience with S&OP and how you've driven continuous improvement in previous roles.
✨Be Ready to Discuss Risk Management
Given the time-critical nature of the role, be prepared to talk about how you've identified and mitigated supply risks in the past. Think of specific instances where you successfully navigated challenges related to raw materials or production constraints.
✨Familiarise Yourself with ERP Tools
Since the role involves working with planning systems like SAP or D365, it’s crucial to demonstrate your proficiency with these tools. If you have experience with any specific ERP systems, be sure to mention it and discuss how you've used them to optimise inventory and improve service levels.
