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- Tasks: Create and manage production schedules in a fast-paced food manufacturing environment.
- Company: Join a well-established food manufacturing business in Northern Ireland.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, stable role, and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on production planning and customer satisfaction.
- Qualifications: Experience in food production planning and strong Excel skills required.
- Other info: Collaborative team environment with a focus on continuous improvement.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 42000 £ per year.
Vickerstock are working in partnership with a well-established and highly regarded food manufacturing business in Northern Ireland to recruit a Production Planner for their site in Craigavon. This is a key role within the operations function, offering the opportunity to take ownership of production planning across multiple manufacturing lines in a fast-paced, short shelf-life environment. The successful candidate will play a critical part in ensuring customer demand is met efficiently, safely and in line with exacting quality standards.
What's on offer:
- Circa £35k, reflective of experience
- A stable, permanent role within a growing and well-invested food manufacturing business
- The opportunity to work in a collaborative, hands-on operations environment
- Long-term career development within supply chain and operations
Your day to day:
- Reporting to the Supply Chain / Operations Manager, the Production Planner will be responsible for translating customer demand into robust, achievable production schedules while balancing capacity, materials and labour.
- Developing and maintaining daily, weekly and monthly production plans across manufacturing lines
- Converting forecasts and sales orders into efficient, realistic production schedules
- Working closely with Production, Technical, Quality, Engineering and Procurement teams to ensure plan adherence
- Monitoring raw material and packaging availability and proactively highlighting risks or shortages
- Adjusting plans to manage equipment downtime, labour constraints or changes in demand
- Ensuring all production plans align with food safety, hygiene, allergen and quality requirements
- Tracking and reporting KPIs such as OTIF, waste and schedule adherence
- Supporting continuous improvement initiatives to optimise capacity, reduce waste and improve efficiency
- Maintaining accurate planning data within ERP / MRP systems
- Scheduling NPD and sample runs within the weekly plan
- Communicating plans clearly to production teams and senior stakeholders
Your essential ingredients:
- Experience in a production planning or scheduling role within food manufacturing (dessert or bakery experience highly advantageous)
- Strong understanding of production processes and capacity planning
- Experience working with ERP / MRP systems and strong Excel capability
- Excellent organisational and problem-solving skills
- Strong communicator with the ability to influence cross-functionally
- Comfortable working in a fast-moving, short shelf-life manufacturing environment
Even better if you have this, but not a deal breaker:
- Experience within dessert, bakery, chilled or frozen food manufacturing
- Knowledge of food safety standards such as BRC, HACCP and major retailer requirements
- Relevant supply chain or planning qualifications (APICS, CIPS or similar)
- Experience working with chilled, frozen or ambient food products.
If you are a Production Planner looking for your next move within food manufacturing or keen to step into a business where planning genuinely makes a difference, I would be keen to have a confidential conversation. Interested in finding out more? Contact Paul Muir to discuss this opportunity in complete confidence on T: 028 9031 3720, or submit an updated CV via the link on the page.
Production Planner in Craigavon employer: Vickerstock
Contact Detail:
Vickerstock Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Production Planner in Craigavon
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to folks in the food manufacturing industry, especially those who work in production planning. A friendly chat can lead to insider info about job openings that aren't even advertised yet.
✨Tip Number 2
Get your hands dirty with some practical experience. If you can, volunteer or take on short-term projects related to production planning. This not only boosts your CV but also shows potential employers your commitment and passion for the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by brushing up on your knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and food safety standards. Be ready to discuss how you've tackled challenges in previous roles, especially in fast-paced environments. We want to see your problem-solving skills in action!
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged in their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Production Planner in Craigavon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Production Planner role. Highlight your experience in food manufacturing and any relevant skills that match the job description. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t just list your skills; demonstrate them! Use specific examples from your past roles that show your problem-solving abilities and how you've successfully managed production schedules. This helps us see you in action.
Keep It Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate straightforward communication, so avoid jargon and make sure your key points stand out. This will help us understand your fit for the role quickly.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen on joining our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Vickerstock
✨Know Your Production Planning Inside Out
Make sure you brush up on your production planning knowledge, especially in the food manufacturing sector. Be ready to discuss how you've translated customer demand into production schedules and how you’ve tackled challenges like equipment downtime or material shortages.
✨Familiarise Yourself with ERP/MRP Systems
Since experience with ERP/MRP systems is crucial for this role, take some time to review the systems you’ve used in the past. Be prepared to share specific examples of how you’ve maintained planning data and improved efficiency using these tools.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
As a Production Planner, you'll need to communicate plans effectively across teams. Practice articulating your thoughts clearly, and think of examples where your communication skills helped influence cross-functional teams or resolved issues.
✨Show Your Problem-Solving Skills
Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved problems in a fast-paced environment. Highlight your organisational skills and how you’ve managed to balance capacity, materials, and labour while ensuring quality standards are met.
