Material & Production Planner

The Material & Production Planner will oversee and coordinate the daily and weekly production plan, volume and capacity forecasting, and raw material supply to support ongoing manufacturing operations. This role is critical in preventing delays by ensuring materials are available at the right time, maintaining forward production plans, optimising stock levels, and meeting established delivery targets.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

Create and manage detailed production schedules to meet customer demand and delivery deadlines.
Balance capacity and volume requirements to optimise manufacturing flow.

Material Management

Forecast and schedule inbound materials and components to maintain appropriate stock levels without overstocking.
Ensure material availability supports continuous production.

Cross-Functional Coordination

Liaise with procurement, production, customer service, logistics and engineering teams to maximise operational efficiency.
Work closely with external suppliers to minimise downtime and mitigate risks.

Demand & Capacity Forecasting

Maintain accurate short-, medium- and long-term forecasts.
Communicate demand changes and assess the impact on capacity and production plans.

Inventory Control

Monitor raw material and finished goods inventory.
Coordinate PI counts and ensure high levels of system stock accuracy.

Systems & MRP Management

Use MRP/ERP systems-such as SAP-to track inventory, manage purchase orders and monitor workflow.
Maintain and update system data to support accurate planning.

Continuous Improvement

Identify and implement process improvements to enhance flow, reduce waste and increase operational efficiency.
Support CI initiatives across production and supply chain activities.

Key Skills & Requirements

Ability to analyse complex datasets to understand performance metrics and identify optimisation opportunities.
Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to proactively address issues such as machine downtime, labour shortages, or supplier delays.
Regular collaboration with procurement, warehouse, engineering, suppliers and other internal stakeholders.
Highly organised with strong multitasking abilities.
Detail-oriented with a strong analytical mindset.
Extensive experience with ERP/MRP systems (SAP ideal but not essential).
Strong knowledge of supply chain, logistics, production planning and materials management.
Effective communication skills at all levels.
Experience working in fast-paced, time-critical manufacturing environments.

At Gleeson Recruitment Group, we embrace inclusivity and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We are proud to be a disability confident employer.

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