Production Planner

Location: Stonehouse & Stroud, Gloucestershire – split approximately 50/50 across both sites
Job Type: Permanent
Working Arrangement: Fully Site Based
Start: ASAP / Urgent Requirement
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Sponsorship: Please note that visa sponsorship is not available for this position
We are recruiting an experienced Production Planner to join an established manufacturing business operating across sites in Stonehouse and Stroud.
This is a fully site-based position, working approximately 50% from the Stonehouse site and 50% from the Stroud site. There is no hybrid or remote working arrangement for this role.
This is a key position within the manufacturing operation and requires a seasoned Production Planner who has extensive experience of planning within a busy production environment.
The successful candidate must have an excellent understanding of MRP principles. Experience of a particular software package is not essential; what is important is a thorough understanding of how MRP works, how planning data drives production requirements, and how to use an MRP system effectively to manage materials, capacity, priorities and production schedules.
The Role
Working closely with Production, Purchasing, Supply Chain and other operational teams, you will be responsible for developing and maintaining effective production plans to ensure customer requirements and manufacturing targets are achieved.
Responsibilities will include:
·Creating, maintaining and managing detailed production schedules
·Using MRP to plan manufacturing requirements and ensure materials are available in line with production demand
·Reviewing MRP outputs and taking appropriate planning action rather than simply relying on system-generated recommendations
·Balancing customer demand against material availability, production capacity and manufacturing constraints
·Identifying shortages, bottlenecks and potential production delays at an early stage
·Rescheduling and reprioritising production in response to changing requirements
·Working closely with Purchasing to resolve material shortages and supply issues
·Liaising with Production teams to understand capacity, workload and operational constraints
·Monitoring work in progress and ensuring production remains aligned with the agreed plan
·Maintaining accurate planning data within the MRP system
·Communicating priorities and changes clearly across the business
·Supporting improvements to planning processes, systems and overall production efficiency
The Candidate
We are specifically looking for an experienced Production Planner rather than someone looking to take their first step into planning.
You will need:
·Significant experience within production planning in a manufacturing environment
·Excellent practical knowledge of MRP principles and methodology
·The ability to understand the logic behind an MRP system and interrogate its outputs
·Strong experience of production scheduling, materials planning and capacity considerations
·Experience managing changing priorities within a busy manufacturing environment
·The confidence to challenge data, investigate discrepancies and make informed planning decisions
·Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively with Production, Purchasing and Supply Chain teams
·A methodical, organised approach with excellent attention to detail
·Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to anticipate issues before they impact production
Experience of a particular MRP or ERP package is not required. We are interested in candidates who genuinely understand MRP as a planning methodology and can transfer that knowledge between different systems.
Important Information
This position is fully site based and requires regular attendance at both the Stonehouse and Stroud facilities. Candidates must therefore be able to commute reliably to both locations.
Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. Applicants must already have the unrestricted right to work in the UK without requiring current or future sponsorship.
The Opportunity
This is a permanent opportunity with an established manufacturing business and is an urgent requirement.
It would particularly suit an experienced Production Planner who enjoys being close to manufacturing operations, understands how to turn demand into a workable production plan, and is confident using MRP as a genuine planning tool rather than simply an administrative system