Production Planner
Food Manufacturing
Leicester
£35,000 - Potential room for negotiation for the right candidate.
Shifts: Sunday – Wednesday (days)
You’re a Production Planner who likes being close to the action.
You want to know what’s happening on the shop floor, talk to the people running the lines, and see the direct impact of your plans - not sit behind a screen updating schedules no one follows.
That’s exactly what this role offers.
This is a well-established FMCG manufacturer operating across chilled and frozen retail, supplying major UK retailers. The business is pushing into 100s of £millions in turnover, producing anywhere up to 2 million units per week.
You’ll be joining a planning team in a busy factory with a significant headcount, operating on a Sunday – Wednesday shift, Initially, training up on M-F, with increasing autonomy as you settle in.
The role
You’ll sit at the heart of Supply Chain, owning short-term production planning in a fast-moving environment where most chilled orders are day 1 for day 2. Frozen production is planned separately, with stock held up to 4 weeks, giving you exposure to both reactive and stock-based planning models.
This is a hands-on planning role. You’ll be expected to spend time with the operational teams, challenge plans when needed, and ensure schedules are realistic, achievable, and delivered.
Key responsibilities include:
- Building and managing daily and weekly production schedules
- Finite scheduling in a mid-complexity manufacturing environment
- Working across low-risk to high-risk production areas, including some WIP
- Driving plan attainment and visibility (Redzone recently implemented)
- Supporting continuous improvement in planning processes and execution
- Working with an ERP currently part-way through a new system implementation, with APS / finite scheduling capability (Preactor experience would transfer well)
Why this role stands out
This business is in the middle of genuine change.
A new director has recently joined and has been tasked with significantly growing the business over the next 3-5 years. Actively reshaping how planning and supply chain work longer term. Processes will evolve, systems will improve, and planners here will help design what “good” looks like - not inherit something broken.
Culturally, it’s a strong place to work: collaborative, supportive, and pragmatic.
There is real scope for progression. As the business grows, they’re already planning to expand the team and internal moves into procurement or other supply chain functions are fully supported.
Your background?
- Experience in Production or Supply Chain Planning within fast paced food manufacturing.
- Comfortable working with short lead times and operational pressure
- ERP planning experience (APS / finite scheduling exposure a strong advantage)
- A planner who is visible, engaged, and confident interacting with factory teams
- Strong Excel and analytical skills
If you want a planning role where your decisions genuinely affect output, service, and performance and where you can grow as the business grows - this is worth a conversation.
Apply below.