Materials and Manufacturing Planner

Overview of the role

Due to continued growth and expansion, we are seeking to recruit an ambitious and motivated Materials and Manufacturing Planner to join our manufacturing team.

The Materials and Manufacturing Planner plays a key role in ensuring the effective planning of production activity and material availability across the manufacturing process. This role is responsible for developing and maintaining achievable production plans, coordinating material requirements, monitoring inventory levels, and working closely with procurement, manufacturing, stores, engineering, and operations teams to ensure customer demand is met on time and in full. The ideal candidate will have strong analytical and organisational skills, experience working with planning systems, and the ability to manage priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Key responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and review production plans and schedules in line with customer demand, capacity, and material availability.
• Plan and coordinate material requirements to support manufacturing output and minimise shortages, delays, and excess stock.
• Monitor inventory levels and collaborate with procurement and stores teams to ensure timely replenishment of raw materials and components.
• Use ERP, MRP, and planning systems to create, manage, and update manufacturing and material plans.
• Work closely with manufacturing, engineering, quality, and operations teams to align schedules with production priorities and operational constraints.
• Identify potential supply or capacity risks and escalate issues in a timely manner, supporting recovery plans to reduce impact on delivery performance.
• Produce planning reports, schedule updates, and forecast information for relevant stakeholders and senior management.
• Review customer demand, work orders, and production requirements to ensure plans remain accurate and achievable.
• Support continuous improvement activities within planning, scheduling, and material control processes to improve efficiency and service levels.
• Maintain accurate master data, planning parameters, and records to support effective scheduling and reporting.
• Participate in planning and production meetings, providing clear updates on material status, schedule adherence, and key risks.
• Ensure compliance with company standards, procedures, and Health & Safety requirements at all times.

Experience required

• Previous experience in a planning role within a manufacturing, production, supply chain, or materials environment.
• Strong understanding of production planning, material planning, inventory control, and scheduling principles.
• Experience using ERP/MRP systems and strong IT skills, including Excel, Word, and Outlook.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret data and respond to changing priorities.
• Good organisational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively across multiple teams.
• A proactive approach, attention to detail, and willingness to support continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ability to work independently while contributing positively as part of a wider team.