Production Planner / Senior Production Planner
SF Recruitment are working with a leading manufacturing business in Birmingham, who are looking for an experienced Production Planner to play a key role in delivering Production planning, inventory performance, and operational stability within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Part of a team, you will own end-to-end production planning, balancing customer demand, capacity constraints, and stock targets while working closely with Operations, Engineering, Sales, and Supply Chain.
Key Responsibilities
*Develop and manage robust production plans, schedules, and capacity models to meet customer demand and COTIF targets.
*Create manufacturing projections and stock profiles, identifying risks and proposing clear mitigation actions.
*Manage finished goods and component inventory in line with service and inventory KPIs.
*Support New Product Development, including ramp-ups, pilot builds, and transition to volume production.
*Implement and control Engineering Change Orders (ECOs) to minimise disruption and obsolete stock risk.
*Support obsolescence management, exit plans, and simplification initiatives.
*Work closely with Sales and customer-facing teams to communicate availability, lead times, and constraints.
*Drive continuous improvement in planning processes, including pull systems and Kanban where appropriate.
*Participate in regular demand, capacity, and service review meetings, highlighting risks and recovery plans.
About You
*Proven experience in production or manufacturing planning within a complex operational environment.
*Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the confidence to challenge and influence stakeholders.
*Comfortable managing multiple priorities and ambiguity in a dynamic setting.
*Commercially aware, understanding the impact of planning decisions on cost, service, and inventory.
*A clear, credible communicator who can work cross-functionally at all levels.