Head of Planning

About the Role

Vickerstock is seeking a Head of Planning to join a leading food manufacturer in a crucial leadership role within their supply chain department. This position is vital for overseeing the planning function in a dynamic and demanding manufacturing setting. The successful candidate will be instrumental in synchronizing customer needs, production capacity, and business goals to ensure superior service levels while optimizing resources like capacity, inventory, and cost.

As the Head of Planning, you will be responsible for formulating and implementing the planning strategy, establishing effective planning procedures for all timeframes. You will collaborate closely with various departments including Commercial, Operations, Procurement, Agriculture, Logistics, Finance, Engineering, Technical, and New Product Development (NPD) to create a unified operational plan for the company. This role demands a leader capable of influencing across all organizational levels, managing intricate situations, and leveraging data-driven insights for informed decision-making and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

• Spearhead the comprehensive planning function, ensuring alignment of demand, supply, and production plans with customer requirements, manufacturing capabilities, and business objectives.
• Champion and manage the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, fostering cross-functional collaboration among Commercial, Operations, Procurement, Agriculture, Logistics, Finance, Technical, and Engineering teams to establish a cohesive business plan.
• Translate demand forecasts and commercial strategies into actionable production and capacity plans, carefully balancing service levels, inventory, costs, waste reduction, and operational limitations.
• Provide leadership, mentorship, and professional development to the planning team, cultivating a high-performance culture centered on accountability, ongoing enhancement, and operational excellence.
• Develop and maintain short, medium, and long-term production and supply plans designed to maximize capacity utilization while supporting customer service targets.
• Monitor planning performance and adherence to plans, proactively identifying potential risks, bottlenecks, and opportunities, and coordinating mitigation strategies with key stakeholders.
• Lead scenario planning initiatives and provide decision support for issues related to demand fluctuations, capacity adjustments, raw material availability, promotional activities, and new product introductions.
• Develop and present key performance indicators (KPIs) for planning, capacity metrics, and performance insights to facilitate effective decision-making and drive continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.
• Collaborate with Commercial, Operations, and NPD teams to support the successful introduction of new products, manage range modifications, and advance strategic business initiatives.
• Drive ongoing improvements in planning processes, systems, and governance, implementing industry best practices and standardized operational methods.
• Play a significant role in shaping supply chain strategy, long-term capacity planning, and future growth endeavors, ensuring planning capabilities align with business objectives.
• Ensure robust planning governance, maintain data integrity, and uphold compliance with company, customer, quality, and regulatory standards.

Essential Experience

• Demonstrated experience in Supply Chain, Production Planning, or within FMCG manufacturing settings.
• Proven track record in leading planning teams, including the supervision and development of planning managers and senior planners.
• Solid understanding and practical application of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) methodologies.
• Experience working in complex manufacturing environments characterized by multiple constraints and evolving customer demands.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and strong analytical capabilities.

Desirable Qualifications

• A degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Food Science, Business, or a related field.
• Professional certifications in supply chain or operations management would be beneficial.
• Experience utilizing ERP systems and planning software such as SAP, IBP, APO, or similar platforms.

Skills & Competencies

• Expertise in supply chain planning, forecasting, production planning, and scheduling within an FMCG context.
• Exceptional analytical skills with a data-driven approach to problem-solving and decision-making.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with a strong ability to manage stakeholders and exert influence.
• Superior organizational abilities, enabling effective management of multiple priorities in a fast-paced work environment.
• Natural leadership qualities, focused on building high-performing teams and enhancing organizational capabilities.

Additional Information

This is a key leadership position within the supply chain function of a leading food manufacturer.