Head of Planning

Reporting into the Supply Chain Director, this high-profile leadership role will be responsible for ensuring optimal product availability, inventory performance, and operational efficiency across a complex manufacturing and distribution network. You will play a key role in aligning demand, supply, manufacturing, procurement, and customer requirements to deliver world-class service levels whilst driving continuous improvement across planning processes.

This is a fantastic opportunity for a forward-thinking planning leader who combines strategic thinking with strong operational execution and stakeholder influence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Supply Planning team, creating a high-performance culture focused on accountability, development, and continuous improvement.
• Own the end-to-end supply planning process, balancing customer service, inventory, capacity, and cost objectives.
• Develop supply planning strategies that support business growth, new product introductions, promotional activity, and changing market conditions.
• Drive inventory optimisation across raw materials, work-in-progress, and finished goods.
• Lead the supply review process within the S&OP / IBP framework, ensuring robust decision-making and risk management.
• Partner closely with Demand Planning, Operations, Procurement, Logistics, and Commercial teams to ensure alignment across the supply chain.
• Manage capacity planning activities across manufacturing sites and external suppliers, identifying constraints and mitigating supply risks.
• Deliver improvements in forecast attainment, inventory turns, service levels, waste reduction, and working capital performance.
• Provide senior leadership with clear visibility of supply risks, opportunities, and performance metrics.
• Lead planning system enhancements, process standardisation, and supply chain transformation initiatives.

About You

• Significant experience within Supply Planning, Supply Chain Planning, Production Planning, or IBP leadership roles within an FMCG environment.
• Proven track record leading large planning teams and developing planning capabilities.
• Strong understanding of S&OP / IBP processes and best-practice supply chain planning principles.
• Experience working within complex manufacturing environments, managing multiple SKUs, production constraints, and customer requirements.
• Strong analytical capability with the ability to make data-led decisions in a fast-moving environment.
• Exceptional stakeholder management skills with experience influencing senior leadership teams.
• Experience driving change, implementing planning improvements, and delivering measurable operational results.
• Knowledge of planning systems such as SAP APO, SAP IBP, Kinaxis, OMP, Blue Yonder, or similar solutions would be advantageous.