Production Planning Manager

Production Planning Manager - Food & Beverage Manufacturing

CSG are currently partnered with a leading organisation in the food & beverage manufacturing sector to hire an experienced Production Planning Manager. This is a key leadership role responsible for overseeing the master production plan, managing planners and schedulers, and ensuring efficient supply planning and execution.

If you have deep experience in planning, scheduling, and inventory management within a manufacturing environment, particularly in food or beverage categories, this is an outstanding opportunity to step into a strategic, highly visible position.

The Role

The Production Planning Manager will oversee the full production planning process, ensuring customer demand is met efficiently while maintaining optimal inventory levels and site productivity.

Key Responsibilities Include:

• Managing the replenishment strategy for finished goods produced off-site.

• Leading and developing schedulers to ensure accuracy of weekly production schedules.

• Ensuring proper execution of the Master Production Plan aligned with fill rate and inventory targets.

• Ensuring raw material availability and proactively resolving supplier or material flow issues.

• Managing working capital for raw materials and finished goods.

• Reducing scrap, excess stock, and obsolescence.

• Monitoring inventory levels to prevent shortages and reduce overstock.

• Generating inventory reports for cross-functional use.

• Maintaining strong communication with Sales, QA, Customer Service, Procurement, Operations, and Product Development.

• Escalating critical issues to leadership as needed.

• Recommending ERP improvements and maintaining system parameters for effective planning.

• Providing regular inventory reporting by customer, including SKU-level risk identification.

• Supporting development of the annual demand plan and budget.

• Creating and reporting on key planning KPIs.

• Participating in planning optimisation projects.

• Performing additional duties as required.

What We're Looking For

Education & Experience:

• 5+ years of experience in planning, scheduling, logistics, or supply chain roles within manufacturing.

• Supervisory experience managing planners or schedulers is required.

• Experiance in the Food & Beverage manufacturing industry

Skills & Competencies:

• CPIM certification preferred.

• Experience with ERP/MRP systems (D365 strongly preferred).

• Advanced Excel and planning software capability.

• Strong knowledge of warehousing, inventory control, financial systems, order processing, and transportation.

• Experience in food manufacturing or fast-paced CPG production environments.

• Excellent leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills.

• Ability to influence cross-functional teams and drive operational improvements.

Key Performance Indicators

• Minimal customer shortages and complaints

• High on-time loading and schedule execution rates

• Strong efficiency, reliability, and timeliness

• Minimal loss, scrap, and damage

• Optimal inventory levels and minimal outages

• Budget alignment and proactive cost containment

• Strong cross-department collaboration

• High customer satisfaction

• Compliance with operational and safety standards

Why This Opportunity Stands Out

This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a leadership capacity, enjoys solving operational challenges, and wants to drive planning excellence within a highly respected manufacturing environment.