Materials & Production Planning Manager

The Opportunity: Materials & Production Planning Manager

About the role: 

We are seeking an experienced and driven Materials & Production Planning Manager to lead our materials planning, inventory control, and production scheduling activities. This is a key role within the business, responsible for ensuring material availability, delivering excellent customer service, optimising inventory levels, and maintaining an efficient production plan to support operational and commercial objectives. 

What Does This Role Involve Day to Day? 

• Lead and develop the Materials and Production Planning teams 
• Establish and monitor KPIs relating to inventory, supplier performance, delivery performance, and schedule adherence 
• Drive continuous improvement across planning and inventory management 
• Support MRP system development and process improvements 
• Provide regular performance reporting and analysis to senior management 
• Monitor aged stock, excess inventory, and obsolescence 
• Develop and manage material planning strategies to ensure uninterrupted supply to production 
• Manage supplier performance, including delivery and responsiveness 
• Manage Syncron, the company's aftermarket planning and inventory management tool, ensuring data accuracy, effective forecasting, inventory optimisation, and alignment with customer demand and business objectives 

This Will Be Suited to you if you have : 

• Proven experience as a Materials Manager, Supply Chain Manager, or Production Planning Manager 
• Strong knowledge of MRP (SAP) systems and inventory management principles 
• Experience managing production schedules within a manufacturing environment 
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills 
• Strong stakeholder management and communication abilities 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and reporting tools 
• Experience leading and developing teams 
• Aftermarket experience (preferred, but not essential) 

What happens next? 

Ordinarily, our resourcing team reviews and shortlists CVs. If shortlisted, you’ll speak to one of our recruiters to discuss the role further. Our interview process usually consists of an initial team’s interview followed by an in-person interview. We’ll keep in touch throughout the process but if you have any questions, please get in touch at recruitment@jcb.com 

 What’s in it for you? 

This is your chance to join a company that values expertise not only in rewards but also in real employee care. At JCB you don’t just get a competitive salary, 33 days’ holiday and access to our company pension—you can also use our onsite gym, in-house doctor, dentist and visiting optician. We have an ULEV car scheme available for our employees too. Then there’s the JCB Rewards Hub, which gives you discounts with high street retailers. Feel like biking to work? There’s our Cycle to Work Scheme. 

We value diversity and welcome applications from candidates from all backgrounds. 

We’re committed to ensuring our recruitment process is fair and inclusive. If you face any accessibility challenges with your online application and require additional support, you have the option of speaking to a member of our recruitment team who can support you to complete an application in an alternative format. If you would benefit from this support, please email recruitment@jcb.com, and a member of the team will be in touch. 

Recruitment Agencies: JCB does not accept any speculative approaches to present candidates for advertised vacancies.