Sales & Operations Planner

We are looking to recruit an experienced Sales & Operations Planner to join our clients team. The successful candidate will play a key role in balancing customer demand, production capacity, inventory levels, and raw material availability across a diverse portfolio of specialist material/products.

Working closely with Sales, Production, Procurement, Technical, and Finance, you will coordinate the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process, develop demand forecasts, manage production schedules, monitor inventory, and identify supply chain risks and opportunities.

This is an excellentechnically complex manufacturing environmentt opportunity for a planning professional who enjoys working in a and wants to make a direct contribution to customer service, operational efficiency, and the reliable supply of specialist materials to an international customer base.

Key Responsibilities Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP)

• Coordinate and facilitate the monthly S&OP process across Commercial, Operations, Procurement, and Finance.

• Consolidate demand forecasts and translate customer requirements into achievable production plans.

• Balance customer demand against manufacturing capacity, resources, and operational constraints.

• Identify risks and opportunities within the supply plan and recommend appropriate mitigation actions.

• Provide accurate planning information, analysis, and performance reporting to support business and senior management decision-making.

Demand Planning & Forecasting

• Develop and maintain rolling demand forecasts across all product groups.

• Analyse historical sales trends, customer forecasts, market intelligence, and commercial pipeline data.

• Work closely with Account Managers to understand changes in customer demand, project requirements, and timelines.

• Monitor forecast accuracy and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

• Identify demand volatility and support contingency planning.

Production Planning

• Create and maintain production schedules aligned with customer requirements and manufacturing capabilities.

• Coordinate planning activities across multiple manufacturing processes.

• Develop production plans that optimise resource utilisation, throughput, and delivery performance.

• Monitor production progress and adjust plans in response to changing priorities and constraints.

Inventory & Materials Management

• Monitor raw material, work-in-progress, and finished goods inventory levels.

• Support inventory optimisation while maintaining required customer service levels.

• Work closely with Procurement to ensure critical raw materials and alloying elements are available to meet production requirements.

• Identify potential material shortages and develop mitigation strategies.

• Support initiatives to reduce excess inventory and improve inventory turns.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as the key planning interface between Commercial, Procurement, Production, Technical, and Finance teams.

• Facilitate clear communication around customer priorities, production constraints, material availability, and delivery requirements.

• Support new product introductions and customer qualification projects through effective planning and coordination.

• Ensure alignment between business objectives and operational execution.

Performance Monitoring & Reporting

Develop and maintain planning dashboards, KPIs, and performance reports covering areas including:

Forecast accuracy

On-time delivery

Schedule adherence

Capacity utilisation

Inventory levels

Customer service performance

Analyse planning performance, identify areas for improvement, and support continuous improvement initiatives across supply chain and manufacturing operations.

Risk Management

• Assess supply chain risks relating to critical raw materials, changing customer demand, and production constraints.

• Develop contingency plans to minimise disruption to customer deliveries.

• Support business continuity initiatives within the planning function.

• Monitor market developments that may impact specialist materials and industrial supply chains.

About You

We are looking for a commercially aware and highly organised planning professional who combines strong analytical capability with excellent stakeholder management skills.

You will be comfortable working with complex data, challenging assumptions, managing competing priorities, and making informed decisions in a fast-moving manufacturing environment.

Essential Qualifications & Experience

Degree or equivalent qualification in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related discipline.

Minimum 3 years' experience in production planning, demand planning, supply chain planning, or S&OP within a manufacturing environment.

Proven experience managing demand forecasts and production schedules.

Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.

Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and ERP/MRP systems.

Desirable Experience

Experience within specialty materials, chemicals, engineering, or industrial manufacturing.

Knowledge of manufacturing or advanced materials production.

APICS/CPIM, CIPS, or an equivalent supply chain qualification.

Experience supporting international supply chains.

Familiarity with Power BI or advanced reporting and data visualisation tools.

Skills & Competencies

Strong planning and organisational skills.

Excellent analytical and problem-solving capability.

High levels of attention to detail and data accuracy.

Ability to manage multiple priorities within a dynamic manufacturing environment.

Effective stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration.

Strong communication and presentation skills.

Commercial awareness and understanding of customer requirements.

Ability to make informed decisions using data and business insight.

Proactive and continuous improvement mindset.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join a specialist manufacturing organisation operating within a technically advanced and strategically important industrial sector.

The role offers the opportunity to influence the full planning cycle, from demand forecasting and production planning through to materials, inventory, capacity, and customer delivery, while working collaboratively across multiple business functions.

If you are an experienced planner who enjoys solving complex supply chain challenges and wants to make a tangible impact within a specialist manufacturing environment, we would like to hear from you.

This role is ideal for motivated professionals eager to make a tangible impact on our operational success through innovative planning and collaborative problem-solving. We value energetic individuals who thrive in dynamic environments and are committed to continuous growth