Supply Chain Tactical Planner

Supply Chain Tactical Planner

Tredegar | Permanent | Automotive Manufacturing

Rhino Recruitment is working on behalf of our client, a leading automotive manufacturing business based in Tredegar, to recruit an experienced Supply Chain Tactical Planner.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced supply chain professional to join a busy manufacturing environment and take responsibility for balancing production capacity with customer demand, ensuring the right materials are available at the right time and supporting efficient plant operations.

The Role

As Supply Chain Tactical Planner, you will be responsible for end-to-end production planning, scheduling and material procurement, using SAP and advanced planning systems to optimise production flow, inventory and supplier performance.

You will play a key role in ensuring production schedules are achievable, materials are available to meet customer demand and potential shortages are identified and resolved before they impact production.

Key Responsibilities

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Create, maintain and optimise weekly production schedules across multiple automotive production lines.

• Release production orders in SAP, taking account of material availability, production capacity and customer demand.

• Use SAP IBP as a Master Production Schedule (MPS) tool to balance plant capacity and smooth production loads.

• Identify and address potential bottlenecks to support uninterrupted production.

Procurement & Material Control

• Generate and release material scheduling agreements to external suppliers using SAP.

• Manage inbound material flows to prevent warehouse congestion and ensure deliveries are aligned with live production requirements.

• Monitor supplier delivery performance and proactively expedite critical shortages.

• Work closely with suppliers to resolve material availability issues and prevent assembly line stoppages.

• Maintain appropriate safety stock levels while minimising excess, obsolete and slow-moving inventory.

Systems & Data Management

• Maintain accurate SAP master data, including lead times, lot sizes and safety stock parameters.

• Ensure data accuracy within SAP IBP and maintain a reliable rolling Master Production Schedule.

• Use supply chain data and planning systems to identify risks, improve efficiency and support informed decision-making.

About You

The successful candidate will have a strong background in production planning and material procurement within an automotive manufacturing environment.

You will be analytical, organised and confident working in a fast-paced environment where customer delivery requirements and production continuity are critical.

Essential Experience & Skills

• Minimum 3–5 years' experience in production planning and material procurement within the automotive industry.

• Experience within an IATF 16949 environment would be advantageous.

• A Purchasing or Supply Chain/Procurement qualification.

• Strong, hands-on experience with SAP MM and PP.

• Experience releasing production orders and managing scheduling agreements in SAP is essential.

• Proven experience using SAP IBP or a similar advanced Master Production Scheduling system.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Excellent communication skills, particularly when managing supplier expediting and resolving shortages.

• Ability to work effectively under tight automotive delivery timelines.

• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills.

• Adaptable, flexible and committed to working as part of a team.

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who can take ownership of the planning process, communicate confidently with suppliers and internal stakeholders, and proactively identify issues before they become production-critical.

You'll need to be comfortable working with complex supply chain data, managing competing priorities and making timely decisions in a demanding manufacturing environment.

The Opportunity

This is a key role within the client's Supply Chain function, offering the opportunity to make a direct contribution to production performance, inventory optimisation, supplier performance and customer delivery.

If you have the SAP, automotive supply chain and production planning experience required for this position, Rhino Recruitment would be keen to hear from you.

Apply today to discuss the opportunity in confidence