Production Planner

Your role

As part of the Planning team, reporting to the Planning & Analytics Manager, you will play a key role in the smooth running of operations and customer satisfaction. You will create and manage production plans that align with manufacturing capacity and customer demand, helping to ensure the right product is delivered by us at the right time. As part of this role, you will work closely with a range of cross-functional teams including Operations, Supply Chain, Customer Service and NPI. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys problem-solving, working collaboratively and strives to have a real positive impact on business success. 

Key Responsibilities

Your key responsibilities will include:

• Creating and maintaining achievable production plans aligned to demand and growth targets
• Supporting delivery of accurate and realistic Master Plans
• Monitoring demand vs production, highlighting variances, and driving mitigation actions
• Acting as site lead for SAP and Kinaxis Maestro, ensuring data accuracy and visibility
• Liaising with Customer Liaison to manage escalations and align with divisional priorities
• Delivering clear and consistent KPI reporting on planning performance

Your day-to-day

Your day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Acting as the primary point of contact for cross-functional communication. 
• Validating and aligning production plans with key stakeholders to ensure delivery against agreed demand and growth targets
• Monitoring plans vs actual performance, investigating variances and implementing corrective and preventative actions.
• Proactively communicating shortages or risks to our Customer Liaison, supporting customer escalations and prioritisation decisions where applicable.
• Identifying capacity constraints and recommending actions (e.g. overtime, additional resource, subcontracting) to maintain schedule adherence.
• Integrating NPI requirements into production plans, ensuring adherence to engineering timelines, stage gates, and customer delivery expectations.
• Managing planning exceptions (e.g. machine breakdowns), assess business impact, reprioritise schedules, and deliver recovery plans where applicable.
• Maintaining accurate planning data in SAP and Kinaxis Maestro, ensuring system integrity and visibility across the planning cycle
• Owning the development and enhancement of the Eastbourne Master Planning Tool, ensuring it remains accurate, relevant, and aligned to capacity and resource requirements
• Driving continuous improvement in planning processes, identifying efficiencies and implementing standardised ways of working
• Supporting the Planning Manager & the wider team with additional planning and operational activities as required

Your skills and experience

Required

• Proven experience in production planning within a manufacturing environment
• Strong experience using ERP / planning systems (preferably SAP and/or Kinaxis Maestro)
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and confidence working with planning data
• Ability to analyse, interpret, and act on KPI performance (e.g. OTD, adherence, output)
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to align cross-functional teams
• Clear and concise communicator, able to manage priorities and escalations effectively
• Demonstrable experience in Master Planning and balancing demand vs capacity

Desirable

• Experience working with global customers or cross-regional demand planning
• Knowledge of electronics manufacturing and PCA processes
• Understanding of vacuum technology or related industry experience
• Experience with Power BI or similar data visualisation tools
• Lean / Six Sigma (Yellow Belt or higher) or demonstrable continuous improvement experience

Your compensation and benefits

We offer a competitive compensation package for each position based on the responsibilities of the role and the skills needed to succeed. Our benefits follow local market practices and provide a generous level of support. During the recruitment process, we share clear information about the pay and benefits for your location so that you know what to expect. 

Your location and working hours

This position is based at our Product Company in Eastbourne, United Kingdom (GB). 

Why it is great to work with us

You will be part of a small team that takes pride in doing things right first time. We work with a range of different planning tools and offer full on the job training to support your learning and development. We actively encourage broader learning, allowing you to take ownership of your own career path. 

Application process

Our selection process includes interviews and, for some roles, skills assessments that help us gain a deeper understanding of your profile. We look forward to getting to know you, learning about your strengths, and discussing how you can grow with us. If you have questions during the process or need support, please contact us:

Talent Acquisition: Tracy Goncalves, Tracy.Goncalves@edwardsvacuum.com