Planning Manager

Elevation Procurement & Supply Chain division are delighted to one again be partnered with project and bespoke, complex manufacturing organisation, with the search & selection of a new Planning Manager for their Rotherham facility. Step into a pivotal leadership role where you’ll shape end-to-end planning and materials flow for a busy manufacturing operation. This is a key opportunity to take ownership of production and supply chain planning, drive ERP and SAP improvements, and ensure the business delivers on time, in full.

You’ll be central to aligning operational performance with commercial goals and customer expectations.

About the Role:

As Planning Manager, you will lead the planning function across production, materials, and supply chain to ensure efficient, cost-effective operations. You will own the planning strategy, processes, and systems, working closely with operations, procurement, and logistics to optimise materials flow and capacity utilisation. Your work will directly impact service levels, inventory performance, and the successful implementation of ERP/SAP enhancements.

Key Responsibilities:

* Lead and manage production planning activities to balance demand, capacity, and inventory targets.
* Oversee materials planning and control to ensure timely availability of components and raw materials.
* Develop and maintain supply chain planning processes that optimise lead times and stock levels.
* Own and refine materials flow strategies from goods-in through to finished goods dispatch.
* Drive ERP systems development to support robust planning, scheduling, and reporting capabilities.
* Lead SAP implementation and configuration within the planning function, ensuring data integrity and usability.
* Collaborate with operations, procurement, and logistics to resolve planning issues and improve overall efficiency.
* Monitor planning KPIs, analyse performance trends, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Requirements:

* Strong experience in production planning within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
* Proven track record in supply chain planning and materials control.
* Hands-on experience managing and optimising materials flow in a complex operation.
* Practical experience working with ERP systems in a planning context.
* Exposure to SAP implementation or significant SAP usage within planning or supply chain.
* Ability to interpret demand forecasts and translate them into effective production and materials plans.
* Strong analytical skills with the ability to work confidently with data and planning metrics.
* Effective stakeholder management and communication skills across operations and supply chain teams.

Desirable

Skills:

* Experience leading or contributing to ERP/SAP development projects or system upgrades.
* Background in continuous improvement, lean, or similar methodologies applied to planning and materials flow.
* Experience in multi-site or high-volume manufacturing environments.
* Familiarity with advanced planning tools or modules within SAP or other ERP platforms.

Qualifications:

* Degree or equivalent qualification in Supply Chain Management, Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.
* Professional certification in supply chain or production planning (e.g. APICS, CIPS) is advantageous.
* SAP or ERP-related training or certification is desirable.

If you are a planning professional ready to take ownership of a critical function and drive system-led improvements, we’d like to hear from you. Apply now to play a central role in shaping this organisation’s planning and materials performance.