Head of Supply Planning

Overview

A leading food manufacturing business with multiple sites across the UK are looking for a Head of Supply Planning to join their team. As Head of Supply Planning you will lead supply planning across a fast‑paced food manufacturing environment, ensuring the business consistently delivers outstanding customer service while optimising production capacity, inventory, waste, and cost. This is a senior leadership role responsible for translating demand into robust, executable supply plans across manufacturing, co‑packing, and external suppliers.

You will play a pivotal role in S&OP leadership
, managing supply risk in a time‑critical, short‑shelf‑life operation, and driving continuous improvement across planning processes and systems.

• Lead the end‑to‑end supply planning function within a food manufacturing operation.
• Own the supply side of S&OP
  , balancing demand, capacity, labour, materials, and inventory.
• Develop and maintain medium‑ and short‑term supply plans across internal production lines and third‑party partners.
• Drive inventory optimisation
  , minimising waste, obsolescence, and stock write‑offs while protecting service.
• Manage capacity planning with a clear focus on labour, line efficiency, maintenance, and seasonal demand.
• Proactively identify supply risks (raw materials, packaging, production constraints) and implement mitigation plans.
• Lead, coach, and develop a high‑performing supply planning team
  .
• Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Procurement, Technical, and Commercial teams.
• Support and lead improvements to planning systems and ERP tools (e.g. SAP, D365, APO/IBP or similar).
• Champion continuous improvement, data accuracy, and planning best practice across the business.

• Proven experience in a senior supply planning or supply chain leadership role within food or FMCG manufacturing
  .
• Strong understanding of short shelf‑life products
  , service pressure, and production constraints.
• Demonstrated leadership of S&OP/IBP in complex, fast‑moving environments.
• Track record of improving service levels, capacity utilisation, and inventory performance
  .
• Confident people leader with experience building capability and developing planners.
• Commercial, pragmatic, and comfortable influencing at senior leadership level.

• Supply planning & execution in food manufacturing
• S&OP / IBP leadership
• Capacity & labour planning
• Inventory optimisation & waste reduction
• Team leadership & stakeholder management
• ERP & planning systems (SAP, D365, APS tools)

• A highly influential leadership role within a growing food manufacturing business
• Opportunity to shape and elevate the supply planning function
• Competitive salary, bonus, and benefits package
• Collaborative, operationally focused culture

To apply for the role please send your CV to susan

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates

About the job

Contract Type:
Permanent

Specialism:
Procurement & Supply Chain

Focus:
Supply Chain

Industry: Logistics Distribution and Supply Chain

Workplace Type:
Remote

Experience Level: Senior Management

Location:

North West England

Salary: £85,000 - £95,000 per annum

Job Reference: 5

KXA
68-1

FFB
3379

Date posted: 21 January 2026

Consultant:
Susannah Meadows