Production Planner

Production Planner
Location: Chester
Salary: £34,000 - £37,000 per annum
Hours: 35 hours per week
Monday to Thursday: 08:30 – 17:00
Friday: 08:30 – 12:30


Immediate Start Available


The Opportunity
We are recruiting on behalf of a well-established engineering and manufacturing business seeking an experienced Production Planner to join their operations team in Chester.


This is an excellent opportunity for a proactive planner with experience in a manufacturing or engineering environment to support production planning activities, optimise schedules, and ensure customer requirements are met efficiently and effectively.


Reporting directly to the Planning Manager, you will play a key role in coordinating production schedules, material requirements, labour resources, and machine capacity to support operational performance and on-time delivery.


Key Responsibilities

• Support the Planning Manager in developing, implementing, and continuously improving planning and scheduling processes.
• Create and maintain production plans to meet forecasted demand while considering machine capacity, labour availability, and holiday schedules.
• Coordinate material requirements and build plans across multiple product streams.
• Adapt plans quickly to changing priorities and customer requirements, ensuring contingency plans are in place where necessary.
• Manage subcontracted work schedules and monitor stock levels as required.
• Work closely with production, engineering, sales, and project teams to ensure customer expectations and delivery deadlines are achieved.
• Investigate planning issues and identify opportunities to expedite orders where possible.
• Monitor and report on operational KPIs and planning performance.
• Attend regular planning and operations meetings, providing updates on schedules and production performance.
• Support the achievement of operational targets, including On-Time In-Full (OTIF) delivery performance.
• Liaise with Production Managers regarding manpower planning, holiday schedules, and sickness absence.
• Assist with any other duties appropriate to the role.

Skills & Experience Required
Essential

• Significant experience in a Production Planner, Planning Coordinator, or similar role within a manufacturing or engineering environment.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Ability to create and manage detailed production schedules.
• Knowledge of MRP and/or ERP systems.
• Strong IT skills, including Microsoft Office.
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to deadlines.
• Confident decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multiple departments.

Desirable

• HNC/HND qualification in Engineering, Manufacturing, Production Management, or a related discipline.
• Degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Production, or a related field.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001 quality management systems.
• Experience within a job-shop manufacturing environment.

What’s on Offer

• Competitive salary of £34,000 - £37,000 per annum.
• Immediate start available.
• Early finish every Friday.
• Opportunity to join a growing and established manufacturing business.
• Supportive team environment with opportunities for development and progression.

If you have a strong background in production planning and are looking for your next challenge within a fast-paced engineering environment, we would love to hear from you.