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Head of Planning
Job Posted: 7 hours ago
Salary: £ 65,000 - 70,000 / Annum
Job Type: Permanent
Location: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Expire in: a month
Job Description
A leading Food Service company are looking for a Head of Planning to join their Trading Team.
Job Title: Head of Planning
Department: Trading
Reports to: Commercial Director
Job Purpose
Deliver the Planning strategy for the Foodservice Division to delight our customers and drive business profitability. This includes collaboration with the operational teams to drive efficiency, achieve excellent service levels, and reduce cost and complexity.
Full accountability for ensuring good availability, effective capacity management and maintaining the right range in the right depot at the right time while minimising costs and maximising customer satisfaction.
Responsible for delivering upwards communication cascade and continuous improvement projects within the planning function, in collaboration with the operations team, which minimise costs and maximise availability.
Management, development and succession planning of the planning team.
Scope
Our client’s Foodservice operations are national foodservice businesses worth a combined c. £300 million+ with ambitious growth plans.
Accountability for ensuring sufficient stock at 7 sites is procured from c. 450+ suppliers for c. 7000 SKUs across multi-temperature categories.
Line management responsibility for a team of c. 4 people and overall accountability for a team of c. 7.
Responsibility and accountability for departmental budget, company KPIs and service level achievement.
Knowledge / Skills / Experience
Essential
Strong IT and administration skills, numeracy, and a good level of English.
Customer service focus; excellent communication, interpersonal, relationship-building and stakeholder management skills.
An action-oriented, solutions-focused individual able to manage multiple priorities and deliver results on time.
A good team player with attention to detail, strong problem-solving skills and a business-improvement mindset.
Experience establishing and leading a demand planning function across a large multi-site, temperature-controlled, matrix-based organisation, with direct oversight of a planning team and responsibility for the company’s planning strategy development and delivery.
Ability to thrive in fast-paced environments and manage complex, high-impact challenges.
Excellent project management skills with experience delivering multi-site alignment projects.
Experience planning, executing and reviewing change initiatives and driving a continuous improvement culture.
Experience using data analysis tools to identify trends and make decisions.
Strong analytical skills to identify problems, evaluate options, and make data-driven decisions.
Ability to troubleshoot issues and develop effective solutions.
Experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Power BI and advanced Excel skills.
Strong understanding of supply chain processes including procurement, inventory, logistics and distribution.
Knowledge of forecasting techniques and demand planning processes.
Understanding of inventory control principles including optimisation, stock levels and reorder points, and experience managing inventory levels.
Understanding of supply chain planning system implementation, SOP development and technical requirements documentation.
Knowledge of or experience in a similar role within the food and drink industry.
Commitment to continuous learning and development.
Strong leadership and management experience, ideally gained through structured development programmes within FMCG organisations and/or CIPS qualifications.
Experience managing people across the full employee lifecycle, including coaching, mentoring and team-building.
Experience preparing and managing action plans and budgets including cost management.
Experience implementing and managing ERP systems to support efficient purchasing from suppliers.
Desirable
CIPS Level 5 or equivalent.
Experience coordinating transportation and warehousing operations.
Experience working in operations or buying roles.
Accountabilities
Lead the planning department in a positive, customer-focused and professional manner.
Recruit, train and develop the team, supporting new positions and succession planning.
Develop a diverse, inclusive, solutions-oriented and customer-service-focused culture through coaching and mentoring, encouraging two-way communication.
Listen to employee, customer and stakeholder feedback, taking action to improve engagement and contribute to Best Companies action plans.
Share ideas and develop innovative ways of working to improve company performance and employee engagement within the departmental budget.
Ensure that the department demonstrates professionalism and delivers excellent customer experience to both internal and external stakeholders.
Ensure that the planning strategy delivers the Kitwave Foodservice Division’s goal to delight customers and drive business profitability.
Design, implement and develop a planning strategy that supports operational and commercial objectives.
Introduce, own and lead a sales and operational planning process.
Collaborate with senior leadership to shape, deliver and evolve the planning strategy.
Lead continuous improvement projects within the planning function that minimise costs and maximise availability.
Implement and develop systems and processes to monitor performance, assess risks and respond to market changes.
Lead, develop and mentor the planning team, fostering a culture of positive challenge, excellence, innovation and collaboration.
Implement, manage and develop ERP systems to support efficient purchasing.
Design and deliver strategy and performance updates to the board, acting on feedback and adjusting plans where needed.
Ensure the team delivers excellent service and achieves KPIs.
Ensure supply chain continuity at all times.
Analyse historical data and market trends to forecast demand.
Maintain optimal inventory levels to meet customer needs while minimising stock holding costs.
Build and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, customers and colleagues; negotiate agreements and monitor supplier performance.
Work closely with the sales team and customers to maintain robust forecasting.
Build, manage and develop collaboration with operational teams across all sites.
Continuously review and develop underwriting processes, ensuring compliance and risk management.
Identify and mitigate potential supply chain disruptions.
Ensure goods are purchased in line with commercial targets, maximising category margin and business income.
Conduct 1-2-1s, performance reviews, inductions, absence reviews and staff searches in line with company policies.
Provide management cover for the team, department and senior colleagues during absence.
Support Environmental, Social and Governance goals through daily actions and responsibilities.
Promote a strong food safety culture through knowledge sharing.
Promote best practice and adherence to Cyber Essentials standards.
Ensure data integrity, security and regulatory compliance.
Report any evidence of product safety, legality, quality or integrity issues.
Report accidents, promote Health & Safety best practice, and contribute to a safe working environment for all.
Key Performance Indicators
Stock availability
Stock holding
Stock days
Stock loss
Inbound supplier service level
Sub supply
Inter Branch Transfer (IBT)
Capacity
Supplier finds
SKU count
Forecasting accuracyBefore You Apply
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