Lead Planner
About this role
Job Advertisement: Lead Planner
Position: Lead Planner
Location: Branston (Onsite, Full-Time)
Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time
Job Reference Number: 323712
Salary: Up to £48,000 per annum
Hours: 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM (Alternating Shift Pattern)
Closing Date: 13th October 2026
Shift Pattern
Week 1: Wednesday, Thursday (06:00 – 18:00)
Week 2: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (06:00 – 18:00)
About the Role
Supportive Bridge Staffing Agency is proud to represent Branston in hiring an experienced Lead Planner on a permanent, full-time basis.
In this critical leadership position, you will drive operational excellence by transforming complex customer demand into efficient, achievable production schedules. Working closely with the planning team and wider operational departments, you will optimize line efficiency, mitigate supply chain risks, reduce waste, and lead, coach, and develop a small team to ensure seamless day-to-day factory performance.
Key Responsibilities & Duties
End-to-End Scheduling: Own the complete production planning cycle, translating demand plans into realistic, detailed factory schedules.
Capacity & Constraint Management: Create short- to medium-term plans balancing service levels, factory capacity, labour availability, and raw material constraints.
Line Efficiency & Sequencing: Optimize production sequencing to maximize line output, minimize changeover times, and reduce operational downtime.
Perishables & Waste Control: Oversee planning for short shelf-life and highly perishable products, maintaining optimal product availability while actively minimizing waste.
Risk Mitigation & KPIs: Identify and manage production risks (such as capacity bottlenecks or material shortages), driving key KPIs including service levels, schedule adherence, plan attainment, and waste reduction.
Team Leadership: Lead, coach, and mentor a small team, embedding best practices and fostering a continuous improvement culture.
Cross-Functional Alignment: Lead weekly planning reviews to bridge production requirements with wider supply chain and commercial goals.
Skills & Experience Required
Proven experience working in a production planning or scheduling role within the food manufacturing sector.
Strong working knowledge of factory operations, capacity modelling, and production constraints.
Hands-on experience planning for short shelf-life or highly perishable products.
Competent technical background utilizing planning tools within ERP systems.
Demonstrated history of managing, mentoring, and developing a high-performing team.
What We Offer (Benefits)
Competitive Salary: Up to £48,000 per annum.
Generous Leave: 31 days annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays.
Financial Incentives: Company bonus scheme and enhanced pension contributions.
Protection & Wellbeing: Life assurance, critical illness cover, an Employee Assistance Programme, and flu vaccines.
Perks & Extras: Onsite parking, a dedicated employee discounts platform, electric salary sacrifice car scheme, long-service celebrations, a refer-a-friend scheme, and free fresh fruit & potatoes!