Production Planning Manager

Location: On-site role, based in Poole, BH17 7EF
Salary: Competitive, DOE + annual discretionary bonus + Excellent Benefits!
Contract: Full time, Permanent
Benefits: 25 Days Holiday (Christmas Shut Down), 10% Pension Contribution, 5x Death in Service, Sharesave Scheme, Health Cash Plan, Cycle to Work Scheme, Bippit – Financial health Check and Guidance, EAP, Onsite Physio and Massage, Work Wear

About IMI

IMI is a global specialist engineering company that creates breakthrough solutions. We are curious by nature and passionate about solving problems, partnering with our customers to meet today's demands and prepare for tomorrow's challenges.

We design, build and service highly engineered products in fluid and motion control applications. We focus on five market sectors: Industrial Automation, Process Automation, Climate Control, Life Science and Fluid Control, and Transport.

The Role

We are looking for an experienced Production Planning Manager to join our team at IMI in Poole, Dorset.

Reporting directly to the Head of Production, you will lead the Production Planning team and take responsibility for the end-to-end planning and scheduling of manufacturing activities, from order release through to completed production.

This is a key leadership position, ensuring production capacity, resources and workflows are effectively managed to meet customer delivery commitments. Working closely with Sales, Contracts, Purchasing, Engineering and Operations, you will ensure production schedules are realistic, accurate and aligned with business requirements.

You will also play a significant role in developing and improving planning processes, optimising inventory levels and reducing work in progress (WIP), while driving improvements in delivery performance, production throughput and manufacturing efficiency.

Key Responsibilities

•  Lead and manage the Production Planning team, overseeing production planners, master production scheduling and SIOP forecasting activities.
•  Take ownership of production planning and scheduling, ensuring workflows are effectively managed from order release through to completion.
•  Review existing production planning processes, systems and methodologies, developing strategies to support current and future business requirements.
•  Establish and improve planning policies, procedures and reporting methods to ensure accurate data and effective production scheduling.
•  Maintain accurate production planning information across ERP, MRP and scheduling systems, including planning parameters, lead times, routings, work orders, stock allocations and delivery dates.
•  Monitor manufacturing progress, identify potential scheduling issues and implement corrective actions to maintain production plans.
•  Work closely with Sales, Contracts, Purchasing, Engineering and Operations to align customer requirements with production capacity and resource availability.
•  Develop and monitor key performance indicators relating to lead times, schedule performance, capacity utilisation and delivery performance.
•  Take ownership of inventory management and optimisation, reducing excess and obsolete stock, controlling WIP and ensuring material availability supports production requirements.
•  Provide accurate and timely management information, reporting on planning performance, capacity and operational challenges.
•  Manage team performance, conduct reviews, identify training requirements and support the development of individuals within the team.
•  Manage holidays and resource planning to ensure appropriate staffing levels are maintained.
•  Ensure relevant risk assessments and COSHH requirements are maintained and that team members understand their responsibilities.

About You

We're looking for an experienced production planning professional with a strong background in leading planning activities within an engineering or manufacturing environment.

You'll have a proven track record of managing production planning teams, improving manufacturing processes and ensuring production operations run efficiently while meeting customer delivery expectations.

You'll ideally have:

•  Extensive experience in production planning and master scheduling within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
•  Proven experience leading and managing a production planning team within a manufacturing business.
•  A strong understanding of manufacturing workflows, production capacity planning and resource management.
•  Experience implementing, developing and managing ERP/MRP systems and production scheduling tools.
•  A demonstrable track record of improving planning processes, delivery performance and operational efficiency.
•  Strong analytical and numerical skills, with the ability to interpret data and drive improvements.
•  Excellent IT skills, particularly Microsoft Excel and other Microsoft Office applications.
•  Experience monitoring production performance through KPIs, reporting and forecasting.
•  Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence, motivate and lead others.
•  A proactive and organised approach, with the ability to manage competing priorities and resolve operational challenges.

It Would Be Great If You Had:

•  Experience with EFACS, Opcenter and Power BI.
•  Experience developing and implementing manufacturing planning strategies and methodologies.
•  Knowledge of SIOP processes and inventory optimisation.
•  Experience managing WIP, stock levels and material availability within a manufacturing environment.
•  Experience driving continuous improvement initiatives across production planning and scheduling.

Why Join IMI

•  Join a global engineering organisation recognised for innovation and technical excellence.
•  Take ownership of a key production planning function within an established manufacturing operation.
•  Lead and develop a dedicated planning team.
•  Have a direct impact on production efficiency, inventory optimisation and customer delivery performance.
•  Work closely with senior stakeholders across the business.
•  Opportunities to contribute to continuous improvement and the future development of manufacturing operations.

Apply Today

If you're an experienced Production Planning Manager with a strong background in manufacturing and a proven track record of leading planning teams, we'd love to hear from you.

This is an excellent opportunity to take on a key leadership role within a global engineering organisation, driving improvements in production performance, efficiency and customer delivery.

Join IMI in Poole and help us deliver operational excellence.

Apply now!

IMI is an inclusive employer. Diversity is very important to us, and we welcome applications from people from all backgrounds.