We have an exciting new opportunity for a Master Production Planner to join our Manufacturing/Fabrication site and drive standards, process, systems and change across the delivery of our key products and services.
The Master Production Planner is a key member of the Had Fab Ltd operations team, reporting directly to the Head of Operations. This role is key to ensuring the efficient, timely, and cost-effective planning and scheduling of all production, design, and detailing activities, while also contributing to enterprise-wide program portfolio management. The Master Production Planner is responsible for both the strategic planning and tactical execution of schedules, ensuring alignment with business objectives, resource optimisation, and proactive capacity planning for current and future needs. The role also includes responsibility for supporting colleagues and the wider business in developing internal competency in planning and scheduling practices.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Portfolio Plan Management Develop and maintain the overall Portfolio Production plan for secured work and bid forecasts for current and long-range plan execution. Ensure that detailed production schedules are optimally allocated to resources and adjusted proactively to accommodate changes in demand, supply issues, or equipment breakdowns. Conduct capacity planning for secured work and bid forecasts to ensure resources, including labour, materials, and machinery, meet both current and future production and portfolio requirements. Collaborate with manufacturing teams to align production activities with enterprise-level plans. Provide business forecast views to identify over/under capacity situations, enabling timely decisions to balance resources across the enterprise. Identify and mitigate risks related to production scheduling and the broader program portfolio, such as delays, supply chain disruptions, or quality issues. Develop contingency plans to address unforeseen challenges.
Portfolio Reporting
Ensure clear and timely communication of portfolio execution plans and schedules to all relevant stakeholders, including Production teams, Engineering, Tendering (estimating) and Senior Management. Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) for planning and scheduling processes. Analyse data to identify trends, inefficiencies, and opportunities for improvement at both production and enterprise levels. Provide detailed reports and analysis to senior management. Perform monthly/quarterly bridge analysis on future demand, manufacturing forecast to actual.
Collaboration with Teams to Meet Customer Demands
Establish a close relationship with Business Development Managers & Tendering (estimating) Manager to build in current bid forecast to overall Portfolio plan. Work closely with the Commercial, Business Development, Engineering, Production, Procurement, Logistics, and Quality Assurance teams to ensure alignment of execution plans with market demand, customer requirements, and supply chain considerations.
Planning Systems Development
Lead initiatives to improve and streamline planning and scheduling processes, promoting innovation and efficiency across the organisation. Promote the use of Microsoft Project as a key planning tool, ensuring the organisation adopts best practices. Support the delivery of training and provide mentoring to colleagues to strengthen internal competency in planning tools and methodologies.
Authorities, Interface, Reporting, and Supervision
Direct report to the Head of Operations. Master Production Planner Interfaces with Project Planner (Client/Contracts Management), and department heads across Production, Quality, Procurement, Design, Engineering, and Commercial team. Present status, performance, capacity, and process improvement reports to the Senior Management Team in regular reviews.
Skills, Knowledge, and Attributes
At least 5 years of experience in production planning and scheduling within a manufacturing environment, preferably in the steel industry or a project-driven environment. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, resource management, and inventory control. Proven ability to plan to key milestone deliverables to meet business objectives. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to foresee potential issues and proactively address them. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across departments. Strong competency and extensive experience in Microsoft Project. Experience with ERP systems and advanced production planning tools. Awareness of portfolio management tools (e.g., Primavera P6) is advantageous. Strong leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and manage stakeholders toward continuous improvement. Detail-oriented and highly organised, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Commercially aware, with an understanding of how planning and scheduling decisions impact both production and enterprise-level outcomes.