Production Planner Job Description
Hire a dependable Production Planner to translate demand forecasts into reliable production schedules, reduce bottlenecks and keep manufacturing output on time and on budget.
What does a Production Planner professional do?
A Production Planner schedules and sequences manufacturing work, balances materials and capacity, and coordinates with procurement, quality and logistics to meet delivery targets and control inventory.
Production Planner job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Production Planner
About the role
We are recruiting a Production Planner to join our manufacturing team in [insert location]. You will create and maintain production schedules, match materials and capacity to demand, monitor progress and resolve delays. This role requires excellent attention to detail, strong communication with suppliers and shopfloor teams, and comfort working with planning systems. Hours: [insert hours/shift pattern]. Salary: [insert salary range]. To apply, send your CV to [insert contact/email].
Key responsibilities
- Create and maintain daily, weekly and monthly production schedules based on demand forecasts, orders and capacity constraints.
- Coordinate material requirements with procurement to ensure parts and raw materials are available to meet production dates.
- Monitor shopfloor progress and update schedules in response to machine downtime, quality holds or supply delays.
- Prioritise production orders to meet customer delivery dates while managing inventory levels and minimising work in progress.
- Liaise with quality, engineering, logistics and maintenance teams to remove bottlenecks and improve flow.
- Run and review planning reports (e.g. capacity, backlog, material shortfalls) and present exceptions to management.
- Help implement continuous improvement initiatives to reduce lead times and improve schedule adherence.
- Maintain accurate master data in planning systems (BOMs, routings, lead times) and flag discrepancies.
Essential skills and experience
- Practical experience in production planning or scheduling in a manufacturing environment.
- Good numerical and organisational skills with attention to detail.
- Comfortable using spreadsheets and production planning or ERP/MRP tools.
- Strong verbal and written communication to coordinate cross‑functional teams.
- Ability to prioritise and make decisions under pressure to meet delivery targets.
Desirable
- Experience with common MRP/ERP systems (for example SAP, Oracle, or similar).
- Familiarity with lean manufacturing or continuous improvement techniques.
- A Level 3 or equivalent qualification in manufacturing, supply chain or logistics.
- Knowledge of demand planning, capacity planning or materials management processes.
- Experience working with automated production lines or multi-shift operations.
What we offer
- [Competitive salary]
- [Pension scheme (employer contribution)]
- [Paid annual leave: enter number of days]
- [Overtime pay or shift allowance where applicable]
- [Training and professional development budget]
- [Employee wellbeing resources or occupational health support]
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Production Planner role?
A Production Planner organises and sequences manufacturing work so production meets customer demand on time and at the right cost. They translate forecasts and orders into practical production schedules, manage material availability, and resolve day‑to‑day disruptions by working with procurement, engineering and shopfloor teams. Effective planners balance capacity, inventory and lead times to maintain service levels and reduce waste.
Core purpose
Plan and control manufacturing schedules to deliver finished goods to customers on time while optimising resource use and stock levels.
Typical tasks
Scheduling, materials coordination, progress monitoring, reporting and continuous improvement of planning processes.
Works with
Procurement, production supervisors, quality, engineering and logistics teams.
Employers
Small-to-large manufacturers across sectors such as automotive, electronics, FMCG, engineering and assembly operations.
Typical Production Planner responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Create
Create and maintain daily, weekly and monthly production schedules based on demand forecasts, orders and capacity constraints.
Coordinate material requirements with procurement
Coordinate material requirements with procurement to ensure parts and raw materials are available to meet production dates.
Monitor shopfloor progress
Monitor shopfloor progress and update schedules in response to machine downtime, quality holds or supply delays.
Prioritise production orders
Prioritise production orders to meet customer delivery dates while managing inventory levels and minimising work in progress.
Liaise with quality
Liaise with quality, engineering, logistics and maintenance teams to remove bottlenecks and improve flow.
Run and review planning reports (e.g. capacity
Run and review planning reports (e.g. capacity, backlog, material shortfalls) and present exceptions to management.
Help implement continuous improvement initiatives
Help implement continuous improvement initiatives to reduce lead times and improve schedule adherence.
Maintain accurate master data in
Maintain accurate master data in planning systems (BOMs, routings, lead times) and flag discrepancies.
Production Planner skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Practical experience in production planning or scheduling in a manufacturing environment.
- Good numerical and organisational skills with attention to detail.
- Comfortable using spreadsheets and production planning or ERP/MRP tools.
- Strong verbal and written communication to coordinate cross‑functional teams.
- Ability to prioritise and make decisions under pressure to meet delivery targets.
Useful where relevant
- Experience with common MRP/ERP systems (for example SAP, Oracle, or similar).
- Familiarity with lean manufacturing or continuous improvement techniques.
- A Level 3 or equivalent qualification in manufacturing, supply chain or logistics.
- Knowledge of demand planning, capacity planning or materials management processes.
- Experience working with automated production lines or multi-shift operations.
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Production Planner job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Be specific about systems and shift patterns
List the planning or ERP/MRP systems you use and be clear about shift patterns, overtime expectations and any weekend work — experienced planners screen for these early.
Use measurable outcomes
Mention KPIs or targets the role will be responsible for, such as on‑time delivery percentage, inventory turnover or schedule adherence.
Clarify authority and interactions
State whether the role can authorise schedule changes, purchase orders or expedite requests, and list the teams they will interact with daily.
Highlight development and constraints
If training, progression, or opportunities to work with continuous improvement are available, include them. Also note major constraints (e.g. long lead time parts, subcontract processes).
Production Planner salary considerations
Production Planner pay varies by industry, company size and the complexity of the operation. Employers should set pay according to the candidate's experience, shift requirements and the technical systems they must operate.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Production Planner candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
What are the typical working hours and shift patterns?
Candidates need to know whether shifts, weekends or on-call cover are required and how overtime is compensated.
Which planning or ERP/MRP systems are used?
Experienced planners will check system compatibility with their skills (e.g. SAP, Oracle, bespoke MRP).
Who will I report to and which teams will I work with daily?
Knowing the reporting line and cross‑functional contacts helps candidates understand scope and influence.
What KPIs will I be measured against?
Common measures include on‑time delivery, schedule adherence, inventory levels and reduction in lead times.
Is training or support available for new planning systems or processes?
Candidates often want to know about induction, upskilling and career progression opportunities.
Where to post a Production Planner job
This role suits candidates found through a mix of general UK job boards and specialist manufacturing or supply‑chain sites. Use sector-specific boards and professional groups for planners with ERP experience, and consider local channels or recruitment agencies for site-based roles where commuting or shift patterns matter.
Production Planner job description FAQs
Do Production Planners need formal qualifications?
Formal qualifications are not always required. Practical experience in a manufacturing environment and strong IT and planning skills are typically more important. Professional certifications in supply chain or planning (e.g. APICS/ASCM) are advantageous but usually optional.
How should I assess a candidate's planning skills at interview?
Ask for examples of schedule disruption they handled, request a walk-through of how they build a schedule, test spreadsheet and logic skills, and discuss specific metrics they improved in previous roles.
What shift details should be included in the advert?
Be explicit about start/finish times, shift rotation, frequency of weekend work and any on‑call expectations so candidates can self‑select before applying.
Should I require knowledge of a specific ERP system?
Only make a particular system essential if it is critical from day one. Otherwise list relevant systems as desirable and offer training for strong planners.
Ready to recruit a Production Planner?
Use this template to create a clear advert that attracts experienced planners, or contact our team to publish your vacancy across multiple recruitment channels.
