Production Scheduler / Planner

Confidential Client | Manufacturing & Engineering Environment

Dorset

So… What Is This Role, Really?

Imagine being the person who knows what's being made, when it's being made, what it's being made from-and what's going wrong before anyone else does.

That's this job.

We're looking for a Production Scheduler / Planner to take control of a busy manufacturing operation where plans exist… but don't always behave themselves. You'll be the one turning customer orders into actual, achievable production schedules-and then defending, adjusting, and occasionally rescuing those plans in real time.

This is not a passive role. If you like sitting back and "seeing how things go," this will feel like chaos. If you like being in the middle of it, making things work-welcome home.

What You'll Actually Be Doing as Production Scheduler / Planner

In short: keeping everything moving, despite everyone and everything trying to disrupt it.

More specifically:

Taking customer orders and turning them into something the factory can actually deliver (not just hopeful promises)
Running weekly MRP-and questioning it like a seasoned detective ("that can't be right…")
Managing materials purchasing so production doesn't grind to a halt because someone forgot a £2 component
Tracking material pricing and negotiating where possible (yes, spreadsheets… but useful ones)
Making sure goods-in and kitting don't become a daily treasure hunt
Keeping the system accurate-because "the system says we've got it" is only helpful if it's true
Building daily production schedules that reflect reality, not wishful thinking
Constantly re-prioritising as new "urgent" requests appear (they will all be urgent)
Coordinating subcontract processes-because things leaving site and coming back again should ideally be planned
Closing work orders properly-no zombie jobs lurking in the system for eternity
Sitting in meetings where everyone has a different priority and somehow leaving with a plan

The Reality Check

Your perfect schedule will last approximately 3-17 minutes before something changes
Customers will want things sooner. Production will want more time. You'll sit in the middle, smiling politely
The phrase "quick question" will rarely be quick
You will become the person people come to when things don't add up

What Success Looks Like as Production Scheduler/Planner

The factory runs smoother (people might not say it-but they'll feel it)
Materials are available when needed-not early, not late, not missing entirely
Your plans are trusted because they're realistic
You can say "no" (or "not yet") without causing a minor uprising
Problems get solved before they become… bigger problems

Who This Will Suit

You're organised-but not in a rigid, clipboard-and-stopwatch way.

You're calm under pressure, good at problem-solving, and not easily thrown when three people ask you for three different things at once.

Ideally, you'll bring:

Solid experience with MRP in a fast-paced manufacturing environment
A background in engineering or production (precision environments would be a bonus)
Experience aligning materials with production schedules
Enough IT confidence to get what you need from systems without swearing at them constantly
A hands-on approach-you're happy to leave your desk and go find answers
The confidence to challenge things that don't make sense (because some won't)
A sharp eye for detail-small mistakes here have a habit of becoming very visible laterBonus points if you've ever improved a process that everyone else had just accepted as "the way it is."

Why This Role Is Actually Worth It

You won't be bored
You'll have real influence over how things run
You'll be trusted to make decisions (and occasionally miracles)
There's genuine opportunity to improve systems and processes-not just maintain them

Final Thought

If you enjoy solving problems, making sense of moving parts, and being the person who quietly keeps everything on track-even when it really shouldn't be-this will suit you.

If you like everything going exactly to plan… we admire your optimism.

Benefits

An exciting opportunity to be a pivotal part of the business
Up to £45k basic salary
Pension
Parking on site
Friendly team

If you would like more information on this position please don't hesitate to get in touch

(phone number removed)