Senior Production Planner

Darwen Terracotta Limited is an established business, which has gained a well deserved reputation for the production of traditional architectural terracotta both in the UK and its export markets. Our prestigious portfolio includes restoration and new builds; Natural History Museum, Royal Albert Hall and The Londoner Hotel in the UK, Grace Hotel in Sydney, Ritz Carlton in Montreal and The Guild in Dubai to name but a few.

Darwen Terracotta’s sister company; Whitebirk Sinks Co, supplies handmade fireclay sinks across the world. Our customer base includes distributors, showrooms and direct consumers. We have a bespoke range of Kitchen sinks and Bathroom basins in a variety of colours which are marketed via brochures, exhibitions and an online shop.

Due to our continuing expansion in both companies, we have a vacancy for an Architectural Technical Sales Assistant

**Senior Production Planner**

**Main objective**:

- You will work closely with the Contracts Director, as well as Production Managers to coordinate and schedule all projects for production, ensuring to cohere with forecasted project programs. As a project planner, you are expected to be able to report the progress of items in production to management and meet monthly targets.

**Key Responsibilities**:

- Liaise with the Contracts Director from handover stage, to analyse quotes and understand each individual jobs lead times for what is forecasted, and the allocated production hours.
- Develop and maintain a Master Production Schedule, using data analysis techniques to increase productivity and workflow in production.
- Responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the company’s bespoke production monitoring system.
- Organise weekly production meetings, to schedule new items into production and assist management to coordinate departmental work tasks in accordance with forecasted production hours.
- Build and maintain effective working relationships within the factory, and all relevant internal teams, to ensure effective communication and feedback of information.
- Assist to motivate production, promoting engagement and focus, in aid of delivering production plans and targets.
- To coordinate and oversee the daily operational planning function, monitoring production performance versus plan to ensure production is delivered to meet forecasted lead times, and report on overall production progress.
- Review, analyse and interpret purchasing data, to anticipate problems with the flow of materials/supplies for production, communicate shortages or delays, to report on potential interruptions.
- Keep Management up to date on projects, and alter production where required, with overall company success in mind.
- Help to develop new processes and initiatives to further improve overall production performance.

**Skills & Attributes**:

- Experience in production & supply chain planning
- Naturally organised, with excellent time management.
- Ability to work under pressure on multiple tasks and manage priorities
- Has great attention to detail, maintains focus within a fast-paced environment.
- Self-motivated and able to work alone or as part of a team.
- People’s person, with ability to build working relationships, and is confident to communicate at all levels.
- Has an analytical, yet practical approach to problem solving.
- A willingness to learn, who can be adaptable.
- Continuous improvement mentality and receptive to change.
- Good knowledge of MS office and Google

**Essential Requirements**:

- A friendly, yet robust individual, with ability to engage and communicate at all levels.
- Can demonstrate experience within a planning, production control, or similar role ideally in the manufacturing industry.
- Computer literate, with Intermediate working knowledge of Microsoft and Google packages.
- Well organised, with good knowledge of production planning techniques.

Salary dependent on experience offered along with a company pension scheme, healthcare plan, 33 days annual leave and an annual performance related bonus.

**Benefits**:

- Company events
- Company pension
- On-site parking

Schedule:

- 8 hour shift
- Day shift
- Monday to Friday

Supplemental pay types:

- Yearly bonus

Ability to commute/relocate:

- Blackburn: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

**Experience**:

- Production Scheduling: 3 years (preferred)
- Production Management: 3 years (preferred)

Work Location: One location