Supply Chain Planner

The Supply Chain Planner plays a vital role within the Supply Chain Management team. This post will be a multi-disciplined role with key accountability for the Supply Chain Planning (S&OP) process, which is core within the supply chain function and requires supply chain planning and execution capabilities. This role is necessary to execute and facilitate the Sales & Operation Planning (S&OP) Cycle, preparation of a consolidated supply chain plan, analysis and recommendations, leading to the distribution of the forecast and orders to Synectics key suppliers.  

Along with the other members of the Supply Chain Team, the role includes planning and scheduling materials, managing material availability, troubleshooting material availability problems, determining and eliminating the root cause of problems in the supply chain, and communicating material supply issues to internal customers.

Principal Accountabilities

• Managing complex sales and demand planning spreadsheets utilised to identify shortages and surplus allocations, thus restoring supply and demand alignment.
• Raising any issues with stock shortages or surpluses.
• Analysing the output from the S&OP Process, make proposals on future purchase recommendations to the Supply Chain Manager for approval.
• Liaising with the purchasers, agree order placement with suppliers and expedite delays or issues to ensure we achieve customer order fulfilment and order supply.
• Working closely and in collaboration with operations to ensure production is effectively optimised whilst supplying products to tight deadlines.
• Producing the forecast plan and liaise with the Supply Chain Team on the supply of incoming materials and shipments to the customers. Update the forecast plan to reflect changes to customer demand.
• Analysing the demand forecast.
• Regularly review the medium to long-term forecast, present shortages and surpluses.
• Effectively manage the materials inventory, determine and maintain relevant planning data, at appropriate levels inclusive of safety stock.
• Schedule materials to meet production requirements while achieving and maintaining inventory targets.
• Maintain up-to-date purchasing parameters of parts in the ERP systems (currently EFACS), including but limited to supplier information, safety stock, lead times and pricing.
• Drive efficiencies and better utilisation of the ERP system. Elimination of non-value added tasks and contribute creatively to cost reduction/cost saving initiatives.
• As required, prepare and issue purchase orders, and ensure the supplier’s acknowledgement of purchase orders is consistent with requested dates and quantities. Negotiate, where required, the purchasing terms (price and delivery/payment terms). Represent the first level of resolution of invoice and /or receipt-related disputes with suppliers.
• Establish and maintain positive inter-departmental and intra-departmental working relationships. Represent the department in customer/supplier meetings as required.
• Support the introduction of a new ERP system.

Key Personal Attributes

Highly analytical, with excellent IT skills (including advanced Excel skills), the candidate can review data and suggest recommendations. Working in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment, the candidate will have good communication skills and the ability to build strong inter-department relationships.

A Procurement/Supply Chain background would be essential for this type of role, with the ability to analyse data using standard statistical methods, including data modelling; creates spreadsheets, graphs, and charts to illustrate findings; and draft clear and concise management reports.

Experience

The successful Supply Chain Planner will have:

• Knowledge and experience in Supply Chain Planning/Demand Management (including the S&OP Process), preferably working in a manufacturing business, desirable but not essential.
• ERP user knowledge and experience, including supply\capacity planning working in an MTO, MTF and MTS planning environment.
• Strong analytical skills, ability to work with data, preferred SQL knowledge.
• Strong IT skills and experience in MS Applications Word / Excel / PowerPoint.  Advance excel skills such as V lookups, H lookups, “IF” functions, pivot tables, charts, graphs, etc) is essential.
• Professional and positive approach, excellent listening and communication skills both verbal and written with keen attention to detail.
• Good team player with passion, customer focus, a demonstrated sense of urgency to resolve conflicts as they arise, and the ability to handle multiple priorities.
• The flexibility to handle a broad range of responsibilities, manage multiple tasks simultaneously and prioritise and organise workload.
• Must be a self-starter and be able to work independently without close supervision.
• Problem-solving and decision-making capabilities, ability to develop and maintain excellent relationships with internal and external customers, as well as troubleshooting and managing resources to gain solutions to complex supply problems.
• Good level of general education (e.g., 5 GCSE passes or equivalent, including English and Mathematics). Ideally, graduate calibre and/or CIPS qualified.
• Further education in a business-related subject would be an advantage.       

Eligibility for Employment in the UK

In accordance with current legislative requirements within the UK, any successful applicant must produce verification of their eligibility to live and work in the UK. Such verification should be taken in advance of the employment start date and the applicant will be unable to start in their role until this has been received by Synectics.

Our Commitment to Equality and Diversity

Synectics plc and its subsidiaries are committed to promoting equal opportunities in employment and in our employment policies for recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion. Such policies are in place to ensure that both job applicants and employees of Synectics receive equal treatment regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.