Supply Chain Planning Lead

Supply Chain Planning Lead

About Zotefoams

Zotefoams plc is a global manufacturer of advanced cellular materials and high-performance polymer foam products, supplying customers across automotive, aviation, medical, industrial, sports and other technical markets.

We are looking for an experienced Supply Chain Planning Lead to join our T-FIT business.

This is a manufacturing planning role. We are specifically looking for candidates with hands-on planning experience within a manufacturing or industrial environment.

About the Role

The Supply Chain Planning Lead will be responsible for coordinating demand planning, supply planning, inventory planning and production planning across an international manufacturing supply chain.

You will translate sales forecasts and customer demand into achievable supply and production plans, working closely with manufacturing, procurement, logistics and commercial teams.

The role requires someone who understands the relationship between customer demand, manufacturing capacity, materials, inventory and production schedules, and who can identify supply risks before they affect customer service or revenue.

Key Responsibilities

• Own and coordinate demand, supply and inventory planning activities for the T-FIT business.
• Translate sales forecasts and customer demand into realistic production and supply plans.
• Run regular demand and supply planning reviews.
• Balance demand against manufacturing capacity, material availability and inventory.
• Identify capacity constraints, material shortages and supply risks.
• Work closely with manufacturing sites, procurement, logistics and commercial teams.
• Monitor inventory levels, product availability, excess stock and working capital.
• Maintain accurate planning parameters and data within ERP/MRP systems.
• Monitor forecast accuracy and investigate significant demand variances.
• Produce clear planning reports covering demand, supply, inventory, capacity and customer service.
• Improve planning processes, data quality and planning discipline.
• Escalate supply risks and recommend practical corrective actions.

Essential Experience

To be considered, you should have:

• 5+ years' experience in supply chain planning within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong hands-on experience in at least two of the following: demand planning, supply planning, production planning, inventory planning or S&OP.
• Experience translating sales forecasts into manufacturing or supply plans.
• Experience planning around production capacity, materials and inventory constraints.
• Good knowledge of MRP and ERP systems and how they support manufacturing planning.
• Strong Excel and data analysis skills.
• Experience monitoring inventory, forecast accuracy and supply performance.
• Experience working directly with production/manufacturing, procurement and commercial teams.
• Strong spoken and written English, as the role regularly works with colleagues across the UK, Europe, USA and Asia.

Preferred Background

We are particularly interested in candidates who have worked within:

• Polymer, plastics or foam manufacturing
• Chemicals or specialty chemicals
• Advanced materials
• Automotive components
• Industrial manufacturing
• Engineered products
• Other complex manufacturing environments

Experience within an international or multi-site manufacturing organisation would be particularly valuable.

Experience with S&OP/S&OE, MRP, ERP and integrated demand and supply planning would also be advantageous.

A bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Engineering, Operations, Business or a related discipline is preferred.

Who This Role Is Not For

This is not a warehouse, transportation, freight forwarding or purely logistics-focused role.

We are looking for someone whose core experience is in planning within a manufacturing supply chain, with responsibility for balancing customer demand against production capacity, materials and inventory.