Raw & Pack Materials Planner

Job Title: RPM Planner

Location: Leeds Factory
Function: Supply Chain

Reporting to: Site Planning Manager

 
JOB PURPOSE 

Ensure the right raw and packaging materials are available at the right time, quantity and quality to support the Leeds production plan. The role balances service and output reliability with inventory, cost, waste and supplier risk, while providing clear visibility and rapid escalation when supply is constrained.

RESPONSIBILITIES 

·   Own material planning for an assigned portfolio, translating the production plan and forecast into supplier schedules, call-offs and delivery priorities.

·   Maintain material availability against the agreed production plan, identify shortages early and lead recovery actions with suppliers, procurement, warehouses and site stakeholders.

·   Review stock, open purchase orders, demand changes, lead times, minimum order quantities and safety stock to keep inventory within agreed targets.

·   Provide daily and weekly risk visibility, including materials threatening the next 48-72 hours of production, with clear actions, owners and recovery dates.

·   Manage supplier communication and performance, including urgent requirements, delivery changes, capacity constraints and escalation of repeated service failures.

·   Control inventory risks arising from delists, innovations, formulation or artwork changes, slow-moving stock and excess materials; support depletion and obsolescence plans.

·   Maintain accurate planning parameters and transactional discipline in SAP/S1P and relevant planning tools; resolve exceptions and master-data issues promptly.

·   Support change management with Planning, Procurement, Quality, Operations and P&I so material transitions are coordinated without service, quality or waste impact.

·   Contribute to continuous improvement, automation and planning capability, including standard work, reporting, root-cause analysis and improved supplier collaboration.

·   Provide cross-cover for other RPM portfolios and support site priorities during service recovery or operational disruption.

Key interfaces

·   Site Planning and Scheduling; Operations; Quality; Procurement; P&I/Projects; Finance and Waste/Obsolescence teams.

·   Material suppliers, external warehouses, transport providers and central/category planning teams.

ALL ABOUT YOU 

Skills and experience

·   Planning experience in an FMCG, manufacturing or complex supply-chain environment; raw and packaging material planning is preferred.

·   Strong working knowledge of SAP/S1P or comparable ERP/MRP systems, with advanced Excel capability; Power BI, Power Query or automation skills are advantageous.

·   Confident analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to convert data into clear priorities and actions.

·   Strong supplier and stakeholder management, including constructive challenge, negotiation and escalation under time pressure.

·   High attention to detail, ownership and resilience, with the flexibility to manage changing production and supply priorities.

·   Clear written and verbal communication, effective teamwork and willingness to provide portfolio cross-cover.

Role success profile

·   Anticipates material risks rather than reacting after the production plan is affected.

·   Makes balanced decisions across service, inventory, cost, waste and operational feasibility.

·   Maintains trusted data, clear action tracking and disciplined follow-through.

·   Builds effective relationships with suppliers and site teams while retaining accountability for outcomes.

·   Actively improves planning processes and adopts digital tools that reduce manual work and errors.

What We Offer 

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all. 

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever | Unilever.

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How is Unilever tackling this? 

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