Planning Manager
| Company: | The Compleat Food Group |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £50-60k |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | Milton Keynes |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 13 Jul 2026 |
| Closing date: | 12 Aug 2026 |
Summary
Job Advert
Planning Manager
Milton Keynes
£50,000 - £60,000
The Compleat Food Group
Are you an experienced planning professional looking for an opportunity to make a real impact within a fast-paced food
manufacturing environment?
At The Compleat Food Group, we're looking for a talented Planning Manager to lead our Planning team at our Milton Keynes site.
This is a fantastic opportunity to play a pivotal role in ensuring customer demand is met efficiently while driving continuous
improvement across planning, materials, inventory and supply chain performance.
Reporting to the General Manager, you'll lead a team of Production Planners and Material Controllers, ensuring manufacturing plans
are delivered in the most cost-effective way, while maintaining exceptional service levels and supporting the site's operational
objectives.
What you'll be doing
* Leading and developing a team of Production Planners and Material Controllers.
* Creating robust production plans that balance customer demand, labour, capacity, inventory and material availability.
* Collaborating with Commercial, Supply Chain, Operations and Finance teams to accurately forecast demand and future capacity
requirements.
* Ensuring the timely availability of raw materials and packaging whilst controlling stock levels and waste.
* Managing labour planning to ensure resource aligns with customer demand and production requirements.
* Monitoring and improving key planning KPIs including service levels, plan attainment, labour variance and stock disposals.
* Identifying and mitigating supply chain risks to minimise disruption and maintain customer service.
* Coordinating seasonal and peak-period planning activities to ensure continuity of supply.
* Driving continuous improvement initiatives across planning systems, processes and ways of working.
* Supporting logistics and distribution activities to optimise service and minimise cost.
* Building strong cross-functional relationships to ensure business priorities are achieved.
* Promoting a culture of food safety, quality, compliance and operational excellence across site.
What we're looking for
* Previous experience within a Planning Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Planning Controller or similar role within food
manufacturing.
* Proven experience leading and developing planning teams.
* Strong understanding of production planning, materials management, forecasting and inventory control.
* Experience working with ERP systems and advanced Excel.
* Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
* Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
* Knowledge of UK food manufacturing standards and best practice.
* Ability to identify opportunities for continuous improvement and drive positive change.
* Full UK driving licence.
Why Join Us?
About The Compleat Food Group
At The Compleat Food Group, we’re proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to
create Food to Feel Good - great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat.
We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands, including Wall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real
Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture, and Harvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio,
we’re a leading supplier of delicious own-label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added-value egg products,
continental meats, dips and sauces and plant-based food to the UK’s major retailers, as well as across foodservice.
With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites, and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape
the future of food for the better.
We are backed by European private equity firm PAI Partners.
At The Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits
designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing, and career growth:
Financial & Lifestyle Benefits
* Salary Sacrifice Schemes - including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension
* 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays) with the option to purchase extra
* Holiday Discounts via our online retail platform
* Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in-store
* Free product handouts across our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand
* EV charging points - available at selected sites
Health & Wellbeing
* Private Medical Insurance (work level dependent)
* Group Life Assurance (work level dependent)
* 24/7 access to GroceryAid for free financial, emotional, and practical support
* Physical Wellbeing Hub - free on-demand exercise classes, gym discounts
* Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes
* Online wellbeing support - from mindfulness to lifestyle resources
* Financial wellbeing tools - including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid
Career Growth & Development
* Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS)
* Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role
* Performance Development Plans and regular Career Conversations
* Company Mentoring Scheme to add depth and really support your career journey
* Recognition through Club Compleat rewards
Community & Culture
* 2 paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes that matter to you
* Charity initiatives and fundraising events
* Team socials to connect and celebrate together
* Employee networks & support groups - including Women @ Compleat
* New baby gift for new parents