Senior Supply Planner

Senior Supply Planner | Food | Reigate, Surrey

We’re partnering with a well-established food business in Reigate that supplies major UK retailers and brands. They’re looking for an experienced Senior Supply Planner to own a key product and supplier portfolio, help shape planning standards, and support the development of a growing team of Supply Planners.

The role

You’ll own the end-to-end supply plan for your categories or suppliers, balancing availability, inventory, cost and risk. You’ll lead the response to significant supply issues and give the Head of Procurement clear insight to support sourcing, negotiation and inventory decisions. You’ll report to the Head of Procurement and deputise in operational planning meetings when needed.

What you’ll be doing

• Turning forecasts, customer plans, lead times and stock policies into robust purchasing and inventory plans for your portfolio.
• Setting ordering parameters and stock cover, and leading action on shortages, excess, ageing and slow-moving stock.
• Anticipating capacity, production, shipping and wider supply risks, and building contingency and recovery plans.
• Leading operational reviews with key suppliers on service, lead times and adherence to plan.
• Making sure forecast changes, promotions, tenders, launches and delists flow accurately into supply plans.
• Providing analysis to support negotiations, tenders, sourcing decisions and new supplier assessments.
• Coordinating supply for launches, specification and packaging changes, and supplier transfers.
• Leading planning discussions with Sales, Technical, Operations, Logistics and Finance.
• Coaching and supporting Supply Planners, and acting as the escalation point for complex issues.

What you’ll bring

• Strong experience in supply planning, procurement, purchasing or inventory management, ideally within food, FMCG or an international supply chain.
• Proven ownership of a complex supplier or product portfolio, including long lead times and supply disruption.
• A good understanding of international shipping, import processes, duties, delivery terms and documentation.
• Advanced spreadsheet skills and strong competence with ERP, purchasing or planning systems.
• Confident supplier management, influencing and negotiation skills.
• Sound commercial judgement and calm decision-making under pressure.
• Clear communication, with the ability to turn complex data into practical recommendations.

Nice to have

• Experience supporting tenders, product launches, supplier changes or improvement projects.
• Food industry experience and awareness of ethical sourcing, sustainability and technical compliance.

Why apply

• A high-impact role with real ownership in a fast-paced food business.
• The chance to shape planning standards and develop others.
• Discretionary Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) bonus.
• Pension matched up to 5%.
• Healthcare and life cover.
• 23 days’ holiday, increasing with length of service.

Please note: this is an office-based role in Reigate, so applicants need to live within 25 miles.

Interested? Apply now or message me directly for a confidential conversation.