Inbound Materials Flow & Blending Planner (Pg Tips)

An excellent opportunity has arisen to join a world leading global organisation, our client Unilever are currently looking for an Materials Planner (PG Tips) based at Unilever’s prestigious facility in Trafford Park (Unilever UK Foods). This is a full time temporary role for a period of 6 months, working a 38 hour week, paying between £33,014.4 and £34,608 per annum, pro rata.

MAIN JOB PURPOSE:
(1) To act as a key point of contact for the central planning team in Katowice and ensure an effective and timely communication between them and the operational teams in the factory. To manage all material-management activities which remain within the Sourcing Unit’s (SU) scope.
(2) To plan the site blending operation in order to meet internal and customer requirements and performance targets.

KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY:
* Schedule the blending operation in order to deliver blended tea to the production lines in time for production according to the finished goods plan.
* Manage the schedule for incoming Original Teas and be the lead contact for the Ultralogistiks Bulk & Ocean transport operation.
* Plan the dispatches from the export-lanes including the semi-finished blends and the export finished goods.
* Ensure the delivery of planning performance targets including customer service and inventory. Support the delivery of wider site objectives including cost, line efficiency, waste/obsoletes, etc.
* Build relationships with the Warehouse & Distribution (W&D) operational team and support them in producing blends in accordance with the blending plan and delivering materials according to production requirements.
* Build relationships with the relevant USCC teams including the Beverages Category and Tea Procurement.
* Coordinate the SU’s input to Supplier Business Rules, Transport Delivery Schedules, Artwork Coordination.
* Resolve issues regarding local materials-handling errors in SAP or other appropriate systems and ensure the root causes are investigated and solutions implemented.
* Lead discussions regarding obsoletes with the MCOs
* Escalate issues which create risk to delivery of targets with potential solutions using appropriate escalation routes
* Participate in, support or lead (as appropriate) the implementation of internal and external projects and innovation within the scope of planning.
* Identify, implement and share improvements in ways of working, systems or processes within the scope of planning.
* Collaborate with colleagues and cover absences as appropriate for the delivery of site objectives
* Seek an understanding of, and follow, site procedure.

CRITICAL KEY SKILLS
S&OP
* Understands the End to End Supply Chain and the impact of local factory planning
* Understands the concepts of Service, Stocks, Capacity, Efficiency and Responsiveness as they apply in our factories
* Understands the customer (MCO) planning cycles and the concepts of demand, forecast and sales
* Understands Materials Requirements Planning (MRP) and associated concepts
* Has a working knowledge of the concepts of tea-blending and tea-purchasing
Use of Planning Systems – Using SAP-based, web-based and excel based planning tools as appropriate
Communication – Ability to communicate clearly & concisely to both internal and external parties through a variety of mediums including email, telephone, video-conference, face to face meetings and presentations

KEY COMPETENCIES:

Communicating:
* Communicates in a clear & concise manner in written and verbal English and is able to influence & gain the agreement of others
* Is able to influence & gain the agreement of others
* Has the confidence to share own work and challenge that of others
* Listens to & considers other people’s views & opinions
Growth Mind-set:
* Has a high attention to detail in quality of own work
* Works conscientiously, is eager & keen to succeed
* Initiates actions & makes decisions
* Completes own work & looks for other ways to contribute
* Understands the concept of balancing opposing KPIs in order to deliver the best overall solution
Problem Solving:
* Identifies problems & finds solutions to the root cause as well as to manage immediate consequences
* Escalates problems in appropriate manner where solutions cannot be implemented independently
* Ensure any solutions are fit for purpose and adopted on time and in full
* Discusses and agrees solutions with other parties as necessary
Continuous Improvement Mind-set:
* Committed to achieving, maintaining & improving site standards
* Generates ideas to improve ways of workings, systems and processes within scope of the role
* Adopts a positive approach to change and fully participates in projects which plan to deliver change
* Challenges others in the spirit of achieving the best possible solution to improvements
Flexible:
* Adapts to new situations & ways of working. Is able to cope with changing demands or objectives
* Accepts new challenges
* Is resilient in the face of changing expectations and variable work-loads
Customer & Consumer Focus:
* Has a passion for improving the lives of consumers – understands how own work helps to create better futures, every day.
* Brings the voice of the consumer into everything we do – sees things through their eyes, ensuring consumer insights guide all our decisions.
* Externally focused – goes the extra mile in order to exceed consumer and customer expectations.
* Whatever his/her work is, always looks for better ways to serve consumers and customers.
Team Working:
* Works effectively with others, co-operates with colleagues & sensitive to others’ needs
* Mindful of, assists & helps develop others to support the factory achieve targets