Supply Planning Manager at WD-40 COMPANY

Central Milton Keynes, England, United Kingdom -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

23 Apr, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

23 Jan, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Supply Planning, Inventory Management, Supplier Relationship Management, Data Analysis, Collaboration, Problem Solving, Production Planning, Logistics Coordination, Continuous Improvement, Leadership, Communication, Risk Mitigation, Health & Safety Compliance, Team Development, Automation, Digitalisation

Industry

Wholesale Chemical and Allied Products

Description

Overview We’re looking for a proactive and solutions‑driven Supply Planning Manager to play a key role in ensuring our finished goods reach customers on time and in full. In this role, you’ll manage the end‑to‑end supply planning process for our external manufacturing partners-balancing cost, capacity, and inventory to support our commercial goals. You’ll work closely with colleagues across Procurement, Demand Planning, Logistics, and our third‑party manufacturing partners to keep supply running smoothly, maintain strong service levels, and minimise operational risk. By aligning production plans with demand forecasts, you’ll help drive efficiency, support business continuity, and keep our extended supply chain performing at its best. If you enjoy bringing structure to complexity, collaborating across teams, and making a measurable impact on service and cost, this could be the perfect next step for you. Responsibilities Supply Management Lead the end‑to‑end ordering and replenishment process, ensuring purchase orders meet customer demand, market forecasts, and inventory plans. Partner with external suppliers to co‑create production plans that optimise capacity, cost, and delivery performance. Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date master data for all SKUs. Monitor production plans, proactively managing variances, expediting or de‑expediting as needed to protect service levels. Coordinate resolution of production or capacity challenges, working closely with internal partners to maintain OTIF and other key metrics. Take timely corrective action to minimise or prevent stock‑outs. Work alongside Supply Chain and Sourcing Managers to ensure effective purchasing and protect sales margins. Oversee component consignment stock held with Tier 1 suppliers, including stock tracking, transfer approvals, usage monitoring, and compliance. Manage and optimise total inventory positions across markets and suppliers, analysing YTD performance and forecasts to drive corrective actions. Support long‑term 5‑year volume planning and allocate SKU volumes between suppliers to meet strategic targets. Supplier Performance Management Lead supplier relationship and performance management, ensuring targets such as OTIF and FCD are met. Communicate clear performance expectations aligned with product specifications to maintain product integrity. Manage and coordinate all expediting and de‑expediting activities. Systems Development & Continuous Improvement Drive the development, enhancement, and continuous improvement of supply planning systems and tools. Partner with IT and external providers to resolve system issues, enhance functionality, and maintain stability. Lead automation and digitalisation initiatives to improve planning efficiency and reduce manual workload. Train and support system users, ensuring best practice utilisation. Monitor system performance and coordinate upgrades to meet evolving business needs. Communication & Reporting Communicate supply issues, risks, and resolutions across the business in both routine and ad‑hoc updates. Deliver timely and accurate reporting on obsolescence and contributing factors. Provide inventory planning insights to support strategic sales and supply chain decisions. Troubleshooting & Risk Mitigation Lead the resolution of short‑ and medium‑term supply issues, working cross‑functionally to find solutions. Provide proactive recommendations on inventory planning and oversee follow‑through to resolution. Support key supply chain projects focused on continuous improvement and risk reduction. Concentrate Production Oversight Oversee the production of WD‑40 concentrate to ensure Quality and R&D requirements are consistently met. Supervise the Production Coordinator and ensure adequate resources are aligned to the production forecast. Manage planning, manufacture, and supply of concentrate to maintain seamless supply to first‑tier suppliers. Ensure optimal raw material availability in line with collaborative demand and inventory plans. Maintain full compliance with health & safety requirements at Kiln Farm and throughout production processes. Leadership Demonstrate servant leadership while driving corporate, departmental, and personal goals. Model company values and the Code of Conduct in all interactions. Coach, train, and develop team members through ongoing feedback and experiential learning. Identify and remove barriers to performance, ensuring the team has the resources and information needed to succeed. Qualifications Professional supply chain qualifications (CIPS L2–L6, IoSCM, or similar) are preferred but not essential. Strong experience in materials and supply planning roles, ideally within FMCG or consumer packaged goods. Prior experience in a collaboration‑focused and leadership‑oriented role managing small teams. Broad commercial exposure across supply chain, operations, and cross‑functional business areas.

Responsibilities

The Supply Planning Manager will lead the end-to-end supply planning process, ensuring that finished goods reach customers on time and in full. This includes managing supplier relationships, optimizing inventory positions, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.