Print Production Planner

Manpower; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A manufacturing company in Newcastle is seeking an experienced Print Production Planner. This role is pivotal in ensuring efficient print and packaging job management. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in production planning within manufacturing environments, proficiency in ERP/MRP systems like SAP or JDE, and excellent communication skills. Responsibilities include developing production schedules, liaising with various teams, and optimizing workflows. This is a permanent position with competitive salary and offers a collaborative work environment.

Qualifications

• Strong experience in production planning and scheduling within manufacturing or print environments.
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems like SAP or JDE.
• Ability to meet tight deadlines under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain production schedules for print and packaging orders.
• Utilise ERP/MRP systems to manage production work orders.
• Liaise with teams to ensure job specifications are aligned.

Skills

Production planning

Scheduling

ERP/MRP systems

Data analysis

Communication

Organizational skills

Problem-solving

Education

Post-secondary qualification in Business, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain

Tools

SAP

JDE

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Job Specification: Print Production Planner

Location: Newcastle
Hours: 37.5 hours per week
Type: Permanent
Salary: Competitive
Reports To: Supply Chain Manager

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced and detail-oriented Print Production Planner to join our dynamic and growing manufacturing team in Newcastle. Reporting to the Supply Chain Manager and working closely with the Plant Manager, this role is a key link between customer demand and manufacturing operations, ensuring that all print and packaging jobs are planned, scheduled, and delivered efficiently, accurately, and on time. You will play a pivotal role in optimising production capacity, aligning resources and materials, and maintaining a smooth, cost-effective workflow from initial job request through to dispatch. This position offers the opportunity to influence how print operations are planned and executed, supporting both business growth and continuous improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain short- and medium-term production schedules for print and packaging orders, ensuring capacity, materials, and labour are effectively balanced.
• Utilise ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, JDE) to manage production work orders, scheduling data, and material requirements.
• Ensure that all production plans align with business objectives, capacity, and customer delivery commitments.
• Liaise with Sales, Customer Service, Procurement, Print Operations, Finishing, Packing, and Dispatch teams to ensure complete alignment on job specifications, deadlines, and materials.
• Review job specifications for accuracy and feasibility, identifying any potential material shortages, machine capacity issues, or labour constraints.
• Coordinate with third-party suppliers and subcontractors to ensure external processes align with internal schedules.
• Track and monitor job progress through each stage of the production process, identifying bottlenecks or risks to delivery timelines.
• Implement corrective actions (e.g., re-sequencing, overtime, subcontracting) to maintain on-time, in-full delivery performance.
• Maintain accurate documentation and provide regular reports on scheduling performance, KPIs, and efficiency metrics such as schedule adherence, downtime, and waste.
• Assist the production team onsite, storing the artwork files in a library (both electronically and physically).
• Work collaboratively with continuous improvement and operations teams to identify opportunities to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and optimise equipment utilisation.
• Support root cause analysis and corrective actions on any recurring production issues.
• Ensure all activities comply with health, safety, quality, and operational standards, communicating any scheduling impacts resulting from non-conformances or rework.
• Communicate effectively across departments, ensuring all stakeholders are informed of schedule updates, risks, and progress.
• Escalate production challenges proactively to management and suggest practical, data-driven solutions.

Skills & Experience

• Strong experience in production planning and scheduling, ideally within manufacturing, print, or packaging environments.
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems (such as SAP, JDE, or similar) and strong data literacy for managing and analysing scheduling data.
• Proven ability to work under pressure, adapt to changing priorities, and meet tight deadlines.
• Excellent communication skills – both verbal and written – with the ability to collaborate across multiple teams.
• Understanding of manufacturing workflows, including capacity, material availability, and equipment constraints.
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.

Qualifications

• Post‑secondary qualification (Diploma or Bachelor's degree) in Business, Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or related discipline.
• Practical experience in production planning, scheduling, or manufacturing coordination.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

Apply today!