Once operational the successful candidate will have the following responsibilities:

• Be responsible for planning, coordination & control of the production process for specified customers, escalating any concerns to Operations Manager.
• Manage production schedules to establish lead times of each operation to meet shipping dates according to sales forecasts or customer orders.
• Challenge & calculate the resources needed, estimate costs for forward planning.
• Ensure that UK production (packing) is cost effective & identify savings where possible.
• Monitor the production processes, suggest improvements & adjust schedules as needed to ensure customer expectations are met.
• Maintain inventory of materials needed to complete production, get regular updates from colleagues on UK & Far East supplier production to ensure up to date information to plan efficient UK production, highlight timing issues to colleagues around the business where necessary.
• Chase (or oversee chasing of) UK & FE suppliers for delivery dates, negotiating to improve dates where necessary.
• Manage stock control using current IT packages, including annual stock take.
• Monitor customer acceptance of ‘gold seal’ production samples where applicable.
• Resolve issues relating to planning conflicts & issues.
• Raise purchase orders & delivery notes, update goods-in and finished goods information.
• Book in deliveries with customers and hauliers.
• Liaise with customers regarding availability, managing customer expectations & providing the best possible customer service.
• Calculate (or approve) pallet configurations using industry recognised software.
• Regularly liaise with relevant personnel, e.g. sales, marketing, design, packers, suppliers & customers.
• Identify & prepare various clearance sales lists (including finished goods, componentry, wet stock, consumables & rejects). Through appropriate & approved channels, sell & process stock to realise best possible return. Also arrange for & process giveaways or destruction of unsaleable goods.

Qualifications & experience required:
Essential
• Customer service experience, ideally within a production/supply/distribution environment
• Experience of office procedures & computerised systems with accurate & fast data inputting skills
• Key Account Management
• UK driving licence & authorisation to work in the UK
Preferred
• Experience in production planning, scheduling, supply chain management
• Experience of dealing with the Far East
• A Level standard education (or equivalent)

Skills & aptitude required:

• Ability to work calmly under pressure, to exceptionally tight deadlines with a meticulous eye for detail
• Ability to take ownership and/or responsibility for live projects in their entirety
• Assertive communication skills; ability to speak confidently with customers & suppliers in a suitable manner to effectively resolve problems whilst building relationships & protecting the company’s reputation.
• Efficient, accurate & disciplined process-driven administration skills
• Very focused & detail-oriented particularly during time critical periods
• Good written & verbal communication skills with a highly organised approach to work
• Strong numerical skills
• Self-motivated, confident & enthusiastic
• Proactive, creative & innovative within area of responsibility
• Ability to prioritise & manage multiple tasks & projects with potentially conflicting requirements – exceptional time management skills
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Adaptable & flexible to cope with the changing needs of the business
• Determination for “right-first-time” processes & resolve to understand breakdown/ failure, root cause & prevent recurrence
• Driven, exceeds goals, handles pressure, anticipates & removes barriers
• Committed to improvement, works to strengths & overcomes weaknesses, seeks & accepts feedback, seeks & accepts challenges
• Open & effective team communicator, gives assistance or information, considers needs of & works well with others
• Smart & presentable appearance, particularly when meeting with external parties