Production Planner | Kilkenny
| Company: | Sofina |
| Location: | Ireland |
| Salary: | Competitive Salary |
The Production Planner plays a critical role in ensuring customer demand is met efficiently within a high-volume food manufacturing environment, developing effective production plans that optimise capacity, control stock levels and minimise waste
The Role
The Production Planner is responsible for converting customer orders and forecasts into achievable production schedules while balancing raw material availability, labour capacity, yields and plant constraints. Working cross-functionally with Production, Quality, Procurement, Logistics and Commercial teams, the role ensures plan adherence, operational efficiency and continuous improvement in planning accuracy and performance.
Your Key Responsibilities
Planning & Scheduling
- Prepare and maintain daily, weekly and medium-term production plans
- Translate customer orders and forecasts into efficient and achievable production schedules
- Optimise throughput by balancing materials, labour, yields and plant constraints
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date system data
- Inventory & Stock Control
- Monitor stock levels, shelf-life and stock rotation to minimise shortages and waste
- Support stock takes, investigate variances and ensure full traceability of raw materials and finished goods
Coordination & Communication
- Liaise closely with Production, Quality, Procurement, Logistics and Commercial teams
- Attend daily and weekly planning meetings and support deviations from plan
- Communicate schedule changes, risks and capacity constraints clearly
- Performance & Continuous Improvement
- Track, analyse and report key planning KPIs including service level, waste, yield, labour efficiency and stock holding
- Identify and support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance planning accuracy and operational efficiency
Compliance & Food Safety
- Ensure planning activities comply with GMP, HACCP, food safety, traceability and audit requirements
- Participate in internal, customer and third-party audits
- Adhere to all company policies, Health & Safety, Food Safety and Quality standards
The Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 2 years’ experience in production planning within a manufacturing environment, ideally within Food or FMCG. They will hold APICS CPIM (v8.0) or a relevant third-level qualification in Supply Chain, Production Planning or a related discipline.
They will bring:
- A strong understanding of demand management, MRP, capacity planning and inventory control
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills and strong analytical capability
- A good working knowledge of GMP, HACCP, food safety and traceability within an Irish/EU food manufacturing context
- Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills
- The ability to manage competing priorities, work to tight deadlines and drive continuous improvement
Why Sofina Foods?
- Competitive Salary
- Online Benefits Hub
- Life assurance scheme
- Company pension
- Free onsite parking
Company Information
Sofina Foods isn’t just a food company – It’s a place to build your future.
With a team of over 13,000 people across 40 sites in Canada and Europe, we’re passionate about delivering quality meats and seafood products to consumers around the world.
Join a company where innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction drive everything we do. At Sofina, you’ll grow your skills, make a real impact, and work with responsibly sourced products from more than 50 protein sources across five continents.
Our vision is bold: to be the most successful food company in the world. If you’re looking for a rewarding career in the food industry, there’s a place for you at Sofina Foods.
Equal Opportunities
Sofina Foods is proud to be an equal opportunities employer. We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences – regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.