Job Description

Description of the role

As a Planning Manager, you and your team are responsible for the planning activities within Elst in the areas of finished products, material planning and master data. You oversee the production plan within and outside the factory horizon and represent the factory in various consultations with external stakeholders. Within the factory you are the point of contact for production manager/process owners, logistics team leaders and Quality/ORM. You manage the production plan in the factory horizon and ensure with your team that the factory runs as efficiently as possible in relation to the other KPI’s (reviewed yearly). In addition to the production plan, you take care of our material stock on site, you oversee stock-high/stock low situations and oversee the supply of strategic materials like PET or tomato paste. Weekly you evaluate the long-term/high impact material stock expectations and take action together with quality, production and procurement. Above all, you keep an eye on Elst's customer service level to our customers and support the plant to optimize our OEE numbers. In addition, you challenge the business to continuously improve by seeking collaboration with central functions such as Logistics, Supply planning and Network design. You are able to build bridges and act in a connecting manner to ensure that we plan smarter and arrive at a shared general project approach with commercial teams within Kraftheinz. Finally, you motivate and support your team to develop further and emphasize the importance of continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities:

Production planning & execution

• Own the factory production plan in the factory horizon; ensure plans are available on time and are feasible.
• Monitor planned losses and drive actions to protect/improve OEE.
• Escalate and resolve constraints impacting plan feasibility.

Material & inventory management

• Own material stock health and safetystock strategy; manage stock‑high / stock‑low situations.
• Ensure material POs are placed on time (consider MOQ, lead times, contracts, warehouse capacity).
• Lead medium/long‑term planning for strategic materials (e.g., tomato paste) and weekly reviews of long‑term material risks.

Team leadership

• Line‑manage the planning team: daily direction, 1:1 coaching, appraisals and performance conversations.
• Build team capability and promote continuous improvement.

Systems, parameters & process ownership

• Maintain and improve planning system settings and routines (SAP, OMP, bulk tool, PASO, MOQ).
• Own accuracy of safetystock and related SAP routines; initiate system improvement projects.

Cross‑functional collaboration & stakeholder management

• Act as planning connector across production, logistics, quality, procurement, S&OP and commercial teams.
• Lead SLA discussions with procurement/suppliers and represent the factory in supplier/central‑team meetings.

Reporting & continuous improvement

• Provide clear Service KPI reporting, investigate supplier/performance issues and drive RCAs and corrective plans.
• Identify and lead efficiency projects to improve capacity planning and delivery performance.

Required competences/skills/characteristics:

• Dutch and English language, spoken and written

• Good knowledge of MS Excel and SAP

• Knowledge and understanding of production processes and inventory management

• Problem solving skills

• Translate analytical and numerical insight into the business

• Ability to communicate clearly, influence and challenge at all levels

• Attention to detail and process improvements

• Bridge builder and connector with both local teams and central teams such as logistics, purchasing and commerce.

Required education:

• HBO/WO level

Location(s)

Elst

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.