Master Planner (14 month FTC) at MRD Recruitment · Livingsto…

I'm working on behalf of a global manufacturing company to recruit a Master Planner on 14 month Fixed Term Contract. The Master Planner will be based in Livingston and report into the Global Supply Chain Manager. This role offers a hybrid working model of 3 days in the office and 2 days working from home.

Reporting into the Supply Chain Manager, the Master Planner will take ownership of the long-term, integrated supply plan, turning demand forecasts and commercial priorities into realistic production, inventory and deployment plans.

This is a highly visible and influential role at the centre of the supply chain. You will work closely with Sales, Manufacturing, Procurement, Logistics and Finance to manage constraints, improve planning accuracy and ensure customers receive the right products at the right time.

You will have the autonomy to challenge assumptions, evaluate different supply scenarios and recommend decisions that improve service, inventory performance and working capital.

Key Responsibilities for the Master Planner (14 month Fixed Term Contract) based in Livingston include;

• Develop and maintain a consolidated demand and supply plan across multiple manufacturing sites using ERP and MRP systems.
• Translate sales orders, forecasts, pipeline movements and commercial activity into an achievable long-term supply plan.
• Work closely with manufacturing teams to understand capacity, production schedules and operational constraints.
• Test and challenge forecast assumptions, identify bias and lead actions to improve forecast accuracy.
• Convert unconstrained demand forecasts into realistic, capacity-aligned supply plans.
• Align production, inventory deployment and inter-site stock movements with customer demand.
• Identify demand volatility and clearly communicate its effect on production, capacity, materials and customer service.
• Partner with site schedulers, procurement teams and plant buyers to ensure raw materials and packaging are available in line with production requirements.
• Balance customer service, safety stock and working capital objectives to optimise inventory across the network.
• Support the management of slow-moving and obsolete stock, new product introductions and product discontinuations.
• Maintain accurate planning parameters and master data, including lead times, lot sizes, safety stocks and planning time fences.
• Produce and interpret planning KPIs covering forecast accuracy, service, inventory turns and schedule adherence.
• Lead root-cause analysis into forecast errors, supply issues and customer-service failures.
• Facilitate monthly cross-functional planning reviews, presenting clear options and recommendations to senior stakeholders.

What makes this role particularly attractive?

This is more than a production-planning position. You will influence decisions across an international manufacturing network and help shape how the organisation plans and responds to changing customer demand.

As Master Planner, based in Livingston you will be trusted to make day-to-day planning decisions, recommend changes to inventory and production strategies, and improve the planning processes used across multiple sites. You will be an experienced supply chain planning professional who is comfortable working across multiple sites, functions and competing priorities.

Ideally, as Master Planner you will bring:

• Approximately 3-7+ years' experience in master planning, supply planning or demand planning within a manufacturing environment.
• Strong experience using ERP and MRP systems to translate demand into feasible production and supply plans.
• A good understanding of manufacturing capacity, scheduling, procurement, logistics and inventory deployment.
• Experience managing supply constraints, demand volatility and competing customer priorities.
• Strong knowledge of inventory optimisation, including safety stock, ABC analysis, stock policies and slow-moving or obsolete inventory.
• Experience measuring and improving forecast accuracy, customer service and inventory performance.
• Advanced Excel and data-analysis skills, with the ability to turn complex information into clear recommendations.
• Experience using reporting or business-intelligence tools such as Power BI would be advantageous.
• The confidence to challenge assumptions and influence stakeholders across Sales, Manufacturing, Procurement, Logistics and Finance.