Production Planner

Location

Kilkenny, County Kilkenny

Company

Sofina Foods

Hours of Work

Full-time

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

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.

Country Code

IE

Why Sofina Foods?

• Competitive Salary
• Online Benefits Hub
• Life assurance scheme
• Company pension
• Free onsite parking

AdRef

INDB2

Schedule

Day Shift

Salary

Competitive Salary

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.

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

Summary

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