Junior Production Planner

**Description**:
The primary responsibility of the Junior Planner is to assist in Operational Planning and to ensure that optimal production scheduling plans are created and maintained to support production efficiencies and to ensure the best cost-effective product and material availability to support internal and external objectives.

**Responsibilities**:
**Relationship Management of Business Partners**
- Monitor the Customer or Business Partner inquiries and complaints and ensure they are resolved professionally.

**Implementation of Control Measures and Ad Hoc Management Support**
- Assist to ensure open communication channels between the Production departments.
- Providing Management support where necessary.
- Ensuring the Planner is involved or aware of the relevant matters affecting the business.

**Production Planning and Scheduling**
- Schedule and review orders and demands for a long-term period, and maintain a production plan to meet customer demands.
- Analyze data on supply and demand to optimize production planning.
- Ensure minimum and maximum stock levels are maintained at the centralized and external warehouses.
- Indicate and follow up on the purchases of raw materials to maximize and optimize production planning, and to ensure sufficient lead time for purchasing.
- Work closely with the Production and Maintenance departments to ensure the most effective production plan and downtime.
- Assist with production planning of affiliates and ensure collaboration with centralized warehouse.
- Monitor product inventory within the Company.
- Ensure the balancing of supply and demand functions.

**Reporting and Analyzing**
- Identify and develop reporting systems where necessary.
- Implement and train relevant employees to update and analyze reports.
- Forecast accuracy improvement.
- Promotional impact analysis.

**Analyzing Business Profitability and Efficiency**
- Identify and analyze production and procurement cost-saving opportunities.
- Analyze and maintain operational data for the Company.**

**Health and Safety**
- Participate in safety forums created by Soill for example safety meetings and safety talks
- Follow-up on any activities assigned through safety meetings / committees / representatives / management
- Report all safety incidents to the relevant people
- Attend safety education and refresher programmes
- Comply with safety policies and procedures at Soill
- Distribute safety information as and when required
- Wear protective clothing (where applicable) at all times

**Requirements**:
**Qualification and Experience**
- A relevant tertiary qualification (Degree) required, preferably in Supply Chain Management or a related field.
- Further tertiary qualification in Planning and Inventory Management would be advantageous.
- 1 to 2 years working experience in a similar role recommended
- An understanding of manufacturing processes and production planning principles will be advantageous
- Proficiency in MS Office Suite, especially Excel, for data analysis and reporting
- Experience within an FMCG/ manufacturing environment would be an advantage.
- Demonstrated working knowledge of planning and the critical elements/ components thereof.

**Knowledge, Skills and Attributes**
- Attention to detail and accuracy
- Planning and organizational skills
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Good numerical and data analysis skills
- Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
- Team player
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work environments.