Supply Planning Lead
2 days ago
Windsor
At En Route, we elevate the onboard experience for airlines worldwide. Since 2002, we’ve grown into a leading global specialist in passenger solutions, supply chain services, and innovative onboard products—bringing creativity and reliability to some of the world’s best‑known airlines. With teams in the UK, USA, UAE, and Australia, we combine global reach with local insight. We deliver smart, scalable solutions across product development, packaging, sourcing, and end‑to‑end logistics, supporting a fast‑moving industry with confidence and care. As part of dnata’s global family, we have the backing of one of aviation’s most respected brands, giving us the stability and scale to continue innovating while staying focused on exceptional onboard solutions. What sets us apart is our people - curious, collaborative, and always looking for better ways to deliver for our customers. Working here means shaping the future of onboard hospitality, partnering with global airlines, and seeing the impact of your work take flight. About The Role: We’re looking for an experienced and proactive Supply Planning Lead to join our Supply Chain team. Reporting to the Senior Supply Planning Manager, you’ll take ownership of a defined planning area and lead two direct reports - a Supply Planner and a Mobilisation Planner. This role plays a pivotal part in managing the flow of food and catering products through a fast‑moving, high‑service airline supply chain. You will be instrumental in developing best‑in‑class planning processes, supporting the maturity of our S&OP/IBP framework, and driving continuous improvement across the function. If you enjoy working in a dynamic environment, solving complex challenges, and influencing end‑to‑end supply chain performance, this is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact! Key Responsibilities: • Lead all Supply Planning activities within the S&OP/IBP framework, ensuring robust plans that support delivery of the agreed demand plan., • Present clear insight, supply outlooks, risks, and mitigation recommendations to senior stakeholders., • Manage, develop, and coach the Supply Planner and Mobilisation Planner, driving high performance and capability growth., • Oversee the creation and execution of accurate end‑to‑end supply and distribution plans, including full DRP across the network., • Optimise inventory strategies, safety stock levels, batch parameters, and stock policies to maximise availability while minimising waste and improving working capital., • Conduct regular root‑cause analysis to address recurring supply issues and improve overall service and efficiency., • Lead the development, ownership, and governance of Supply Planning reporting, ensuring clear performance insights, accountability, and timely escalation of risks., • Work collaboratively with Product Development and Demand Management to ensure integrated, end‑to‑end supply chain planning., • Partner with Procurement to support supplier performance, continuity of supply, and supplier improvement initiatives., • Support product and menu lifecycle planning—including launches, transitions, and delists—to maintain smooth operational flow., • Champion continuous improvement across planning processes, tools, and best‑practice principles., • Use supply planning systems to model scenarios, assess constraints, and develop optimised plans., • Define, monitor, and report on KPIs to measure the health, performance, and effectiveness of the supply planning process., • Ensure all supply planning processes, procedures, and responsibilities are fully documented, accurate, and maintained. Person Specification: We’re looking for someone who brings both technical expertise and leadership capability. You will have: • Strong supply planning experience within a complex, fast‑moving supply chain environment., • A solid grounding in planning processes, inventory strategy, and broad supply chain management principles., • Experience within manufacturing, FMCG, distribution, or food supply chains (airline catering experience is a bonus)., • The ability to lead, motivate, and develop others while remaining hands‑on with planning activity when needed., • Confidence using ERP/MRP systems and making decisions based on data and insight., • A broad understanding of end‑to‑end supply chain principles and cross‑functional dependencies. Technical & Specific Skills: • Strong proficiency in ERP/MRP and supply planning systems., • Expertise in DRP, inventory optimisation, and scenario planning., • Ability to interpret complex data sets and translate them into actionable insights., • Experience contributing to or leading elements of the S&OP/IBP cycle. We are committed to creating an inclusive, equitable, and diverse workplace where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute their best. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences, and we are dedicated to ensuring a fair and accessible recruitment process for all candidates. If you require any adjustments or support during the application or interview stages, please let us know – we’re here to help! Regrettably, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we are unable to respond individually to every candidate. If you have not heard from us within 10 working days of submitting your application, unfortunately you have not been successful on this occasion. We take your privacy seriously. Any personal data you share with us during the application process will be handled in accordance with applicable data protection laws and used solely for recruitment purposes. Your information will be stored securely and retained only for as long as necessary.