Manager - Planning

WE ARE HIRING: Manager – Planning 

Location: Ratmalana, Sri Lanka
Employment Type: Full Time
Industry: Flexible Packaging Manufacturing

Role Overview 

We are seeking a highly analytical and operationally driven Manager – Planning to lead production planning, capacity management, delivery reliability, and operational scheduling across a fast-paced flexible packaging manufacturing environment. The successful candidate will own end-to-end planning operations and serve as the central point connecting Sales, Production, Quality, Maintenance, Stores, and Supply Chain functions. This role is responsible for ensuring delivery commitments are realistic, achievable, and supported by robust planning processes that protect customer trust, optimize plant utilization, and drive sustainable On-Time-In-Full (OTIF) performance. This position requires a strong leader capable of building reliable planning systems, improving operational predictability, and driving cross-functional alignment within a high-mix, time-sensitive manufacturing operation. 

Key Responsibilities 

OTIF Ownership & Delivery Excellence

• Own and drive OTIF performance as a key business KPI across the organization.
• Establish and manage OTIF targets in alignment with management expectations.
• Develop recovery plans and corrective actions when delivery performance is at risk.
• Ensure all customer delivery commitments are supported by realistic and validated production plans.
• Identify delivery risks proactively and implement mitigation plans before customer impact occurs.
• Escalate operational risks with practical recommendations and alternative solutions.
• Drive delivery reliability and improve customer confidence through planning accuracy and execution discipline.

Production Planning & Sales Alignment

• Convert confirmed customer orders and commercial priorities into executable production schedules.
• Balance customer requirements, plant capacity, commercial priorities, and operational constraints.
• Act as the final feasibility checkpoint before delivery commitments are confirmed.
• Ensure production plans are fully aligned with available resources and manufacturing capabilities.
• Support Sales teams with realistic lead times and achievable customer commitments.
• Prevent overloading of production assets by maintaining visibility of capacity constraints.

Capacity Planning & Line Scheduling

• Develop short, medium, and long-term production plans across printing, lamination, slitting, and pouch-making operations.
• Incorporate machine availability, maintenance activities, manpower availability, skill levels, changeovers, and quality constraints into planning decisions.
• Optimize machine loading and sequencing to maximize efficiency while minimizing waste and downtime.
• Monitor bottleneck resources and implement strategies to improve throughput.
• Maintain visibility of future capacity shortages and define mitigation actions proactively.
• Ensure maximum utilization of manufacturing resources while protecting delivery commitments.

Planning Governance & Execution Control

• Establish planning governance frameworks, frozen planning windows, and disciplined replanning processes.
• Drive adherence to approved production schedules and planning methodologies.
• Monitor schedule adherence and investigate deviations from approved plans.
• Ensure production priorities remain aligned across all operational functions.
• Reduce dependency on reactive expediting by strengthening predictive planning capabilities.
• Promote structured decision-making and operational discipline throughout the planning process.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Lead integrated planning reviews involving Sales, Manufacturing, Quality, Maintenance, Stores, and Supply Chain teams.
• Ensure alignment between production capability, customer expectations, material availability, and operational priorities.
• Coordinate closely with Quality teams to ensure readiness for first-time-right production.
• Work with Maintenance teams to incorporate planned shutdowns and equipment availability into schedules.
• Collaborate with Stores and Procurement teams to ensure uninterrupted material availability.
• Drive organizational alignment around one agreed production plan and a common set of priorities.

Systems, Data & Continuous Improvement

• Own the integrity of planning master data, ERP transactions, scheduling information, capacity data, and lead-time parameters.
• Develop planning dashboards and performance reports for operational and management review.
• Monitor key planning KPIs including OTIF, schedule adherence, planning accuracy, inventory performance, and lead times.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that improve predictability, responsiveness, and operational performance.
• Support digitalization, automation, and optimization initiatives relating to planning processes.
• Use data-driven insights to support decision-making and operational improvements.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing planning team.
• Build analytical capability, accountability, and ownership within the planning function.
• Create a culture focused on fact-based decision-making and operational excellence.
• Mentor team members and strengthen succession capability within the department.
• Act confidently under delivery pressure while maintaining objectivity and organizational credibility.
• Drive systems and process improvements rather than relying on reactive interventions.

Candidate Profile

• Degree in Engineering, Production Management, Operations Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8 years of experience in Production Planning, Manufacturing Planning, Supply Chain Planning, or Operations Planning.
• Strong experience within manufacturing environments.
• Experience in the Flexible Packaging industry will be strongly preferred.
• Deep practical understanding of printing, lamination, slitting, converting, and packaging operations.
• Demonstrated success in improving OTIF performance and stabilizing manufacturing operations.
• Strong understanding of production scheduling, capacity planning, inventory management, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience working with ERP systems, production planning software, and operational reporting tools.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Strong stakeholder management and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Ability to challenge unrealistic delivery commitments while protecting customer relationships and operational stability.
• Strong communication and planning governance skills.
• Experience managing teams and driving operational improvements in complex manufacturing environments.

Ready to take your career to new heights? 

We're InTalent Asia, your go-to recruitment partner in Sri Lanka, and we've got an exciting opportunity for you! 

Our client is looking for a skilled individual to fill the role of Manager – Planning.

Apply now and see how you can be the perfect fit for this exclusive position!

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