Website SenexRecruit Senex Recruitment Ltd
Ideal for early-career manufacturing candidates or Graduates looking to work across planning, purchasing, logistics & stock control looking to develop their career in operations.
Title: Production & Materials Planning Assistant
Location: St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex
Salary: Competitive + Excellent Benefits
An established, specialist engineering and manufacturing business based in St Leonards-on-Sea, East Sussex is seeking a Production & Materials Planning Assistant to join its operations team.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone early in their career who has at least a year of experience in a manufacturing, production, warehouse, or engineering environment and is looking to develop into a career in production planning, purchasing, and supply chain operations. Candidates may come from a variety of backgrounds including school leavers with relevant hands-on experience, apprentices, or graduates with a strong interest in manufacturing operations and planning.
You’ll be joining a collaborative, technically focused team where planning, purchasing support, coordination, and material flow are essential to delivering high-quality, precision-engineered products on time. Full training and ongoing development will be provided, making this a strong development role for someone with the right attitude and ambition to grow.
The Production & Materials Planning Assistant Role
This Production & Materials Planning Assistant role is a key support position within the operations function. You will assist with production planning, materials coordination, purchasing activities, and stock control, helping to ensure smooth day-to-day operational flow and reliable on-time delivery.
This is a varied role where you will gain exposure across planning, purchasing, logistics, and inventory management, building strong foundations for a long-term career in supply chain or production planning.
Key Responsibilities
Production Planning & Scheduling
- Support the creation and maintenance of short- and medium-term production plans
- Assist in balancing demand, capacity, and material availability
- Help maintain and update Master Production Schedules (MPS)
Planning Execution & Control
- Monitor production progress against agreed plans
- Highlight delays, shortages, or potential bottlenecks
- Support senior team members in resolving planning issues
Materials & Purchasing Coordination
- Assist with purchasing activities aligned to production requirements alongside the buyer
- Help track supplier deliveries and material availability
- Support expediting of orders and identification of supply risks
Stock Control & Inventory
- Assist in maintaining accurate stock records
- Support goods-in, goods-out, and internal stock movements
- Help with cycle counts and stock reconciliation activities
Shipping & Logistics
- Assist with coordination of customer shipments
- Support packing, dispatch, and documentation preparation
- Help ensure basic export and delivery requirements are met
Reporting & Continuous Improvement
- Assist in producing basic operational reports and updates
- Help track delivery performance and stock levels
- Contribute ideas for improving processes and efficiency
Skills & Experience Required for this Production & Materials Planning Assistant Job
Essential
- At least a year experience in a manufacturing, production, warehouse, logistics, or engineering environment
- Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn
- Good numeracy and basic analytical ability
- Reliable, organised, and able to follow structured processes
- Genuine interest in production planning, purchasing, or supply chain operations
Desirable
- Exposure to ERP/MRP systems (training will be provided)
- Basic understanding of manufacturing, logistics, or inventory control
- Interest in building a long-term career in operations, production and manufacturing, planning or supply chain
Benefits
- 25 days holiday + bank holidays (rising with service)
- Company pension scheme
- Life assurance (4x salary)
- Income protection scheme
- Private healthcare
- Employee assistance programme
- Full training and development opportunities
- Supportive and technically engaging working environment
Apply for this Production & Materials Planning Assistant Role
If you’re early in your career and looking for a Production Planning, Materials Planning, or Purchasing / Supply Chain role where you can build real, hands-on experience in a high-quality engineering environment, we’d like to hear from you.
Due to the confidential nature of this appointment, full company details will be shared on application or during an initial, discreet conversation with Senex Recruitment.
To discuss this role in confidence or apply, contact Kevin McHugh at Senex Recruitment by calling 01424 211872, or apply via the Senex Recruitment website.
Explore More Job Opportunities in Science, Engineering and Manufacturing
Discover other rewarding roles in Engineering, Manufacturing and Science in South and South East UK. Visit our Manufacturing hub for a list of open positions in Manufacturing and you can find all our jobs in all sectors here.
You can find other jobs in manufacturing in East Sussex over on Indeed. Or explore Science, Engineering and Manufacturing careers, plus the latest job opportunities in East Sussex, in our regional guide. Read more here.
Senex Recruitment delivers innovation and excellence, recruiting for the world of Science, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Technology.
To apply for this job email your details to kevin@senexrecruitment.com.