An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Global Master Planning Manager to shape and lead the strategic direction of Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and Integrated Business Planning (IBP) across a complex international manufacturing network.

This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who enjoys building capability, improving performance, and creating clarity across multiple markets, products, and functions.

You will lead the evolution of a newly centralised planning team, embedding a robust global planning framework that brings together demand, supply, inventory, service, and capacity decisions in a simple, standardised and business-led way.

The role offers the opportunity to influence senior stakeholders, drive meaningful change, and help build a future-ready planning organisation that supports growth and resilience.

Role purpose

This role is responsible for defining and leading the global approach to master planning, S&OP, and IBP across a multi-site, multi-market manufacturing environment. You will ensure planning activities are aligned, insight-led, and consistently executed to support service, cost, and inventory objectives. A key part of the role will be to establish strong governance, clear accountability, and a culture of continuous improvement across the planning network.

Key responsibilities

• Set the global strategic direction for S&OP and master planning, aligned to broader supply chain and business priorities.

• Build and implement a unified planning framework that drives standardisation, transparency, and best-practice adoption across regions.

• Lead a centralised planning organisation and directly develop senior planning managers within demand and supply.

• Own global S&OP and IBP governance, ensuring a consistent cadence, high-quality outputs, and strong participation from key stakeholders.

• Drive cross-functional alignment between Commercial, Finance, Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Technology teams.

• Oversee high-quality demand and supply plans that support customer service, cost control, and inventory health.

• Champion the use of digital planning tools, analytics, and automation to improve accuracy, efficiency, and decision-making.

• Define and monitor KPIs covering forecast accuracy, service levels, inventory performance, and planning cycle adherence.

• Lead initiatives to simplify processes, reduce variability, and strengthen end-to-end planning performance.

Key Skills & Experience

• Significant experience in S&OP, IBP, master planning, or end-to-end supply chain leadership, ideally in a complex manufacturing environment.

• A strong track record of building, transforming, or centralising planning teams across multiple markets or business units.

• Deep understanding of demand and supply planning processes, planning governance, and best-practice operating models.

• The ability to lead senior forums, influence cross-functional stakeholders, and drive decisions with confidence and credibility.

• Strong analytical capability, with experience handling complex data sets and planning tools.

• Experience in a global centre of excellence or centralised planning model would be highly beneficial.

• Exposure to digital planning platforms such as SAP IBP or similar tools is desirable.

• A background in food & drink, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, or another sophisticated supply chain setting.

• Proven change leadership and transformation experience.

Personal profile

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with strong commercial awareness and a genuine interest in improving how planning supports the wider business.

You will bring a collaborative style, a high level of curiosity, and the confidence to challenge constructively where needed. Just as importantly, you will be comfortable operating in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift and where strong leadership makes a visible difference.

The Opportunity

This is a rare chance to lead planning strategy at a global level and to shape a function that has direct impact on service, cost, resilience, and growth.

For an experienced planning leader looking for scope, influence, and the chance to build something lasting, it offers both challenge and genuine career progression.

Flexible base in the wider Ireland / UK region, with occasional travel as required.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and accessible workplace and will make reasonable adjustments where needed during the recruitment process and in role.

Please get in touch for more information on this fantastic opportunity to lead the strategic direction of a dynamic food business or apply with your CV today.