Are you an experienced supply chain leader ready to shape the future of global planning within a complex food and drink manufacturing environment?

We are supporting an established international dairy and food business in the appointment of a Global Master Planning Manager.

This is a high-impact leadership role for someone who can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery, building a centralised planning function and strengthening S&OP and IBP across a global network.

The successful candidate will play a key role in improving planning maturity, aligning commercial and operational priorities, and enabling better decisions across multiple markets, manufacturing sites and supply chain teams.

The opportunity

Reporting to the Head of Global Master Planning and Supply Chain, you will define and lead the strategic direction for Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), Integrated Business Planning (IBP) and global master planning.

This is an opportunity to establish a newly centralised planning organisation in Dublin, creating the structure, governance and ways of working needed to support business growth, improve end-to-end supply chain performance and bring greater consistency to planning across the network.

You will operate at senior level, influencing Commercial, Finance, Operations, Manufacturing, Technology and regional planning teams. Your ability to bring people together, simplify complexity and turn data into clear business decisions will be central to your success.

Key responsibilities

• Set the global strategic direction for S&OP, IBP and master planning in alignment with wider business and supply chain objectives.

• Build, lead and develop a centralised planning organisation based in Dublin.

• Provide leadership to the S&OP Manager, Demand Planning Manager and Supply Planning Manager.

• Establish a unified global planning framework that promotes standardisation, transparency and best-practice adoption.

• Own the global S&OP governance model, including meeting cadence, participation, decision rights, escalation routes and performance expectations.

• Lead the preparation and delivery of accurate, timely and commercially relevant materials for S&OP and IBP forums.

• Drive effective collaboration between Commercial, Finance, Operations, Manufacturing and Supply Chain.

• Oversee the development of robust demand and supply plans that balance service, cost, capacity and inventory requirements.

• Ensure effective understanding and application of Distribution Requirements Planning (DRP), including transit orders and the consolidation of multiple inputs into one integrated plan.

• Lead scenario planning, capacity alignment, long-range planning and risk management across the global network.

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

• Simplify planning processes, reduce variability and embed clear, consistent ways of working.

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

• Provide senior leadership with clear insight into risks, opportunities and required interventions.

• Identify, prioritise and deliver continuous improvement and transformation initiatives.

About you

You will be an established planning or supply chain leader with experience gained within a complex, fast-moving and preferably global manufacturing environment.

You may currently be working as a Head of Planning, Senior Planning Manager, S&OP Lead, IBP Lead, Master Planning Manager or in a comparable end-to-end supply chain leadership position.

You will bring:

• Significant experience in S&OP, IBP, master planning or end-to-end supply chain leadership.

• A proven track record of building, transforming or centralising planning teams and operating models.

• Strong knowledge of demand planning, supply planning, capacity planning, inventory management and planning governance.

• Experience leading senior-level forums and influencing stakeholders across commercial and operational functions.

• A confident understanding of DRP and the integration of multiple supply chain inputs into a single plan.

• Experience managing, developing and motivating high-performing teams.

• Strong analytical capability and confidence working with complex datasets and planning systems.

• Experience working within a global centre of excellence or centralised planning model.

• Exposure to digital planning platforms such as SAP IBP, Demand Planning tools or similar.

• Change management, business transformation or process improvement experience.

• A background in food and drink, FMCG, pharmaceutical, manufacturing or another complex supply chain environment.

What will make you successful?

You will be a strategic and forward-looking leader who can move comfortably between long-term planning and day-to-day business realities.

You will be able to:

• Create clarity and direction in a complex, multi-market environment.

• Build trust and alignment across functions, regions and levels of seniority.

• Translate data and analysis into practical recommendations and decisions.

• Challenge existing processes constructively and identify simpler, more effective ways of working.

• Develop people and create a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

• Communicate confidently with senior stakeholders and influence without relying solely on formal authority.

• Remain adaptable, curious and solutions-focused during a period of organisational development and change.

Why apply?

This is a rare opportunity to shape a global planning capability from the ground up within a successful international food and drink business.

You will have the scope to:

• Define the future direction of global S&OP and IBP.

• Build and lead a new centralised planning organisation.

• Influence decisions across a complex international supply chain.

• Improve planning maturity, visibility and business performance.

• Work closely with senior leaders across Commercial, Finance, Operations and Supply Chain.

• Make a tangible impact on service, cost, inventory and growth.

Location and package

• Dublin-based role with relocation support considered.

• Hybrid working available, with three days per week required in the Dublin office.

• Salary circa €100,000, depending on experience.

• Senior leadership opportunity within a global food and drink manufacturing environment.

If you are an experienced S&OP, IBP or master planning professional looking for the opportunity to build something significant and influence planning strategy at a global level, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Please get in touch for more information and a confidential discussion about this fantastic opportunity or apply with your CV today.