Production Planner & Purchaser

PRODUCTION PLANNING & PROCUREMENT COORDINATOR

• Location: Lymn Bank Farm, Lincolnshire
• Salary: Up to £40,000 per annum
• Working Pattern: Monday – Friday, 8:00am – 5:00pm | Permanent
• At Heler Foods, our people are part of our extended Heler Family — the driving force behind everything we do. From crafting award-winning cheeses to delivering service that sets new standards, we work together to shape the future of food.
• CHEESEMAKERS. FUTURE SHAPERS. CHANGEMAKERS.
• Rooted in tradition and growing into the future, we’re bold, ambitious and proud of where we’re going next.
• Every colleague has a voice here — and every step you take helps move us forward.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We’re looking for a proactive, commercially minded Production Planning & Procurement Coordinator to join our team at Lymn Bank Farm, Lincolnshire.

Lymn Bank Farm specialises in premium waxed cheese, cheese bites, flavoured blends and gifting formats. Combining specialist equipment, innovative production techniques and artisan-style processes with commercial efficiency, we deliver high-quality products for our customers. Our BRC-accredited operation is built on quality, flexibility and continuous improvement.

This role is central to keeping our operation running smoothly. You’ll take responsibility for coordinating purchasing, production planning, materials availability and supply chain activities, ensuring the right materials are available at the right time to meet customer demand.

Working closely with Production, Stores, Sales, Finance, Technical and external suppliers, you’ll help us improve efficiency, manage costs, maintain accurate planning data and deliver against our production commitments.

This is an opportunity to make a real impact in a business that values initiative, collaboration and finding better ways of working.

WHAT YOU’LL BE DOING

Procurement, Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Manage the purchasing of raw materials, ingredients and packaging in line with production forecasts, customer demand and stock requirements.
• Raise and monitor purchase orders, ensuring materials are ordered in the correct quantities and delivered within required timescales.
• Build effective supplier relationships, negotiating pricing, lead times and terms to achieve the best commercial outcomes.
• Monitor supplier performance and proactively resolve issues relating to delivery, quality, availability and cost.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities across purchasing and the wider supply chain, balancing value for money with quality and operational requirements.

Production Planning & Scheduling

• Develop, maintain and communicate production plans and schedules aligned with customer demand, forecasts, stock levels and available production capacity.
• Ensure raw materials, ingredients and packaging are available to meet planned production requirements.
• Work closely with Production to coordinate resources, respond to changing priorities and minimise disruption.
• Monitor production output against the plan, identifying potential shortages, capacity constraints and delays, and implementing corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate planning data and produce production and product review reports to highlight performance, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Bills of Materials & Product Set-Up
• Create and maintain accurate Bills of Materials (BOMs) for new products, product transfers and product changes.
• Ensure products are correctly set up within planning schedules and relevant business systems.
• Set up and maintain raw material and packaging codes within Unleashed, ensuring data accuracy and consistency.
• Keep product specifications, material requirements and planning information up to date and communicate changes to relevant departments.
• Support product launches, transfers and changes by coordinating material availability and production planning requirements.

Supply Chain & Logistics Coordination

• Coordinate supply chain and logistics activities to support the timely movement of materials and products.
• Work with suppliers, logistics providers, Stores and internal teams to manage deliveries, resolve issues and minimise disruption.
• Monitor inbound deliveries and material availability, escalating potential delays or shortages that could affect production.
• Coordinate intercompany transfers and third-party storage arrangements.
• Identify opportunities to improve logistics efficiency, reduce costs and strengthen overall supply chain performance.

Reporting, KPIs & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor and report on key performance indicators, including purchasing performance, supplier delivery, stock accuracy, material availability and production plan adherence.
• Prepare and contribute to product and production review reports, providing accurate information to support business decisions.
• Attend daily operational meetings as required, providing updates on previous-day performance, current issues and priorities for the day ahead.
• Proactively identify and communicate risks that could affect production, supply, cost or customer service.
• Work collaboratively across departments to improve planning, purchasing, stock control and business processes.
• Make effective use of business systems, including Unleashed and relevant I-BF systems, to improve accuracy, visibility and efficiency.
• Support the development and implementation of best practice across production planning, procurement and supply chain operations.
• You’ll be joining a workplace where collaboration and curiosity are encouraged. Where questioning “how it’s always been done” is part of daily life. And where discovering better ways of working is simply what we do.

ABOUT YOU

We want to work with people who are bold, ambitious and ready to shape the future — people who bring commercial awareness, organisation and a practical approach to solving problems.

You’ll bring

• Experience in production planning, procurement, purchasing, supply chain coordination or a similar operational role.
• Strong organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities, changing demands and tight deadlines.
• Experience working with suppliers, managing purchase orders and monitoring material availability.
• An understanding of production scheduling, stock control, inventory management and supply chain processes.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret data, monitor performance and identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Confidence using business systems and spreadsheets, with the ability to maintain accurate records and planning information. Experience with Unleashed or similar systems would be advantageous.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across Production, Stores, Sales, Finance, Technical and external suppliers.
• A proactive, solutions-focused approach, taking ownership of issues and following them through to resolution.
• Behaviours aligned to our values: Be Better, Be Collaborative, Be Inquisitive, Be Yourself, Take Ownership.
• Experience within food manufacturing or a fast-paced production environment would be beneficial, particularly where material availability, product specifications, quality standards and customer requirements are critical to operational success.
• Most importantly, you’ll be someone who enjoys bringing people, materials and plans together to make things happen.
• We help our people become the best versions of themselves, take pride in what they do and bring out the strength in others. If that excites you — you’ll fit right in here.
• WHY JOIN HELER FOODS?
• Because we don’t just offer jobs — we shape careers.
• At Lymn Bank Farm, you’ll be part of a specialist food manufacturing operation where quality, innovation and customer satisfaction are at the heart of everything we do.
• Whether you’re looking to build on your existing experience or take the next step in your career, we invest in our people so they can thrive and grow.

Here, you’ll find

• Strong training foundations to help you build your knowledge and develop your skills.
• Clear, meaningful paths to progress as you grow your experience and take on new challenges.
• A workplace where curiosity is celebrated, and new ideas are welcomed.
• A supportive, dynamic team environment where departments work together to achieve shared goals.
• A culture of continuous improvement, where you’re encouraged to challenge existing processes and find better ways of working.
• The opportunity to make a difference, helping improve efficiency, control costs and support the delivery of high-quality products to our customers.
• This is a place where you’ll feel empowered to make a change — and confident to take bold steps.

JOIN THE EXTENDED HELER FAMILY

• Are you a changemaker?
• If you’re ready to help us shape the future of Heler Foods and play a key role in keeping our production and supply chain running at their best, we’d love to hear from you.
• You can learn more about who we are, what we stand for and where we’re going at:
• www.helerfoods.com
• Heler Foods: Rooted in tradition. Growing into the future.