Supply Planning Manager

At Ontex, we are making everyday life easier across generations. Worldwide our 5,500 colleagues are taking pride in their work, guided by our values – Passion, Reliability, Integrity, Drive and Everyone. Every day they are developing, producing, and distributing affordable and sustainable baby, woman and adult personal care products.

As a leading international provider of personal hygiene solutions for retailer brands and healthcare partners, founded in Belgium in 1979 and listed on Euronext Brussels, we believe that innovation should be accessible to everyone.

As we continue being 'Here for you’, we’re looking for a Supply Planning Manager to join our Supply Chain, Planning, Logistics team.

Why does this job exist at Ontex?

The Supply Planning Manager is responsible for end-to-end supply planning for a high-volume diaper manufacturing facility with six production lines producing approximately 700 diapers per minute per machine. This role ensures uninterrupted production by aligning demand forecasts, material availability, production capacity, and inventory strategies while optimizing cost, service levels, and working capital.

What is the scope of the job?

The role operates as a strategic partner to Operations, Procurement, Maintenance, and Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP), balancing short-term execution with long-term capacity and supply resilience in a 300-employee, continuous-run manufacturing environment.

What am I expected to deliver, and what are my main tasks?

Supply & Production Planning

Own the master supply plan for the plant, translating demand forecasts into executable production and material plans.
Develop and maintain finite capacity production schedules across six high-speed diaper machines, accounting for uptime, changeovers, maintenance windows, and labor availability.
Ensure optimal sequencing of SKUs to maximize line efficiency, minimize waste, and reduce changeover losses.
Lead weekly and monthly S&OP / IBP supply reviews, providing scenario analysis and risk mitigation plans.

Materials & Inventory Management

Ensure continuous availability of critical raw materials (e.g., fluff pulp, SAP, nonwovens, elastics, packaging).
Define and manage safety stock strategies based on demand variability, supplier reliability, and lead times.
Balance inventory turns, service levels, and working capital objectives.
Partner with Procurement to manage supplier constraints, allocation scenarios, and dual-sourcing strategies.

Performance & Continuous Improvement

Establish and monitor KPIs including:
- Schedule adherence
- Customer service level / fill rate
- Inventory turns & days on hand
- Production plan attainment
- Scrap and obsolescence
Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance planning accuracy, responsiveness, and supply chain resilience.
Drive improvements in planning tools, ERP/MRP effectiveness, and data accuracy.

Cross-Functional Leadership

Serve as the primary supply planning liaison between Operations, Quality, Maintenance, Engineering, and Commercial teams.
Collaborate with Maintenance to align preventive maintenance schedules with production priorities.
Support new product introductions, promotions, and capacity expansion initiatives.
Lead, coach, and develop the supply planning team, building bench strength and technical capability.

Risk & Scenario Management

Proactively identify supply risks (material shortages, equipment downtime, demand volatility).
Develop contingency plans to protect customer service and production continuity.
Lead response planning during disruptions, including expedited sourcing and schedule re-optimization

What do I need to be successful in this job?

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain, Operations Management, Engineering, Business, or related field.
8–12+ years of progressive experience in supply planning or production planning within a high-volume manufacturing environment.
Demonstrated experience managing multi-line, high-speed production operations.
Strong knowledge of MRP, ERP systems, and planning tools.
Proven leadership experience managing and developing planning teams.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience in consumer packaged goods (CPG), hygiene products, or continuous manufacturing.
APICS CPIM, CSCP, or equivalent certification.
Experience supporting S&OP / Integrated Business Planning processes.

Key Competencies

Strategic and analytical thinking
Advanced planning and scheduling expertise
Strong cross-functional influence
Data-driven decision making
Change leadership and continuous improvement mindset
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, 24/7 manufacturing environment

Working Conditions

On-site role in a manufacturing environment.
Occasional off-shift or weekend support during peak demand or supply disruptions
Moderate travel for supplier or network coordination as required.

If you're passionate about the role and believe you would be a great fit, we'd love to hear from you. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds to apply, ensuring a fair and transparent selection process.

Here for you.

ontex.com