Production Planner

About the role

This permanent Production Planner position sits within the Production Planning team and is key to making sure the right product is delivered at the right time across the company’s network. Based at the Dunedin Hub on Princes Street, the role focuses on creating and maintaining forward production plans that align demand, livestock availability, and site capacity.

You will work in a collaborative environment, partnering with livestock planning, sales, and site operations to make sure plans are realistic, workable, and set up to deliver strong outcomes. The role also involves tracking plan execution, updating plans as conditions change, sharing updates with stakeholders, and addressing delivery risks to protect customer service levels.

By improving production plans across multiple sites, you will help maximise value from each animal processed while reducing waste and avoiding costly rework such as airfreight.

What you will do

• Develop and maintain forward production schedules.
• Balance demand needs against livestock supply and site capability.
• Work closely with livestock planning, sales, and operations teams to align plans.
• Monitor delivery against plan and adjust quickly when inputs change.
• Communicate plan changes clearly to relevant stakeholders.
• Identify and manage delivery risks to support service levels.
• Optimise production planning across sites to improve value and reduce waste.

About you

You are commercially aware and enjoy working in a busy, complex environment where your decisions have a direct impact. You are comfortable using data to make decisions, while also being skilled at building relationships and influencing people across the business.

You take accountability, communicate with clarity, and are able to juggle several priorities while keeping customer and business outcomes in focus.

Requirements

• Hands-on experience in production planning or supply planning, ideally in a complex or multi-site operation.
• Strong analytical ability, with confidence in assessing options using both numerical and non-numerical information.
• Experience with ERP or MRP systems, along with advanced Excel skills.
• Ability to handle competing priorities and respond quickly in a changing environment.
• Strong communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Tertiary study in supply chain, or equivalent practical experience, is preferred.
• Knowledge of the meat sector or wider primary industries is highly advantageous.
• Experience working across cross-functional teams in operational settings is also valued.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy.
• Proactive problem-solving approach with a strong sense of ownership.
• Ability to influence others and build effective working relationships.
• Commercial thinking and a strong customer focus.
• Commitment to continuous improvement.

Perks and benefits

• Subsidised health insurance.
• Subsidised life insurance.
• Opportunities for ongoing learning and development.
• Flexible working options to support work-life balance.

About the employer

Silver Fern Farms focuses on creating value from farms and delivering quality to customers around the world. The organisation emphasises the contribution of its people, the expertise of its farmers, and the needs of its global customers.

Application information

Applications are being reviewed as they come in, so early submission is encouraged. The closing date is 12 July.

The company welcomes applicants from all backgrounds and is committed to an inclusive workplace with equal opportunity for every team member and applicant.