Principal Planner

About The Team: The Planning team is the most data-driven team at HelloFresh: we plan, schedule and analyse the production of every box before it reaches our hungry customers across the UK. It's a team where technical skill genuinely moves the needle, and where the right person can make a real mark. This role is based in Derby, in our largest DC in Europe. What You Will Be Doing: Production & Capacity Planning: Build and maintain accurate production plans based on forecast demand, operational capacity, production constraints and site requirements. Rackplan Development: Create and validate rackplans that balance demand, SKU placement, capacity, stock availability and operational efficiency, understanding how planning decisions affect production flow. Plan vs Actual Analysis: Analyse planned versus actual performance, identify deviations and investigate the underlying drivers rather than simply reporting the variance. Operational Problem Solving: Use data to identify constraints, test assumptions and develop practical solutions to complex production and planning problems. Continuous Improvement & Automation: Identify opportunities to simplify, automate and improve planning processes, including the practical application of AI and analytical tools. Stakeholder Partnership: Work closely with Operations and cross-functional teams to understand requirements, challenge assumptions and ensure plans are executable on the production floor. Planning Governance & Data Accuracy: Maintain accurate operational inputs, including box and recipe volumes within PCS, and ensure planning outputs are thoroughly validated before release. Who You Are: Analytically strong: Comfortable working with large and complex datasets and able to turn data into clear operational decisions. Naturally curious: You don't stop at identifying that something went wrong; you want to understand why . Strong problem solver: Able to break complex operational problems into manageable components, identify root causes and develop practical solutions. Technically capable: Advanced spreadsheet skills, including building, interpreting and troubleshooting complex formulas. Experience with SQL, Python, BI tools or similar analytical technologies would be advantageous. Automation-minded: Able to identify repetitive or inefficient processes and use automation, AI or other technology to improve them. Previous development of AI-enabled tools or solutions is desirable. Operationally aware: Able to understand the relationship between a planning decision and what physically happens in a production or fulfilment environment. Confident communicator: Comfortable challenging assumptions, asking difficult questions and constructively pushing back when the data or operational reality doesn't support a decision. Detail-oriented: Planning errors can have significant operational consequences, so accuracy and disciplined validation are essential. What you will get in return: 70% off HelloFresh or Green Chef boxes Company pension scheme Gym membership Bupa private medical insurance (including dental & family cover options) Mental health first aiders and an employee assistance programme Nursery support scheme Cycle to work scheme Group Life Assurance Location : The Windmil, plot 8, Unit 2 SmartParc Spondon, Derby DE21 7HW To be considered for this role, you'll need to have the independent right to work in the UK, as we're unfortunately unable to provide sponsorship at this time. You are required to cooperate with HelloFresh in all health and safety matters. You must report incidents immediately and actively raise health and safety-related concerns to your Line Manager.As part of our commitment to maintaining a safe and secure environment, we will process Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks to the successful individual. Failure to disclose relevant information at application or throughout the process could affect your employment with the company. If you are currently a HelloFresh employee, please make sure you have discussed your application with your Line Manager. #J-18808-Ljbffr