Operations Planning Manager (Manchester)

ABOUT CAF

Innovation is in our DNA - we thrive on pushing boundaries and adapting to new challenges with a flexible approach. Proud to be a global leader, our fast-paced growth provides exciting opportunities for our team and the community. Committed to maintaining trains and trams, our mission is to enhance vehicle safety and reliability. Our ultimate goal is to deliver a comfortable, dependable, and sustainable commuting experience for all passengers. Based out of multiple locations across the UK, our 24/7 operation means we’re always on hand to deliver reliable technical support. Utilising the latest digital technology, we strive to enhance dependability, helping people to get to where they need to be! We wouldn’t be where we are without our people. Working together as a team, we strive to achieve great things while supporting each other to thrive along the way. We’re going places, so apply today and become part of our exciting journey. What can you expect from CAF?

• Positive Work Environment: You will work in a positive environment, based on mutual respect and team spirit.
• Professional Development: Our projects are often measured in years, sometimes decades, giving you and the organisation a future.
• Learning and Autonomy: We will encourage you to work autonomously, being able to propose and decide 'what' and 'how'.
• Security and Reliability: CAF has been working for over 100 years on a path that stretches into the future, giving you the security you need.
• Cutting-edge technology: You will work with the latest technologies, facing the challenge of devising innovative approaches and solutions every day.

What will be your role in the company? The Operations Planning Manager is responsible for leading all operational planning activities to ensure the safe, efficient, and cost-effective delivery of maintenance, overhaul, and operational commitments. The role is accountable for developing short, medium, and long-term plans covering resources, materials, facilities, and production activities to achieve contractual, operational, and financial objectives. Reporting directly to the Operations Director, the Operations Planning Manager will work closely with Production, Engineering, Materials, Supply Chain, Commercial, and Customer teams to ensure demand forecasts, maintenance requirements, and operational priorities are translated into achievable plans. The role requires strong analytical capability, exceptional organisational skills, and the ability to balance competing priorities while continuously improving planning processes, systems, and performance. Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain strategic, tactical, and operational plans to support maintenance, overhaul, and operational activities.
• Produce plans considering labour, facilities, equipment, and materials.
• Translate customer requirements and business objectives into achievable operational plans.
• Manage rolling forecasts and workload projections.
• Lead the weekly and monthly planning cycles, ensuring alignment between departments.
• Develop recovery plans when operational performance deviates from agreed targets.
• Ensure all planning activities are accurately reflected within CAF systems and reporting tools.

Resource Management

• Support optimisation in resource allocation to maximise productivity and efficiency.
• Identify future resource constraints and develop mitigation plans.
• Work closely with Demand, Procurement and Projects to ensure appropriate support is maintained.

Materials & Supply Chain Planning

• Support material forecasts and demand planning activities.
• Work closely with Supply Chain and Materials teams to ensure availability of parts and consumables.
• Monitor risks associated with long lead-time items and critical components.

Performance & Reporting

• Develop and maintain operational KPI dashboards.
• Analyse planning performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Prepare reports for senior management on operational capacity, risk, productivity, and delivery performance.
• Lead planning reviews and support business decision-making through data-driven analysis.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead planning process improvements and standardisation initiatives.
• Drive efficiency improvements through better forecasting, scheduling, and utilisation of resources.
• Promote best practice across CAF UK operations and benchmark against other CAF facilities.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure planning activities comply with contractual obligations, company procedures, and applicable railway standards.
• Support HSQE initiatives and audits.
• Promote a strong safety culture across all planning and operational activities

What will make you successful in this position? Essential

• Degree, HND, or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Management, or a related discipline.
• Considerable experience in operational planning, production planning, maintenance planning, or resource planning.
• Proven track record of developing operational plans and improving delivery performance.
• Strong knowledge of planning and scheduling methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience using ERP, CMMS, or planning systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Rail industry experience.

Desirable

• APICS, CILT, Prince2, Lean, Six Sigma, or similar qualification.
• Experience in overhaul, heavy maintenance, or manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of GMAO, SAP, Visplan, Geminys, or equivalent systems.
• IOSH Managing Safely.
• Spanish language.

What can you expect from CAF?

• Positive Work Environment: You will work in a positive environment, based on mutual respect and team spirit.
• Professional Development: Our projects are often measured in years, sometimes decades, giving you and the organisation a future.
• Learning and Autonomy: We will encourage you to work autonomously, being able to propose and decide 'what' and 'how'.
• Security and Reliability: CAF has been working for over 100 years on a path that stretches into the future, giving you the security you need.
• Cutting-edge technology: You will work with the latest technologies, facing the challenge of devising innovative approaches and solutions every day.

What will be your role in the company? The Operations Planning Manager is responsible for leading all operational planning activities to ensure the safe, efficient, and cost-effective delivery of maintenance, overhaul, and operational commitments. The role is accountable for developing short, medium, and long-term plans covering resources, materials, facilities, and production activities to achieve contractual, operational, and financial objectives. Reporting directly to the Operations Director, the Operations Planning Manager will work closely with Production, Engineering, Materials, Supply Chain, Commercial, and Customer teams to ensure demand forecasts, maintenance requirements, and operational priorities are translated into achievable plans. The role requires strong analytical capability, exceptional organisational skills, and the ability to balance competing priorities while continuously improving planning processes, systems, and performance. Planning & Scheduling

• Develop and maintain strategic, tactical, and operational plans to support maintenance, overhaul, and operational activities.
• Produce plans considering labour, facilities, equipment, and materials.
• Translate customer requirements and business objectives into achievable operational plans.
• Manage rolling forecasts and workload projections.
• Lead the weekly and monthly planning cycles, ensuring alignment between departments.
• Develop recovery plans when operational performance deviates from agreed targets.
• Ensure all planning activities are accurately reflected within CAF systems and reporting tools.

Resource Management

• Support optimisation in resource allocation to maximise productivity and efficiency.
• Identify future resource constraints and develop mitigation plans.
• Work closely with Demand, Procurement and Projects to ensure appropriate support is maintained.

Materials & Supply Chain Planning

• Support material forecasts and demand planning activities.
• Work closely with Supply Chain and Materials teams to ensure availability of parts and consumables.
• Monitor risks associated with long lead-time items and critical components.

Performance & Reporting

• Develop and maintain operational KPI dashboards.
• Analyse planning performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Prepare reports for senior management on operational capacity, risk, productivity, and delivery performance.
• Lead planning reviews and support business decision-making through data-driven analysis.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead planning process improvements and standardisation initiatives.
• Drive efficiency improvements through better forecasting, scheduling, and utilisation of resources.
• Promote best practice across CAF UK operations and benchmark against other CAF facilities.

Compliance & Safety

• Ensure planning activities comply with contractual obligations, company procedures, and applicable railway standards.
• Support HSQE initiatives and audits.
• Promote a strong safety culture across all planning and operational activities

What will make you successful in this position? Essential

• Degree, HND, or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Management, or a related discipline.
• Considerable experience in operational planning, production planning, maintenance planning, or resource planning.
• Proven track record of developing operational plans and improving delivery performance.
• Strong knowledge of planning and scheduling methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience using ERP, CMMS, or planning systems.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills.
• Rail industry experience.

Desirable

• APICS, CILT, Prince2, Lean, Six Sigma, or similar qualification.
• Experience in overhaul, heavy maintenance, or manufacturing environments.
• Knowledge of GMAO, SAP, Visplan, Geminys, or equivalent systems.
• IOSH Managing Safely.
• Spanish language.

ABOUT WHAT WE OFFER

A Real Living Wage employer and proud signatory of the Armed Forces Covenant, RSSB Mental Health Charter and Women in Rail EDI Charter, we’ve a lot to shout about at CAF. Creating a culture of inclusivity and belonging is really important to us and we’re proud to offer our people a range of benefits to support wellbeing including 25 days annual leave, an excellent workplace pension scheme (with up to 10% contribution from us), not forgetting to mention our generous health care cash plan and Bike2Work scheme just to name a few! Looking for career development? Our Professional Sponsorship scheme will help you to achieve your goals while our Flexible Working policy and Family Friendly culture mean everyone is supported to thrive at CAF. As a socially responsible business, we offer paid volunteering days and promote a variety of social value initiatives, including tree-planting, company-wide donation drives, and providing support to the homeless community and refugees. We’re creating waves of positive change through delivering meaningful social value impact on and off the tracks!