Planner

Join Abbott as a Planner!

About Abbott

Abbott is about the power of health. For more than 130 years, we’ve been helping people reach their potential — because better health allows individuals and communities to achieve more. With a diverse, global network serving customers in more than 160 countries, we create innovative solutions across the spectrum of health, advancing technologies that help people live their best lives.

Role Overview

We are currently seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Planner to join our team in Witney. This is a key role within our supply chain and operations function, responsible for ensuring that materials and production planning processes run smoothly and efficiently. You will play a vital part in supporting manufacturing output, maintaining optimal inventory levels, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to mitigate risks and drive continuous improvement.

As a Materials Planner, you will be responsible for reviewing and adjusting MRP outputs, releasing purchase requisitions, and ordering materials in line with production requirements and stock holding policies. You will maintain supplier schedules and coordinate with Operations Support to anticipate part changes, ensuring any impact on planning processes is proactively managed. Monitoring delivery performance and liaising with suppliers to address potential risks will be central to your role, as will managing effectivity changes for label copy items to minimise distressed inventory.

You’ll also be expected to identify and report material at risk, ensuring timely disposition through our disposal systems. Working closely with Quality and Warehousing teams, you will help manage nonconforming materials and oversee the return and replacement of faulty items. Your insight will be key in reviewing safety stock levels and negotiating supplier-maintained inventory agreements. Strong relationships with Technical, Quality, and Strategic Procurement teams will be essential to manage risks associated with material changes and supplier performance.

In your capacity as a Production Planner, you will interrogate plan performance and adjust the Master Schedule as needed, providing clarity and support to the Materials Planning team. You will create production plans that meet output targets while maintaining work-in-process inventory within defined ranges. When operational issues arise, you’ll be responsible for understanding the current status and providing detailed updates through daily tier meetings. You’ll also work with the Operations team to validate recovery plans and manage demand and supply variances through the SRO exception process.

Maintaining accurate inventory levels in our ERP system will be a key part of your responsibilities, as will coordinating with Technical, Engineering, and Operations teams to understand and mitigate distressed inventory risks. You’ll also support Quality and Operations in managing lots under investigation or on quality hold, and contribute to cross-functional initiatives involving new product introductions, supplier changes, and process improvements.

Beyond your core planning responsibilities, you will be expected to uphold Abbott’s core values and Code of Conduct in all communications and actions. You’ll work within our tiered meeting structure to escalate risks and provide updates, ensure compliance with our quality systems and company policies, and adhere to EHS regulations and standards. Timely completion of training records will be required to maintain compliance with our ISOtrain system.

Qualifications

To be successful in this role, you will need a High School Diploma or GED, along with substantial experience in inventory planning or a similar field. Strong computer skills, particularly in MS Office and MRP systems, are essential. You should have excellent attention to detail, a high standard of accuracy, and the flexibility to adapt to changing business needs. Initiative and strong communication skills will be key to your success in this fast-paced and collaborative environment.

Why Abbott?

In addition to a competitive salary, Abbott offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes a defined-contribution pension scheme, a share ownership scheme, private healthcare, life assurance, and a flexible benefits programme tailored to your individual needs. At our Witney site, we also offer a range of wellbeing initiatives such as yoga, beekeeping, and couch to 5k campaigns — all designed to help you live life to the fullest.