As the new Production Office Manager, you will be responsible for overseeing the production office, ensuring timely material supply, and managing stock levels to meet both short and long term business needs. The role involves coordinating with suppliers, managing material volumes, and ensuring efficient use of resources while minimising costs.
The role also supports the continuous improvement of processes, systems, and tools, and helps drive the business’s Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) processes. A key focus will be managing inventory, preventing obsolescence, and ensuring accurate planning and communication with suppliers.
The role includes team management, coaching, and setting departmental objectives to align with company goals. Additionally, the position requires compliance with health & safety policies and adherence to company procedures.
This position requires a proactive approach, ensuring the team delivers results, and continuously improving processes.
About DFSIt takes a whole lot of passion to be at the centre of what makes a house feel like home — and that’s just what we do at DFS. We’re the leading sofa retail specialist in the UK, helping people find a comfy seat on their great quality sofas since 1969.
We're a market leader in the UK because of one thing: our people. Our people made us who we are and will drive us into our ambitious future, together. We offer incredible opportunities to get stuck into fun and meaningful work as well as learn new skills — so you can really ‘find your thing’.
DFS Group is proud to be an equal opportunities employer; celebrating diversity and committed to a culture of inclusion and belonging. We extend a warm welcome to everyone, embracing a variety of voices and perspectives. As we continue to work on building a workplace that is representative of the customers we serve and the communities we live and work in, we strongly encourage applications from members of minority and under-represented groups. Across the Group, we want to create an environment where everyone feels at home.
What you'll be doing
Overall responsibility for the production office, ensuring each function is supported in their daily duties with the right supply of all materials to site, in order to meet both the short and long term requirements of the business, whilst minimising our stock levels, optimising the costs and ensuring all necessary NAV required tasks are completed.
Liaise with suppliers on lead times volumes and shortages
Report order book volumes based on weekly intake.
Ensure the material supply volume requirements are aligned to the production planning assumptions
Ensure that fabric is ordered, scheduled and delivered in order to meet production demands
Maintaining a continuous improvement approach to our processes, systems and tools
Support the establishment and ongoing development of the businesses S&OP processes
Actively managing the businesses stock effectively, ensuring the stock profiles are appropriate to service the requirements, whilst reducing the risk of obsolescence
Ensuring the Material Planners are actively managing the introduction of new materials and phasing out of products, to ensure the business is not left with obsolete inventory and can service future demand
Work with suppliers to establish agreed stocking quantities for our materials, in order to provide the business with appropriate levels of service
Ensure a standardised approach to the material planning processes
Establish and ensure standard operating procedures are documented and up to date
Ensure the Material Requirements Planning system (MRP) is effective and the data is accurate and up to date
Take ownership of any material planning issues that may arise and any follow up actions if required
Ensure regularly communication with our suppliers so they understand our future demand, enabling suppliers to escalate at the earliest opportunity any issues with future supply
Communicating any supply issues to the relevant stakeholders, especially to avoid part made production
Ensure that the Company’s Health & Safety Policies are rigorously applied.
Compliance with the Company’s policies and directives.
Manage, coach and develop a high performing team that meets agreed objectives, delivers results and looks to continuously improve
Ensure the team are cross skilled, so that holidays and absence does not impact on the quality of or delivery of any standard work
Set departmental objectives/KPI’s which align to the overall business strategic goals
Monitor and ensure that the team maintain accurate material plans / information
The role is for you if...
You have excellent communication skills
Strong analytical and problem solving skills
You have proven experience to effectively manage a team of people and are able to deliver results
You excel in developing relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Comfortable having difficult conversations with external suppliers
Ability to be able to collate and present information and data
Ability to manage and prioritise team workloads
5 years experience in a similar role (Desirable not essential)
Experience of working with an MRP system and understanding of Stock Control methods
DFS BenefitsWe want you to really feel at home at DFS, with the support you need to do your best work, as well as a range of great benefits:
A huge 30% colleague discount, plus 15% friends & family discount across our Group (DFS, Sofology, Dwell)
Holiday allowance – the time you need to rest and relax (and the longer you’re with us, the more time you’ll get!)
Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave to give you the time you need to settle in with your new family member
Access to a range of high street & online discounts from: Sainsbury’s, ASOS, Currys PC World, IKEA, John Lewis and more.
Discounted Gym and Cinema memberships to help you unwind
Progression and Development opportunities to grow your skills
Group Pension Scheme
Group Sharesave Scheme
Life Assurance & Company Sick Pay
