Production Value Stream Planner - 2054
Added 22 Jul · still live
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£41,700
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 3116 (85% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £41,700, and Thorlabs is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
Worth checking: this could also be SOC 4133 (Stock control clerks and assistants, Material planner is an index entry; role involves inventory and material flow), which is not on the eligible-occupation list. Ask Thorlabs what the duties actually are.
About the role
What is the job?
You will play a key role in ensuring the continuous, on-time supply of products to customers and warehouses by developing and maintaining effective production schedules across Assembly and the In-house Machine Shop. Working closely with Production, Engineering, and Machine Shop teams, you will balance customer demand with manufacturing capacity, manage MRP planning parameters, and support product lifecycle activities such as new product introductions, obsolescence management, and the transfer of products into in-house manufacturing. You will help maintain customer delivery performance, optimise inventory levels, and ensure the smooth transition of new products into full-scale production.
Working Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5:30pm
Department: Motion Control
Interview process: 2 stage process following shortlisting - First stage: 1 Hour Teams interview; Second stage: Onsite 3 hour interview
Who we are?
Thorlabs is a global, industry leading optical technologies company. We are experts in the design and manufacture or a range of innovative photonics products. We use these products in manufacturing and research, from fibre optics to piezo motors. We are the gold standard with optics laboratories worldwide. There are now 22 facilities across the world in 9 countries. Here in Ely, we are responsible for the Motion Control and Optical Tables product line.
Where you will be working?
Our purpose-built facility is just 12 miles from Cambridge, within the beautiful mediaeval city of Ely. There are train and bus links to Ely from Kings Cross and Liverpool Street London, and our site is within distance of Ely train station and Ely Bus station.
Requirements
What is essential to us...
You will play a key role in ensuring the continuous, on-time supply of products to customers and warehouses by developing and maintaining effective production schedules across Assembly and the In-house Machine Shop. Working closely with Production, Engineering, and Machine Shop teams, you will balance customer demand with manufacturing capacity, manage MRP planning parameters, and support product lifecycle activities such as new product introductions, obsolescence management, and the transfer of products into in-house manufacturing. You will help maintain customer delivery performance, optimise inventory levels, and ensure the smooth transition of new products into full-scale production.
Working Hours: Monday to Friday 9am - 5:30pm
Department: Motion Control
Interview process: 2 stage process following shortlisting - First stage: 1 Hour Teams interview; Second stage: Onsite 3 hour interview
Who we are?
Thorlabs is a global, industry leading optical technologies company. We are experts in the design and manufacture or a range of innovative photonics products. We use these products in manufacturing and research, from fibre optics to piezo motors. We are the gold standard with optics laboratories worldwide. There are now 22 facilities across the world in 9 countries. Here in Ely, we are responsible for the Motion Control and Optical Tables product line.
Where you will be working?
Our purpose-built facility is just 12 miles from Cambridge, within the beautiful mediaeval city of Ely. There are train and bus links to Ely from Kings Cross and Liverpool Street London, and our site is within distance of Ely train station and Ely Bus station.
Requirements
What is essential to us...
- Previous Planning, Inventory Controller, or other Supply Chain related experience required
Production Flow Support (Assembly and In-House Manufacturing):
- Develop and maintain an achievable business unit production plan that aligns MRP demand, inventory availability, and manufacturing and production capacity to meet committed customer delivery dates
- Participate in regular production review meetings and oversee the allocation of work when Team Leaders are unavailable
- Monitor production capacity utilisation throughout the day, identifying risks and constraints, escalating production flow interruptions, and initiating appropriate supply chain corrective actions
- Maintain and manage planning-related ERP/MRP parameters to ensure data accuracy and effective production scheduling
- Manage planning activities for New Product Introductions (NPI), product obsolescence, and the transition to in-house manufacturing by ensuring all production planning MRP parameters (e.g., production pools, routes, serialisation, and related settings) are correctly configured to support a seamless production launch
- Liaise with the Documentation & Data team to ensure new products are accurately configured across all warehouse entities prior to NPI release
- Coordinate warehouse stock run-down activities for obsolete products by balancing customer demand with warehouse replenishment, adjusting inventory parameters, and managing component consumption to minimise excess stock
- Participate in obsolescence review meetings, providing projected warehouse depletion timelines to support uninterrupted product availability, and communicate inventory run-down progress to Production, Engineering, and Machine Shop teams
- Contribute to cross-functional projects that impact production planning, including new product introductions, transition to in-house manufacturing, product obsolescence, and changes to processes, components, or manufacturing routes
At Thorlabs there are lots of opportunities for inhouse customised training and development that accelerates your career progression. We have free onsite parking, free refreshments, as well as an entertainment area in our large canteen for your enjoyment.
And the benefits are?
Competitive Salary to attract the best, plus an excellent benefits package including pension, health care, 25 days holiday plus public holidays.
Job Reference: THOR-VC-2054
This is a rolling campaign, so we will actively interview applicants. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.
We welcome applications from persons who are over 18 years old.
- This is a legal requirement, further information is here School leaving age - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
All offers of employment are subject to eligibility to work in the UK.
We would encourage all internal applicants to inform their line managers of their interest in this position.
Benefits
- Contributed Pension Scheme -Group Life Cover -Private Health Care -Group Income Protection & more
We are Disability Confident Committed
In line with the requirements of the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006, all applicants must have a valid permission to enter or remain in the UK with no condition that prevents them from working in the UK. Documented evidence of such permission will be required from candidates as part of the recruitment process.
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Thorlabs, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
SOC 3116 · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · ~54k in sampleP25 £30kP75 £42k
£26kmedian £35kgoing rate £42k
Similar sponsored roles
See all UK visa jobsNo close matches live right now.
Browse more sponsored jobs at ThorlabsAbout sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Thorlabs holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 3116 going rate of £41,700. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.