1365 Interim Planning & S&OP Manager

About Our Client:

Our client is a PE-backed European industrial technology manufacturer operating in advanced mechanical, and precision manufacturing markets. The business serves demanding international B2B customers across industrial, defence-related, and high-performance engineered applications.

The company employs more than 700 people and operates from a substantial manufacturing base in the Czech Republic, with customer exposure across Europe and wider international defence markets.

Following a significant scale-up in defence-related orders, the business is entering an exciting phase of operational growth. To support increasing customer demand and ensure the successful expansion of manufacturing capacity, the business requires interim planning leadership to strengthen S&OP processes, improve delivery performance, optimise inventory, and create greater planning stability across the organisation.

Project Description:

This is a 3-6 month interim planning and supply chain transformation mandate reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer.

The Interim Planning & S&OP Leader will take ownership of the planning function across demand planning, production planning, scheduling, material planning, and inventory management. The assignment is focused on improving customer delivery performance while creating greater predictability and operational control throughout the supply chain.

The priority is hands-on interim executive leadership that strengthens planning processes, develops internal capability, and supports the organisation during a period of rapid growth.

Key priorities include:

• Improve S&OP processes, planning discipline, and cross-functional decision making.
• Increase on-time delivery performance and improve customer order fulfilment.
• Strengthen demand planning, production scheduling, and material planning processes.
• Improve inventory management while supporting operational growth and customer service levels.
• Create greater visibility, predictability, and alignment across planning and manufacturing functions.
• Develop KPIs, planning governance, escalation processes, and performance management routines.
• Coach and develop the permanent planning manager to support succession and continuity planning.
• Work closely with production, procurement, quality, sales, finance, and senior leadership teams.

Interim Manager Required Skills:

• Proven experience leading planning, supply chain, or S&OP functions within complex manufacturing environments.
• Strong track record improving on-time delivery, planning accuracy, inventory performance, and supply chain visibility.
• Experience developing and implementing effective S&OP processes in growing industrial organisations.
• Strong expertise in demand planning, production planning, scheduling, inventory management, and material planning.
• Experience supporting operational turnaround, operational excellence, or performance improvement programmes.
• Ability to align production, procurement, sales, and finance around common planning objectives.
• Strong leadership and coaching skills with experience developing planning and supply chain teams.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills and the ability to influence both operational and executive leadership teams.
• Fluent English required. Additional European languages are advantageous.

Key Requirements:

• S&OP Leadership,
• Production Planning,
• Demand Planning, Inventory Optimisation,
• On-Time Delivery Improvement,
• Supply Chain Performance

Type of Assignment:

Interim

Scope of Interim Assignment:

Manufacturing Ramp-up, Growth Acceleration

Functional Area of the Interim Manager:

Operations

Location:

Czech Republic

Duration:

3-6 months

Start Date:

June 2026

Why work with us?

CE Interim delivers proven executive interim leaders within 72 hours across borders, cultures, and industries. We specialize in high-impact interim management for private equity firms, family offices, and global corporations facing moments of transition: digital transformation, market entry, operational turnaround, post-merger integration, or crisis.

What sets us apart is not just the speed or depth of our network, it’s how we lead. Every engagement is personally guided by a CE Interim managing partner: former CEOs, CFOs, or COOs who’ve been on your side of the table, steering organizations through high-stakes decisions.

With a global talent pool and operational reach spanning Europe, the USA, and the Middle East, we don’t fill roles, we build trust, lead transitions, and deliver outcomes.

As part of the Valtus Alliance, the world’s largest alliance of Executive Interim Management companies, we ensure seamless international execution through 25+ offices and 80+ senior partners in over 50 countries.

Executive Leadership Breaking Borders. Outcomes Without Compromise.