Strategic Planning Manager - HIP Bodycote PLC

Bodycote operates an international network of facilities serving a wide range of industries including aerospace, defence, automotive, power generation, oil & gas, construction, machine building medical and transportation. Bodycote is the world's leading provider of heat treatments and specialist thermal processing services and is a vital link in the manufacturing supply chain, employing over 4,500 people in 22 countries.

We recognise that the success of our business depends upon the skills, commitment and loyalty of our people. We strive to offer a working environment where these attributes are rewarded and valued.

Are you a strategic thinker with a hands-on approach? Do you thrive in complex, multinational environments & enjoy turning vision into action? If so, we'd love to hear from you.

Position Summary:

The Strategic Planning Manager is a newly created role to spearhead the growth of our Specialist Technologies division. This position is responsible for driving and coordinating delivery of the division's 5-year strategic growth plan, ensuring alignment with Bodycote's global objectives. Based in London & reporting to the President of Specialist Technologies, the position is a key member of the global HIP Leadership Team.

Working collaboratively with leadership across the business, the position plays a pivotal role in planning, executing, and continuous refinement of strategic initiatives that will underpin long-term growth and innovation across the HIP division.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning and Execution

• Lead and coordinate the development and execution of the HIP division's 5-year strategic growth plan, aligned to Bodycote's overall strategic planning cycle.
• Translate market trends, customer needs, and internal capabilities into actionable growth initiatives.
• Design and manage structured plans for multiple concurrent strategic initiatives across regions and functions.
• Define and track success metrics and KPIs, ensuring timely reporting and progress updates to the HIP Leadership Team and Group leadership.
• Conduct strategic deep dives and targeted analysis to support new opportunities, partnerships, or expansion pathways.

Capacity and Investment Planning

• Maintain an up-to-date long-term sales forecast and capacity utilisation model.
• Model various capacity scenarios and support development of robust business cases for investment and capital expenditure.
• Collaborate with Operations and Finance teams to align investment priorities with strategic growth needs.

Strategic Marketing and Value Proposition Development

• Build and embed strategic marketing capabilities within the HIP division.
• Develop customer and application segmentation frameworks, value propositions, and go-to-market strategies.
• Conduct focused marketing deep dives to identify opportunities for further penetration into existing and adjacent markets.

M&A and Strategic Partnerships

• Identify, assess, and track a pipeline of strategic acquisition and partnership opportunities.
• Contribute to strategic fit assessments, integration planning, and synergy identification.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience:

• Degree-educated (Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline is highly desirable)
• Strategic thinker with a hands-on mindset, able to turn vision into action and drive cross-functional execution.
• Proven track record in a multinational, matrixed, or highly technical commercial environment.
• Strong project management capabilities with the ability to coordinate multiple initiatives, stakeholders, and timelines simultaneously.
• Demonstrated strength in strategic and financial analysis, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; able to influence across senior levels and build trust across functions.
• Comfortable working through influence rather than direct authority; able to coach, challenge, and mobilise teams effectively.
• An engaged listener who collaborates constructively and seeks input to shape and evolve plans.

Salary / package:

• Salary range of £80,000 - £100,000, plus bonus and a competitive benefits package.

How to Apply:
Please click on the "Apply for Job" button below to submit your application.

Please note:
If you do not hear from us within two weeks, it means your application has not been successful on this occasion. However, we will retain your CV on file and may contact you should a suitable opportunity arise in the future.

Thank you for your interest, and we wish you the best in your job search.