Maintenance Planner

Position Summary

The Maintenance Planner/Scheduler is responsible for planning, coordinating, and scheduling maintenance activities across the Castle Hayne, NC manufacturing plant. This role ensures maintenance work is efficiently planned, properly resourced, and executed safely to maximize equipment reliability, minimize downtime, and optimize labor productivity. The Planner/Scheduler serves as the critical link between Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, and Stores to drive proactive maintenance execution and continuous improvement of asset performance. This is an onsite position.

Key Responsibilities

Maintenance Planning

• Develop detailed job plans for preventive, predictive, corrective, and outage maintenance activities.
• Scope field work by reviewing equipment history, technical documentation, and conducting site walk-downs.
• Identify required labor, crafts, materials, tooling, permits, and safety requirements prior to scheduling work.
• Create standardized job plans and maintain a structured equipment maintenance library.
• Ensure all work orders contain clear instructions, estimated labor hours, and required parts.

Scheduling & Coordination

• Develop and maintain weekly and daily maintenance schedules across the maintenance department.
• Balance maintenance priorities with production requirements to minimize operational disruptions.
• Coordinate schedules with Operations, Engineering, and contractors.
• Lead weekly scheduling and backlog review meetings.
• Optimize workforce utilization and reduce reactive maintenance work.

CMMS Management

• Utilize CMMS (e.g., JDE, SAP,) to:
  • Plan and schedule work orders
  • Maintain backlog accuracy
  • Track labor utilization and equipment history
• Maintain accurate asset data, job plans, and preventive maintenance schedules.

Materials & Resource Coordination

• Work closely with Stores and Purchasing to ensure parts availability prior to scheduled work.
• Identify long-lead materials and support inventory optimization.
• Coordinate contractor services and specialty resources when required.

Reliability & Continuous Improvement

• Support preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Participate in Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) and reliability improvement initiatives.
• Analyze maintenance metrics including schedule compliance, backlog health, and equipment downtime.
• Drive continuous improvement toward planned vs. reactive maintenance targets.

Safety & Compliance

• Ensure all planned work complies with plant safety policies, LOTO procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Incorporate safety planning into every job plan.
• Support safety initiatives and reinforce a strong safety culture.

Qualifications

Education

• Associate or Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Industrial Technology, Maintenance Management, or related field preferred
  OR
• Equivalent combination of education and extensive maintenance experience.

Experience

• 4–6 years of maintenance experience in a manufacturing, chemical, refining, metals, pulp & paper, or similarly complex industrial environment.
• Experience planning maintenance in multi-area or large-scale facilities strongly preferred.
• Hands-on craft or supervisory maintenance background highly desirable.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Technical Skills

• Strong CMMS experience (JDE, SAP, Maximo, or similar).
• Knowledge of mechanical, electrical, and instrumentation systems.
• Understanding of preventive and predictive maintenance practices.
• Ability to read P&IDs, equipment drawings, and technical manuals.
• Strong planning, prioritization, and organizational skills.
• Strong computer skills – Microsoft Office Suite

Core Competencies

• Excellent coordination and communication skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities across multiple departments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Detail-oriented with strong follow-through.
• Collaborative leadership style.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Schedule compliance
• Planned vs. reactive work ratio
• Maintenance backlog health
• Equipment uptime and reliability metrics
• Labor productivity and wrench time
• PM completion rates

Work Environment

• Industrial manufacturing environment supporting multiple production units.
• Regular field presence required for job scoping and coordination.
• May support planned shutdowns, turnarounds, or outage events.

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Vision insurance