Planning Specialist

Ascend Performance Materials•Decatur, AL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

The Mechanical Maintenance Planner is responsible for developing safe, efficient, and cost-effective maintenance work plans that improve equipment reliability and support operational excellence. This role partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Engineering, Supply Chain, and contractors to ensure maintenance activities are properly scoped, planned, scheduled, and executed. The Planner develops detailed work packages for corrective, preventive, predictive, and turnaround maintenance while maintaining accurate maintenance data within the SAP Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). The position plays a key role in improving equipment reliability, reducing unplanned downtime, optimizing maintenance costs, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

Requirements

Minimum of five (5) years of industrial mechanical maintenance experience in a manufacturing, chemical, petrochemical, refining, or heavy industrial environment.
Experience using SAP Plant Maintenance (PM) or comparable CMMS; two (2) or more years of SAP experience preferred.
Experience planning maintenance work and developing detailed job packages.
Working knowledge of SAP PM or comparable CMMS.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and Project.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Knowledge of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance practices.
Ability to estimate labor hours, materials, tools, and contractor requirements.
Ability to read, interpret, create, and markup mechanical drawings.
Knowledge of equipment reliability principles and maintenance workflow processes.
Strong organizational, planning, time management, and facilitation skills.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across multiple departments.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Ability to work in an industrial manufacturing environment.
Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
Ability to access elevated work areas, climb stairs and ladders, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying environmental conditions.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree in a technical discipline or completion of a recognized apprenticeship program preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop complete, high-quality maintenance work packages that enable safe and efficient execution.
Improve equipment reliability through effective planning of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance.
Reduce unplanned downtime by ensuring work is planned, materials are available, and jobs are execution ready.
Maintain accurate equipment history, Bills of Material (BOMs), preventive maintenance programs, and SAP CMMS data.
Foster strong collaboration among Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Reliability, Materials Management, and contractors.
Support continuous improvement of maintenance work processes and planning standards.
Develop detailed work plans for corrective, preventive, predictive, and turnaround maintenance activities.
Define work scope, labor-hour estimates, required crafts, materials, tools, permits, equipment, and safety requirements.
Prepare comprehensive job packages that support safe, efficient, first-time quality execution.
Verify job readiness before work is released for scheduling.
Collaborate with the Maintenance Scheduler to prioritize and schedule planned work.
Develop standard job plans for recurring maintenance activities.
Review completed work orders to identify recurring equipment failures and opportunities for improvement.
Recommend improvements to preventive maintenance strategies and maintenance procedures.
Support Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) and reliability improvement initiatives.
Assist with shutdown, turnaround, and outage planning activities.
Utilize equipment criticality rankings to prioritize planning efforts.
Create, maintain, and improve work orders, job plans, preventive maintenance tasks, equipment records, and maintenance history within SAP CMMS.
Maintain accurate Bills of Material (BOMs) and equipment master data.
Update equipment records following capital projects, equipment modifications, installations, and retirements.
Ensure maintenance documentation is complete and accurate to support asset history and future planning.
Identify material requirements and coordinate procurement activities to ensure work package readiness.
Coordinate with the Material Coordinator to resolve inventory discrepancies and improve spare parts data.
Identify when contract resources are required and obtain proposals in accordance with company procurement policies.
Recommend improvements to spare parts inventory and BOM accuracy.
Ensure all maintenance work packages comply with company safety procedures, OSHA regulations, environmental requirements, quality standards, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
Incorporate appropriate safety precautions, permits, lockout/tagout requirements, and environmental controls into all work plans.
Promote safe work practices and support the site's safety culture.
Work closely with Operations, Maintenance Supervisors, Mechanical Technicians, Reliability Engineers, Engineering, Materials Management, and contractors to ensure maintenance objectives are achieved.
Provide technical guidance and mentor personnel on maintenance workflow and planning best practices.
Support continuous improvement of maintenance planning processes across the site.
Prioritize maintenance planning activities in coordination with Maintenance leadership.
Recommend updates to preventive maintenance strategies.
Recommend improvements to Bills of Material and spare parts inventories.
Determine contractor requirements for planned work.
Recommend process improvements that enhance equipment reliability and maintenance effectiveness.