PLANNING MANAGER

Summary Description of Position

The Planning Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, strategic direction, and performance of the Planning Department. This position oversees maintenance planning, production support, conversion planning, and departmental resource management to ensure maintenance events are effectively planned, coordinated, and executed.

Develops and oversees short-term and long-range forecasts for manpower, materials, facilities, and other resources required to support current and anticipated maintenance events. Works closely with Operations, Production, Materials, Engineering, Quality, customers, and corporate leadership to ensure planning objectives align with operational demands, customer commitments, and company goals.

Provides direct leadership and oversight to the Planning Supervisor and Production Support Supervisor while establishing departmental priorities, monitoring performance metrics, managing budgets, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Benefits

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Paid company holidays

• 401(k) retirement plan with 5% company match

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance

• Company-paid life insurance

• Short- and long-term disability coverage

• Ongoing training and professional development opportunities

Minimum Requirements and Qualifications

• Seven (7) or more years of related experience in aircraft maintenance planning, production control, or heavy maintenance operations.

• Five (5) or more years in supervisory or management capacities of increasing responsibility, or demonstrated ability to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position.

• Broad working knowledge of aircraft maintenance, aircraft modifications, maintenance planning processes and procedures, and production control operations.

• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and manage multiple teams and supervisory personnel.

• Strong understanding of manpower planning, labor forecasting, material requirements, maintenance scheduling, and resource allocation.

• Experience developing and managing departmental budgets, operational forecasts, and performance metrics.

• Excellent written, verbal, presentation, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly advanced Excel, and other applicable planning and reporting software.

• Working knowledge of FAA regulations and Federal Aviation Regulations pertaining to FAR Part 145 repair station operations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree in Aviation Management, Aviation Technology, Business Administration, or a related field.

• Previous management experience within a heavy aircraft maintenance MRO environment.

• Experience developing maintenance program quotes, proposals, and customer bid submissions.

• Working knowledge of maintenance planning systems, including Wings.

• Knowledge of process improvement methodologies such as Lean Principles and Six Sigma.

Major Responsibility Areas and Duties

• Provides overall leadership, direction, and accountability for all facets of the Planning Department, including maintenance planning, production support, and conversion planning.

• Directly manages and provides oversight to the Planning Supervisor and Production Support Supervisor, establishing departmental objectives, priorities, and performance expectations.

• Oversees the development and execution of short-term and long-range maintenance plans, ensuring manpower, material, facility, and equipment requirements are identified and coordinated in advance of maintenance events.

• Ensures detailed maintenance work scopes, labor estimates, material requirements, and production schedules are developed to support operational readiness and customer commitments.

• Coordinates with Operations, Production, Materials, Engineering, Quality, and other departments to address planning constraints and maintain alignment with maintenance schedules.

• Develops, manages, and monitors the annual Planning Department budget, evaluating expenditures, staffing requirements, and resource utilization.

• Reviews Aircraft Task Orders (ATO) prior to bid submission to ensure planning requirements, labor estimates, and associated resources are appropriately evaluated.

• Serves as a primary point of contact for customers and corporate marketing regarding maintenance planning, scheduling, and related operational requirements.

• Oversees the preparation, maintenance, and distribution of operational status reports, including the Hangar Load Plan.

• Establishes and monitors departmental business metrics to evaluate productivity, efficiency, and overall planning effectiveness.

• Analyzes operational performance and identifies opportunities to improve maintenance flow, resource utilization, and departmental processes.

• Ensures effective communication between departmental leadership, employees, customers, and corporate stakeholders.

Additional Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor.

Physical Requirements and Environmental Conditions

• Ability to perform work utilizing a computer for extended periods of time.

• Ability to sit for extended periods in a normal office environment.

• Ability to withstand constant to intermittent loud noise levels.

• Ability to have correctable near and far vision.

• Ability to have distance vision.