Planner/Works Programmer, Planner

Livin Housing Limited; Milton Keynes; On-site; GBP 29,000; Full time

Job summary

A housing services company is seeking an organised and proactive Planner based in Milton Keynes. You'll ensure efficient scheduling of repairs, manage operatives, and maintain high standards of service. The ideal candidate should possess strong organisational and IT skills, along with relevant experience. This full-time role offers a competitive salary and a range of benefits including 25 days annual leave, pension schemes, and more.

Benefits

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Leading pension scheme

Annual Fun Day

Volunteering Leave

Staff perks including discounts

Qualifications

• Experience in a similar role with related duties.
• Ability to use job management and scheduling systems.
• Strong communication skills are essential.

Responsibilities

• Schedule operatives and subcontractors for repairs.
• Monitor and update repair jobs daily.
• Support the use of IT systems and documentation.

Skills

Organisational skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Time management

Customer service

Education

GCSE (or equivalent) in English & Maths

Tools

Job management systems

Scheduling systems

Job description

Overview

Planner — Location: Milton Keynes — Full time / Permanent — Salary: £28,381.50 Per Annum — Hours: 42.5 hours Monday - Friday

Mears are the largest provider of repairs and maintenance, and regeneration services across the UK. We are a highly responsible partner, who is committed to delivering the highest levels of customer service, keeping our promises, creating a great place to work, and tackling issues that matter to people and communities.

We are looking for an organised and proactive Planner to join our local repairs team. You’ll play a vital role in ensuring repairs are scheduled efficiently, works are allocated to operatives, and jobs are completed quickly and to a high standard. As the key link between residents, operatives, and colleagues, you will help deliver a customer-focused, responsive repairs service.

Duties

• Schedule operatives and subcontractors to ensure resources are used effectively and repairs are delivered on time.
• Monitor and update repair jobs daily, including appointments, follow-on works, and overdue tasks.
• Support the use of IT systems, ensuring operatives update their PDAs and schedule of rates are entered correctly.
• Communicate clearly and professionally with residents, operatives, and stakeholders to keep everyone informed.
• Work closely with administrators, supervisors, and contractors to ensure a seamless service.
• Cover for other planners when needed and attend meetings or training sessions as required.
• Follow company policies and Health & Safety requirements at all times.
• Assist with reporting and performance monitoring to ensure KPIs and targets are met.
• Help prioritise emergency and urgent jobs to minimise disruption for residents.
• Maintain accurate records, data, and documentation for audits and compliance.
• Support continuous service improvements by suggesting ways to streamline planning and scheduling.
• Provide general administrative support to the repairs team when required

Role Criteria

• Experience in the above role with similar or the same duties
• GCSE (or equivalent) in English & Maths
• Experience working in a fast-paced, pressurised environment
• Strong IT skills with the ability to use job management and scheduling systems
• Excellent time management, organisational, and communication skills
• A customer-first approach with the ability to handle challenging situations
• Knowledge of repairs and maintenance processes
• Experience scheduling and planning multi-trade repairs using an ICT appointing tool

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Leading pension scheme
• Annual Mears Fun Day - Our annual Fun Day is organised as a massive thank you from the Executive team for all the hard work!
• Volunteering Leave - Mears supports employees to undertake paid volunteering in the community, in support of our social value commitment
• Staff perks with Mears Rewards - discounts of up to 10% weekly groceries, holidays, eye test vouchers, Share save scheme, plus much more
• Family friendly policies

All our roles require candidates to have the entitlement to work within the UK, Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship.

Candidates should be aware that all our roles are subject to relevant Background, Identity & Security checks before commencement of employment.

Apply below or to discuss your application further; contact:

Laura Bourne ([e-mail])

If you need any help with your application process, we are here to support you. We will be accessible every step of the way.

At Mears Group, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone can thrive, we are a Disability Confident employer, valuing individuality and ensuring equal opportunities for all.

We proudly support the Armed Forces Covenant and are honoured to have achieved the Gold Award in the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) to coincide with this, we hold an Endorser Award for the Career Transition Partnership, recognising our commitment to veterans transitioning into civilian careers.

In our continued effort to promote social mobility, we invite applicants to voluntarily share their background information during the application stages to help us better understand the diverse experiences of our candidates. This is to ensure we are committed to improving social mobility. We use the Social Mobility Index to assess and enhance opportunities for individuals from diverse backgrounds. These questions are optional and will not impact your ability to apply.