Production Planning and Control Lead

Draken Europe; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension matching

Bonus incentives

Discounted PMI

Electric car scheme

Tech vouchers

Wellbeing programme

Job summary

Draken Europe seeks an experienced Production Planning & Control Lead to head the PP&C function. You will deliver aviation maintenance planning, coordinate with CAMO, CAMO and procurement to ensure on-time, compliant maintenance delivery in a fast-paced, safety-critical environment.

You will lead a team of planners, ensure effective use of planning systems, and drive continuous improvement while managing budgets and internal/external relationships.

Qualifications

• Proven aviation PP&C leadership experience.
• Expert knowledge of aviation planning and control principles.
• Strong knowledge of UK CAA, EASA, FAA regulations.
• Experience with Safety Management System principles in aviation.
• Demonstrated leadership and change management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the PP&C function ensuring compliance with aviation regulations and MOE.
• Deliver maintenance schedules issued by CAMO with effective planning and control.
• Create and manage work orders, worksheets, checks and documentation for maintenance and aircraft storage.
• Develop detailed base maintenance input plans with daily/weekly progress reviews.
• Plan resource hours and trade requirements to support safe, on-time maintenance.
• Coordinate with Procurement and Supply Chain to ensure timely parts and kits.
• Oversee PP&C systems availability of personnel, tools, equipment and data.
• Collaborate with Engineering Delivery Manager to optimise aircraft availability.
• Record time and activity in Critical Chain Project Management tools for performance improvement.
• Report unsafe conditions to support safety management systems.
• Lead, coach and develop PP&C staff and foster a culture of safety and excellence.
• Deliver PP&C activities efficiently, on time and within budget while maintaining stakeholder relationships.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Regulatory knowledge

Planning & scheduling

Team management

Microsoft Office

Education

EASA Part 66 B1/B2 Licence

Aerospace/Aeronautical Engineering Degree

Aviation Apprenticeship

Business/Management qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office

Planning and management systems

Job description

Draken believes in fair reward and recognition for our employees. As such, we offer competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including up to 12% matching pension contributions, bonus incentives, discounted PMI, electric car scheme, tech vouchers, wellbeing programmes and much more.

About the Role

Draken is seeking an experienced Production Planning & Control Lead to lead the Production Planning & Control (PP&C) function and deliver effective production planning, maintenance control and aircraft output plans in line with applicable aviation regulations, international standards and our Maintenance Organisation Exposition (MOE).

Reporting to the Head of Planning, you will lead a team of Production Planners and Controllers and work closely with the Engineering Delivery Manager, CAMO, Procurement, Supply Chain and wider Integrated Delivery Team to ensure maintenance activity is safely planned, fully resourced and delivered on time and within budget.

This is a key leadership role in a fast-paced, safety-critical aviation environment, combining regulatory accountability, detailed maintenance planning, stakeholder management and continuous improvement to achieve predictable aircraft delivery without compromising safety, standards or compliance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the PP&C function, ensuring full compliance with applicable UK CAA, UK MAA, EASA and other relevant aviation regulations and the MOE.
• Deliver the maintenance schedule issued by CAMO through close collaboration and effective planning and control.
• Create and manage work orders, staged worksheets, independent checks and associated documentation for scheduled maintenance, airworthiness directives, service bulletins, repairs and aircraft or component storage activity.
• Develop and manage detailed base maintenance input plans, using daily and weekly progress reviews and clear reporting to keep inputs on schedule.
• Plan resource hours and specialist trade requirements to support safe, efficient and on-time maintenance completion.
• Work with Procurement and Supply Chain to ensure parts, materials and pre-kitting requirements are available when needed.
• Manage the production planning system, ensuring the availability of personnel, tools, equipment, materials, maintenance data and facilities.
• Partner with the Engineering Delivery Manager and wider Integrated Delivery Team to optimise aircraft availability and maintenance scheduling.
• Ensure accurate recording of time and activity within the Critical Chain Project Management tool, using data to support performance improvement.
• Report conditions that have resulted, or may result, in an unsafe condition in support of the Company Safety Management System.
• Manage audit non-conformances and safety investigation findings, completing effective root cause corrective action and sustainable containment, corrective and preventive actions.
• Lead, coach and develop PP&C personnel, ensuring they are trained, competent and equipped to deliver their responsibilities.
• Build a strong culture of safety, compliance, accountability, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Manage succession planning and develop resilience and capability across the PP&C function.
• Deliver PP&C activities efficiently, effectively, on time and within budget while maintaining strong internal and external customer relationships.

About You

You are an accomplished aviation production planning and control professional with the leadership capability to manage people, complex maintenance inputs and competing operational priorities. Calm under pressure and uncompromising on safety and compliance, you communicate confidently across technical, operational and senior stakeholder groups.

• Extensive, proven experience in a similar aviation Production Planning & Control role.
• Expert knowledge of aviation production planning and control principles and practices.
• Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of UK CAA, UK military, EASA and FAA aviation regulations.
• Practical knowledge of Safety Management System principles and requirements within an aviation environment.
• A relevant technical background demonstrated through one of the following: an EASA, CAA or equivalent Part 66 B1/B2 Aircraft Engineer Licence; an aerospace or aeronautical engineering degree; a relevant aviation apprenticeship or equivalent qualifications with proven industry experience; or extensive relevant PP&C experience.
• Proven ability to plan and control maintenance activity, forecast aircraft inputs and align resources to operational requirements.
• Strong leadership, organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to meet demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence presenting and influencing at all levels.
• Highly self-motivated, assertive and resilient, with a practical and collaborative approach.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and the ability to use relevant company planning and management systems.
• Able to obtain and maintain SC-level security clearance.
• Practical knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001 and ISO 27001 within an aviation environment.
• Demonstrable people leadership and cultural change management experience.
• Relevant aircraft airframe and engine type training or general familiarisation training.
• A tertiary-level business or management qualification.

Why Join Draken?

At Draken, you'll be part of a team delivering world‑class adversary air and mission training capabilities to military customers worldwide. You'll have the opportunity to work on innovative technologies, influence future capability development and collaborate with some of the industry's leading engineers and operational specialists.

Our employee values

Draken is committed to eliminating unlawful and unfair discrimination and we celebrate the differences that a diverse workforce brings. A range of perspective and talent supports our values and drives our success, with a mix of voices generating better discussions, business decisions and outcomes for all.

At all our sites internationally, every member of the Draken team is accountable to ensure that we are all treated fairly and with respect.

We are also an Armed Forces friendly organisation, and as part of our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant, welcome applications from veterans and services spouses and partners who met the criteria in our job specifications.

In line with our Disability Confident Commitments, we provide reasonable adjustments to facilitate our interview process, please liaise with us if any reasonable adjustments are required.

About Us

Whether it is adversarial support, electronic attack or customised rotary‑wing training, we offer the most accurate and advanced readiness training in the industry. Our vast, differentiated fleet, cutting edge hardware and experienced instructors are engaged to help your mission take off.

Being ready is not only a matter of when. But where. We provide services in the UK, US and across the NATO countries. Making sure that our allies can manoeuvre around defeat and prepare to prevail.