Senior Planner/Works Programmer

Mears; Canterbury; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 34,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Sick Pay

Life Assurance (2x annual salary)

Pension contribution (5%/3%)

25 days annual leave

Job summary

Mears is seeking an experienced Senior Planner to join our repairs team in Dover. You will lead the planning function, ensuring efficient scheduling of repairs and maintenance while guiding the planning team and coordinating with operations to drive performance and customer satisfaction.

You will manage resources, prioritise urgent jobs, monitor KPIs, and support continuous improvement in planning processes. This is a full-time, permanent position with a competitive package.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Planning or Senior Planning role within repairs, maintenance, housing, facilities management or similar.
• Experience leading, mentoring, or supporting a planning or scheduling team.
• GCSEs in English and Maths required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of planners to ensure repairs and maintenance appointments are scheduled efficiently.
• Manage allocation of operatives and subcontractors to maximise productivity and meet service objectives.
• Monitor daily work schedules and ensure appointments and follow-up works are effectively managed.
• Act as escalation point for complex scheduling and resource planning issues.
• Produce and analyse performance reports to monitor KPIs, productivity, and service delivery targets.
• Work with Supervisors, Managers, Administrators and Contractors for a seamless customer journey.

Skills

Planning experience

Team leadership

Scheduling

GCSE English & Maths

Analytical skills

Education

GCSEs in English and Maths

Tools

Job management systems

Workforce scheduling software

Appointment booking systems

Job description

Senior Planner

Annual salary: up to £30,500.00

Location: Dover

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Salary:£30,500

Hours: 42.5 hours per week, Monday to Friday

Mears is one of the UK's leading providers of housing repairs, maintenance, and regeneration services. We are committed to delivering excellent customer service, supporting our communities, and creating a great place to work.

About the role:

We are looking for an experienced Senior Planner to join our repairs team. In this role, you will lead the planning function, ensuring that repairs and maintenance works are scheduled efficiently and resources are utilised effectively. You will support and guide the planning team, work closely with operational management, and help drive service performance while maintaining a strong focus on customer satisfaction.

Duties

• Lead and support a team of planners to ensure repairs and maintenance appointments are scheduled efficiently.
• Manage the allocation of operatives and subcontractors to maximise productivity and meet service objectives.
• Monitor and review daily work schedules, ensuring appointments, follow-on works, and overdue jobs are effectively managed.
• Act as the key point of escalation for complex scheduling and resource planning issues.
• Produce and analyse performance reports to monitor KPIs, productivity, and service delivery targets.
• Work closely with Supervisors, Managers, Administrators, and Contractors to ensure a seamless customer journey.
• Support workforce planning by identifying resource gaps, capacity challenges, and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure scheduling systems, PDAs, and job management tools are updated accurately and utilised effectively.
• Prioritise emergency and urgent repairs to minimise disruption and deliver excellent customer service.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation to support compliance and audit requirements.
• Provide coaching, guidance, and training to planners, promoting best practice across the team.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance planning processes, operational efficiency, and customer outcomes.
• Ensure all activities are carried out in accordance with company policies and Health & Safety requirements.

Role Criteria

• Proven experience in a Planning or Senior Planning role within repairs, maintenance, housing, facilities management, or a similar environment.
• Experience leading, mentoring, or supporting a planning or scheduling team.
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths.
• Strong knowledge of scheduling and workforce planning processes.
• Experience using job management, workforce scheduling, and appointment booking systems.
• Ability to analyse performance data and use reporting tools to drive service improvements.
• Excellent organisational, prioritisation, and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced and pressurised environment.
• Strong customer service focus with the ability to manage challenging situations professionally.
• Experience scheduling multi-trade repairs using ICT appointing tools.
• Good understanding of repairs and maintenance operations.

Benefits

• Company Sick Pay
• Life Assurance (2x annual salary)
• 5% employee and 3% employer pension contribution with People pension
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Family friendly policies including enhanced maternity (14 weeks full pay, 12 weeks half pay and 13 weeks statutory pay), paternity (2 weeks full pay) and adoption leave
• Employee Assistance Programme - free confidential support and counselling available
• Mears Rewards offering discounts and cashback at leading retailers including travel, household items and shopping
• 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 – up to two days per year to support community initiatives
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Share save scheme
• Recognition and long service awards
• Buy up to 5 days holiday each year depending on length of service
• Learning and development opportunities
• Career progression opportunities across Mears Group
• Occupational health support
• Green car scheme with Tusker after successful probation period
• Be part of an inclusive workplace with access to a range of colleague networks and support groups focused on diversity, wellbeing and career development. From Disability, Pride (LGBTQ+) and Ethnic Diversity networks to Women in Leadership, the Women Operative Support Group, Women's Health, Men's Mental Health and Armed Forces communities, these groups provide opportunities for support, connection and professional development across our diverse workforce.

All roles require candidates to have the right to work in the UK. Mears does not currently offer visa sponsorship.

Please note that all offers of employment are subject to satisfactory Background, Identity and Security checks.