Senior Planner/Works Programmer

MEARS GROUP PLC; Dover; 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% employee, 3%:

25 days annual leave + bank holidays

Employee Assistance Programme

Mears Rewards discounts

Annual Mears Fun Day

Volunteering leave

Cycle to Work Scheme

Share save scheme

Recognition and long service awards

Learning and development opportunities

Occupational health support

Green car scheme with Tusker

Job summary

Mears Group PLC in Dover is seeking a Senior Planner to join the repairs team. You will lead the planning function, schedule repairs and maintenance works, and ensure resources are used efficiently while delivering excellent customer service.

The role requires running a planning team, coordinating with supervisors and contractors, and maintaining accurate records. It is a full-time permanent position based in Dover with a 42.5-hour week.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Planning or Senior Planning role within repairs or housing environments.
• Experience leading or mentoring a planning/scheduling team.
• Strong knowledge of scheduling and workforce planning processes.
• Experience using job management, scheduling and appointment booking systems.
• Ability to analyse performance data and drive service improvements.
• Excellent organisational, prioritisation and communication skills.
• Experience scheduling multi-trade repairs using ICT appointing tools.
• Good understanding of repairs and maintenance operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of planners to schedule repairs and maintenance efficiently.
• Allocate operatives and subcontractors to maximise productivity and meet service objectives.
• Monitor daily schedules and manage appointments, follow-ons, and overdue work.
• Act as escalation point for complex scheduling and resource planning issues.
• Produce and analyse performance reports to monitor KPIs and service delivery.
• Collaborate with Supervisors, Managers, Administrators and Contractors to ensure a smooth customer journey.
• Identify resource gaps and capacity challenges for workforce planning.
• Ensure scheduling systems and job management tools are updated and used effectively.
• Prioritise emergency repairs to minimise disruption and maintain service standards.
• Maintain accurate records to support compliance and audits.
• Provide coaching and training to planners on best practices.
• Support continuous improvement to enhance processes and outcomes.
• Ensure all activities comply with company policies and Health & Safety requirements.

Skills

Planning experience

Team leadership

Scheduling expertise

Scheduling systems

Data analysis

Organisational skills

Customer focus

Multi-trade scheduling

Repairs knowledge

Education

GCSEs in English and Maths

Tools

Job management systems

Workforce scheduling software

Appointment booking systems

Job description

Annual salary: up to £30,500.00

Senior Planner

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.

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.