Senior Planner/Works Programmer

Mears Group; Leeds; On-site; GBP 33,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual leave

Pension scheme

Mears Rewards

Volunteer leave

Fun Day

Sharesave

Training & development

Job summary

Mears Group in Leeds is seeking an experienced Senior Planner to lead the repairs planning function. You will ensure efficient scheduling of repairs and maintenance, manage the planning team, and work closely with operatives, subcontractors, and supervisors to optimise productivity and service delivery.

The role emphasises prioritising urgent works, maintaining records, and driving continuous improvement while upholding health and safety standards.

Qualifications

• Must have GCSEs in English and Maths.
• Experience leading or supporting a planning or scheduling team.
• 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 improvements.

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 manage appointments, follow-ons, and overdue jobs.
• Act as escalation point for scheduling and resource planning issues.
• Produce and analyse performance reports to monitor KPIs and service delivery targets.
• Work with Supervisors, Managers, Administrators, and Contractors for a seamless customer journey.
• Identify resource gaps and capacity challenges to support workforce planning.
• Ensure scheduling systems and tools are updated and used effectively.
• Prioritise emergency and urgent repairs to minimise disruption and maintain service quality.
• Maintain accurate records to support compliance and audits.
• Provide coaching and training to planners to promote best practices.
• Support continuous improvement of planning processes and customer outcomes.

Skills

Scheduling

Workforce planning

Team leadership

Communication

Analytical skills

Education

GCSEs in English and Maths

Tools

Job management systems

Workforce scheduling tools

ICT appointing tools

Job description

Annual salary: up to £37,000.00

Senior Planner

Location: Leeds

Contract: Full Time, Permanent

Salary:£37,000

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

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Generous pension scheme
• Annual Mears Fun Day as a thank you from the Executive Team
• Paid volunteering leave to support our social value commitments
• Mears Rewards, offering discounts on groceries, holidays, retail, eye tests, and more
• Sharesave Scheme
• Family-friendly policies
• Ongoing training and development opportunities

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.