Maintenance Planner

Bekaert; Exeter Township (Berks County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Bekaert is seeking a Maintenance Planner in Exeter Township, United States. This role focuses on planning, preparing, and scheduling maintenance work for efficient execution of maintenance activities. You will manage work orders, optimize resource allocation, and maintain schedules aligned with production priorities.

The ideal candidate has a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering and at least 3 years of maintenance planning experience. Bekaert fosters an inclusive work environment and encourages diverse applicants.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years in Maintenance or a related field.
• 3–5 years experience in maintenance planning in an industrial environment.
• Experience with maintenance best practices.

Responsibilities

• Plan, prepare, and schedule maintenance work.
• Manage maintenance backlog and optimize schedules.
• Coordinate critical and emergency work when needed.

Skills

Organizational skills

Coordination abilities

Analytical mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Detail-oriented

Problem-solving mindset

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

Tools

SAP PM / EAM systems

Job description

Purpose and Mission

The Maintenance Planner is responsible for planning, preparing, and scheduling maintenance work to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable execution of all maintenance activities. This role maximizes asset availability by structuring work orders, optimizing resource allocation, and aligning maintenance activities with production priorities.

Key Activities and Responsibilities

1. Maintenance Planning

• Prepare detailed work orders in SAP PM, including:
• Task breakdown and sequencing
• Required skills and labor resources
• Materials, spare parts, tools, and permits
• SOPs, technical drawings, and safety instructions
• Develop and maintain a job plan library for high-frequency and critical maintenance tasks
• Continuously improve and update job plans based on feedback and execution learnings
• Organize and manage the kitting process, ensuring all materials are pre-staged (“work order box”)
• Create purchase orders for required materials, services, and external contractors
• Ensure work orders are fully prepared and handed over as “Ready to Schedule”

2. Maintenance Scheduling

• Develop and maintain mid-term, weekly, and daily maintenance schedules (including Day-1 and same-day execution)
• Allocate internal and external resources efficiently across all work orders
• Optimize schedules to align with production priorities and plant constraints
• Bundle and group similar work orders to improve productivity and minimize downtime
• Publish and communicate weekly and daily schedules to all stakeholders

3. Coordination & Stakeholder Management

• Facilitate weekly scheduling meetings with production and maintenance supervisors/foremen
• Ensure alignment between maintenance plans and production requirements
• Coordinate execution of critical and emergency work when needed
• Provide feedback to planners on job plan quality and execution gaps

4. Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Monitor and track schedule compliance and execution performance
• Manage and optimize the maintenance backlog
• Identify and drive continuous improvements in planning and scheduling processes

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Schedule compliance (%)
• Planned vs unplanned work ratio
• Backlog level (weeks of work)
• Work order quality (ready-to-schedule completeness)
• Wrench time / labor utilization
• Emergency work (%)

Skills

• Strong organizational and planning skills
• Excellent coordination and communication abilities
• Analytical mindset with focus on efficiency and optimization
• Ability to work cross-functionally with production, maintenance, and procurement teams
• Detail-oriented with a structured approach to work preparation
• Problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset

Previous Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in Maintenance or a related field

Qualifications and Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or equivalent technical experience
• Minimum 3–5 years of experience in maintenance planning and/or scheduling in an industrial environment
• Strong knowledge of SAP PM / EAM systems
• Experience with maintenance best practices (RCM, preventive & predictive maintenance)

Be bold and take the leap!

We\'re looking for individuals who are not afraid to take risks and explore new ideas. If you are passionate about personal growth and bringing your authentic self to work, we want you on our team!

At Bekaert, we celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive work environment. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.

To learn more about us and our exciting career opportunities, visit Bekaert Careers