Planning Manager

Socket.dev; Marana (AZ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401K

Medical Insurance

Disability Insurance

PTO

Life Insurance

Career Growth Opportunities

EAP

Job summary

Ascent Aviation Services seeks a Planning Manager to lead and optimize scheduling, resource allocation, and workflow in our aviation MRO environment. You will forecast, plan, and ensure compliance with industry standards while driving efficiency and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate has strong leadership, experience in MRO operations, and a background in maintenance planning, with an A&P license considered a strong plus.

Qualifications

• Five plus years maintenance planning.
• Excellent communication (reading, writing, and understanding English).
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects in changing priorities.
• Effective collaboration across organizational levels.
• Leadership, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• High school diploma or GED; post-secondary education or training in aircraft maintenance or equivalent.
• Valid driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Develop and schedule aircraft maintenance tasks while ensuring FAA compliance.
• Translate customer work scopes into clear work instructions and ensure necessary documentation.
• Oversee creation of critical path flow charts and ensure planning software usage.
• Maintain Facility Maintenance Slot chart and track projects.
• Lead staffing coordination for billable work and future projects.
• Produce reports and analytics for senior leadership.
• Drive productivity and cost reduction in the planning function.
• Ensure safe work practices and incident reporting.

Skills

Maintenance scheduling

FAA compliance

Team leadership

Scheduling software

Staffing management

Performance coaching

Reporting

Safety

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

A&P License

Bachelor’s degree in aviation management

Tools

Planning software

Job description

Who we are and where we are going:

Ascent Aviation Services is one of the largest aviation maintenance, repair, overhaul, storage and reclamation operations in the world. Our strength comes from our talented and professional employees who excel through teamwork and enthusiasm. Ascent Aviation Services continues to grow and are continually looking for motivated and career minded aviation professionals who will support our vision and goals.

We are built on the core values of Respect, Safety, Quality, and Results, and we are seeking a highly skilled and dynamic professional to lead and manage the Planning and Production Control functions within our aviation organization. As the Planning Manager, you will oversee production scheduling, resource allocation, and workflow optimization to ensure seamless operations. This role is responsible for forecasting, planning, and ensuring compliance with industry standards while driving operational efficiency and continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will bring strong leadership abilities, an understanding of an MRO facility operations, and the ability to guide a high-performing team toward excellence. Experience in Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) environments is highly preferred, and holding an A&P License is a strong plus. If you are passionate about enhancing operations and leading teams to success, we invite you to apply for this key role.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Develop and schedule aircraft maintenance tasks while ensuring full compliance with FAA regulations and Ascent Aviation Services guidelines. Collaborate with the Maintenance, Inspection, and related teams to ensure tasks are properly sequenced. Communicate and coordinate with all teams to guarantee that the work scope, workflow, and sequencing are aligned with Maintenance and Inspection requirements.
• Ensures that all applicable airworthiness directives, service bulletins, engineering orders and other documentation referenced in the work package accompany the work cards to Production Control for accomplishment.
• Translate customer work scopes into clear work instructions and ensure necessary documentation accompanies work packages.
• Oversee the creation of critical path flow charts and ensure routine maintenance checks are accurately estimated and entered planning software.
• Maintain Facility Maintenance Slot chart to track sold and potential projects. Attend and sometimes host weekly Maintenance-lookahead meetings with the Sales and Operations Department.
• Manage staffing requirements, coordinating manpower and resources for billable work and upcoming projects in collaboration with HR and Sales.
• Monitor and evaluate team performance, provide coaching, and lead training efforts to ensure qualified personnel are in place.
• Track applied man-hours and maintain the Facility Maintenance Slot chart to ensure efficient use of resources.
• Produce reports, recaps, and statistical data for senior leadership to monitor progress and performance.
• Drive improvements in productivity and cost reduction across the planning function.
• Ensure that all work performed is done in a safe manner. Directs activities to protect employees from harm and maintain safe working conditions.

YOU WILL GET MORE THAN JUST COMPENSATION:

• 401K with company matchYOU WILL GET MORE THAN JUST COMPENSATION

• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• Disability
• PTO
• Life and Accidental Death Insurance
• Development and Career Growth Opportunities
• EAP

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Minimum Qualifications

• Strong organizational and time management skills; ability to interpret technical data.
• Five plus years maintenance planning.
• Excellent communication (reading, writing, and understanding English).
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects. Adaptable to changing priorities and emergency situations.
• Effective collaboration across all organizational levels.
• Leadership, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Basic knowledge of human behavior and management techniques.
• High school diploma or GED are required post-secondary education or training in aircraft maintenance or equivalent combination of education, training or experience.
• Valid driver’s license.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Aircraft Maintenance experience.
• A&P License
• Bachelor’s degree in aviation management.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Requires sitting, standing or walking for extended periods of time. Requires frequent walking, climbing and lifting, bending, reaching to shoulder level, carrying, pushing or pulling weight up to 20 pounds. Requires eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity. Requires corrected vision and hearing to normal range.

EQUIPMENT OPERATED:

Telephone, computer, printer, copy machine, facsimile machine.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Aircraft maintenance hangar, planning office.

OTHER DUTIES:

• May be required to work at both Marana, AZ and Tucson, AZ locations as business needs dictate.
• Additional duties may be assigned at the discretion of department management.

Details: SMS REQUIREMENTS

• Employees are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with company policies and government regulations. These rules are written in the interest of preserving the lives and the resources entrusted to each employee, and when the rules are violated, the risk of a mishap is usually increased.
• Employees shall participate in safety education programs and train to recognize hazards on the job and how to report them promptly. As a condition of employment, each member of Ascent Aviation agrees to report errors, incidents, and accidents honestly.
• Any employee who observes an unsafe action or condition should bring it to the attention of supervisors and managers. Certain conditions may allow the employee to easily correct a condition or situation.
• In all cases, the employee must notify his/her supervisor of any actions taken by the employee. The first employee to observe an accident or incident should take immediate action to alert appropriate responders/supervision and to take reasonable steps to prevent further injury, or damage.

Ascent Aviation Services is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment. We provide equal employment opportunities and are committed to making reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of their job. If you require any accommodations during the application or interview process, please let us know.

EEO/AA/F/M/VET/DIS