Planning Specialist

Ascend Performance Materials; Decatur, Northern (AL, KY); Hybrid; USD 75,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Ascend Performance Materials in Decatur, AL, seeks a Mechanical Maintenance Planner to develop safe, efficient maintenance work packages for corrective, preventive, predictive, and turnaround work.

You will collaborate with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Engineering, and contractors, maintain SAP CMMS data, and drive reliability improvements while reducing downtime.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of industrial mechanical maintenance experience.
• Associate degree in a technical discipline or completion of a recognized apprenticeship.
• Experience using SAP Plant Maintenance (PM) or comparable CMMS; SAP experience preferred.
• Ability to estimate labor hours, materials, tools, and contractor requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed work plans for corrective, preventive, predictive, and turnaround maintenance.
• Define work scope, labor-hour estimates, required crafts, materials, tools, permits, equipment, and safety requirements.
• Prepare comprehensive job packages that support safe, efficient first-time quality execution.
• Verify job readiness before work is released for scheduling.
• Collaborate with the Maintenance Scheduler to prioritize and schedule planned work.
• Develop standard job plans for recurring maintenance activities.

Skills

SAP PM

Read drawings

Planning

Analytical

Communication

Problem-solving

Time management

Collaboration

Education

Associate degree in a technical discipline

Tools

SAP PM

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Project

Job description

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high-quality chemicals, fibers, and plastics.

With world scale integrated manufacturing facilities, we can develop new products from our core technologies and provide flexibility to respond to the expanding needs of our customers. Ascend has global sales and distribution with five manufacturing facilities in the United States.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Mechanical Maintenance Planner is responsible for developing safe, efficient, and cost-effective maintenance work plans that improve equipment reliability and support operational excellence. This role partners closely with Operations, Maintenance, Reliability, Engineering, Supply Chain, and contractors to ensure maintenance activities are properly scoped, planned, scheduled, and executed. The Planner develops detailed work packages for corrective, preventive, predictive, and turnaround maintenance while maintaining accurate maintenance data within the SAP Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS). The position plays a key role in improving equipment reliability, reducing unplanned downtime, optimizing maintenance costs, and supporting continuous improvement initiatives.

TARGETED OUTCOMES

• Develop complete, high-quality maintenance work packages that enable safe and efficient execution.
• Improve equipment reliability through effective planning of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance.
• Reduce unplanned downtime by ensuring work is planned, materials are available, and jobs are execution ready.
• Maintain accurate equipment history, Bills of Material (BOMs), preventive maintenance programs, and SAP CMMS data.
• Foster strong collaboration among Operations, Maintenance, Engineering, Reliability, Materials Management, and contractors.
• Support continuous improvement of maintenance work processes and planning standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintenance Planning

• Develop detailed work plans for corrective, preventive, predictive, and turnaround maintenance activities.
• Define work scope, labor-hour estimates, required crafts, materials, tools, permits, equipment, and safety requirements.
• Prepare comprehensive job packages that support safe, efficient first-time quality execution.
• Verify job readiness before work is released for scheduling.
• Collaborate with the Maintenance Scheduler to prioritize and schedule planned work.
• Develop standard job plans for recurring maintenance activities.

Reliability and Continuous Improvement

Review completed work orders to identify recurring equipment failures and opportunities for improvement. Recommend improvements to preventive maintenance strategies and maintenance procedures. Support Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA) and reliability improvement initiatives. Assist with shutdown, turnaround, and outage planning activities. Utilize equipment criticality rankings to prioritize planning efforts.

SAP CMMS Administration

Create, maintain, and improve work orders, job plans, preventive maintenance tasks, equipment records, and maintenance history within SAP CMMS. Maintain accurate Bills of Material (BOMs) and equipment master data. Update equipment records following capital projects, equipment modifications, installations, and retirements. Ensure maintenance documentation is complete and accurate to support asset history and future planning.

Materials and Contractor Coordination

Identify material requirements and coordinate procurement activities to ensure work package readiness. Coordinate with the Material Coordinator to resolve inventory discrepancies and improve spare parts data. Identify when contract resources are required and obtain proposals in accordance with company procurement policies. Recommend improvements to spare parts inventory and BOM accuracy.

Safety, Environmental, and Regulatory Compliance

Ensure all maintenance work packages comply with company safety procedures, OSHA regulations, environmental requirements, quality standards, and applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Incorporate appropriate safety precautions, permits, lockout/tagout requirements, and environmental controls into all work plans. Promote safe work practices and support the site's safety culture.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with Operations, Maintenance Supervisors, Mechanical Technicians, Reliability Engineers, Engineering, Materials Management, and contractors to ensure maintenance objectives are achieved. Provide technical guidance and mentor personnel on maintenance workflow and planning best practices. Support continuous improvement of maintenance planning processes across the site.

Decision-Making Responsibilities

Prioritize maintenance planning activities in coordination with Maintenance leadership. Recommend updates to preventive maintenance strategies. Recommend improvements to Bills of Material and spare parts inventories. Determine contractor requirements for planned work. Recommend process improvements that enhance equipment reliability and maintenance effectiveness.

Success Measures

• Schedule compliance
• Planned versus unplanned maintenance ratio
• Preventive maintenance completion rate
• Backlog quality and health
• Work package quality
• Equipment availability and reliability
• Maintenance cost performance
• First-time work execution success

TEAM Reports To: Maintenance Supervisor Works Closely With: Maintenance Supervisors Mechanical Technicians Operations Personnel Reliability Engineers Maintenance Scheduler Material Coordinator Engineering Contractors

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE

• Minimum of five (5) years of industrial mechanical maintenance experience in a manufacturing, chemical, petrochemical, refining, or heavy industrial environment.
• Associate degree in a technical discipline or completion of a recognized apprenticeship program preferred.
• Experience using SAP Plant Maintenance (PM) or comparable CMMS; two (2) or more years of SAP experience preferred.
• Experience planning maintenance work and developing detailed job packages.

REQUIRED SKILLS

• Working knowledge of SAP PM or comparable CMMS.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and Project.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Knowledge of preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance practices.
• Ability to estimate labor hours, materials, tools, and contractor requirements.
• Ability to read, interpret, create, and markup mechanical drawings.
• Knowledge of equipment reliability principles and maintenance workflow processes.
• Strong organizational, planning, time management, and facilitation skills.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across multiple departments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• Ability to wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Ability to access elevated work areas, climb stairs and ladders, and occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work indoors and outdoors in varying environmental conditions.

At Ascend Performance Materials, we value transparency and fairness in our hiring process. We do not accept unsolicited resumes from third-party recruiters, search firms, or staffing agencies. Any resumes received from such entities will be considered the property of Ascend Performance Materials, and we will not be obligated to pay any fees for such submissions. Our Talent Acquisition Team actively engages with preferred recruitment partners who have established agreements with us.

About Us

Ascend Performance Materials is the premium provider of high-quality chemicals, fibers and plastics focused on improving quality of life and inspiring a better tomorrow through innovation. We are a fully integrated material solutions provider with manufacturing facilities in North America, Europe and Asia. Our global workforce makes the materials used to make safer vehicles, cleaner energy, better medical devices, smarter appliances, and longer-lasting apparel and consumer goods. We are committed to safety, sustainability, and the success of our customers and our communities.

Why work at Ascend?

Our vision is to be the recognized leader in the nylon 6,6 value chain, creating new possibilities with PA66 for everyone, everywhere, every day. We achieve that through living our Ascend values: OARS. Our OARS values shape how we work, lead, and grow together. We take ownership, stay accountable, operate reliably, and support one another to deliver results safely and consistently. Through clear expectations, empowered decision-making, intentional communication, and continuous feedback, we create a culture built on action, visibility, and shared success. Together, OARS gives us a shared language and clear direction. These values guide our decisions, shape priorities and set expectations as we move forward – aligned, focused and committed to creating performance materials that improve lives today and inspire a better tomorrow.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status, citizenship, genetic information or other protected status under federal, state or local laws.