Job Description
The GWES Maintenance Planner is responsible for preparing maintenance work, so it is safe, compliant, fully scoped, and ready for efficient execution. This role develops complete job plans for preventive, predictive, calibration, and approved corrective maintenance across assigned facilities and utility systems, including the definition of labor, materials, tools, permits, sequencing, and documented work instructions needed to support high-quality execution.
The Planner supports one or more maintenance shops and collaborates closely with Operations, Maintenance Supervisors, craft personnel, Engineering, Supply Chain, and the Scheduler to ensure planned work is technically accurate, risk-informed, and ready in advance of the schedule. The role is accountable for field verification, job package quality, materials readiness, CMMS data quality, and continuous improvement of standard job plans and PM task content to improve schedule compliance, labor productivity, and equipment reliability.
Consistent with maintenance planning and scheduling best practices, this position is focused on proactive work preparation rather than day-of-execution supervision or routine break-in maintenance. The Planner reports to the Associate Director, Engineering and works in close partnership with GWES Supervisors, Schedulers, and craft teams to maintain a healthy backlog of planned, work-ready jobs that support safe operations, regulatory compliance, and reliable asset performance. In times of business need, the Planner may also be asked to perform limited scheduling duties or provide scheduling support to maintain continuity of maintenance work management and ensure critical work is appropriately prioritized, coordinated, and executed.
Primary Activities
The primary activities include and are not limited to the following:
Develop complete, work-ready job plans for preventive, predictive, and approved corrective maintenance by defining scope, sequence of work, labor hours, craft requirements, permits, tools, parts, services, and safety precautions needed for safe and efficient execution.
Perform field walkdowns and collaborate with craft, operations, engineering, and contract resources to verify job scope, identify hazards and access needs, and build accurate task lists, bills of materials, and execution steps that minimize delays and rework.
Maintain job plans, PM task lists, BOMs, equipment history, and other CMMS master data so maintenance work can be planned from standard, current, and reusable information that supports reliability and compliance.
Coordinate materials readiness by reviewing inventory, initiating part orders and MRO stocking requests, validating min/max levels as needed, escalating obsolescence issues, and ensuring required parts, kits, and special tools are available and staged before scheduled execution.
Prepare PM and other planned work sufficiently in advance of the schedule to support weekly scheduling, shutdown readiness, and efficient use of labor and equipment windows, while excluding daily break-in work except as needed for planning support or technical clarification.
Evaluate completed work feedback and maintenance history to improve future job plans, standardize repeatable work, strengthen PM content, and support continuous improvement in equipment reliability, wrench time, and schedule compliance.
Work closely with the Scheduler, Maintenance Supervisors, Operations, and other stakeholders to align planned work with priorities, resource constraints, equipment availability, and compliance requirements, while maintaining the planner’s primary focus on work preparation rather than day-of-execution supervision.
Generate and communicate planning metrics and reports, identify backlog or readiness gaps, and recommend corrective actions to improve planning quality, material availability, backlog health, and overall planning and scheduling performance.
Support GMP, EHS, and site procedures by incorporating required controls into job plans, maintaining appropriate documentation, and assisting with audits, inspections, and training activities within the area of responsibility.
Provide backup support to related maintenance work management processes, including performing limited scheduling duties or supporting scheduling activities during times of business need, when requested by leadership and when such support does not compromise core planning responsibilities.
When temporarily supporting scheduling activities, develop and maintain weekly or short-term maintenance schedules by aligning planned work with labor availability, equipment access, operational priorities, material readiness, compliance due dates, and resource constraints; communicate schedule changes with Supervisors, Operations, craft personnel, and other stakeholders; monitor schedule adherence; and help resolve scheduling conflicts or readiness gaps to support safe, compliant, and efficient work execution.
Skills, Education and Experience
Education Minimum Requirement:
Bachelor’s degree in science, engineering, or a related technical discipline, or equivalent relevant experience.
Required Experience and Skills:
Minimum of three (3) years of experience in maintenance, facilities, manufacturing, utilities, or a comparable technical support environment, with demonstrated involvement in maintenance work planning, coordination, or execution support.
Working knowledge of maintenance planning fundamentals, including scope development, job package preparation, labor estimating, bills of materials, parts identification, and work sequencing.
Experience using a CMMS or EAM platform such as SAP PM, Maximo, or equivalent to managing work orders, task lists, equipment data, maintenance history, and planning-related master data.
Knowledge of industrial and facility equipment such as pumps, fans, air handlers, utilities, and associated mechanical or control components, with the ability to interpret maintenance requirements and translate them into executable job plans.
Knowledge of maintenance-related safety requirements and work controls, including hazard recognition, permit considerations, LOTO principles, and safe work practices applicable to field planning activities.
Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across Operations, Engineering, Maintenance, MRO, and contract partners.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, especially Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
Preferred Experience and Skills:
Experience in a regulated manufacturing, pharmaceutical, biotech, laboratory, or utilities environment where maintenance planning must support GMP, EHS, and site compliance requirements.
Experience supporting planned work for high-risk or technically complex activities, including permit-controlled tasks, shutdown work, utilities maintenance, or work involving critical facility systems and laboratory equipment.
Demonstrated ability to improve maintenance processes, strengthen job plan quality, standardize repeatable work, or improve KPIs such as schedule compliance, backlog health, or material readiness.
Previous scheduling experience in a maintenance work area, including developing weekly maintenance schedules, coordinating labor and equipment availability, balancing operational priorities, and supporting schedule adherence in partnership with Maintenance Supervisors, Operations, Planners, and craft teams.
Required Skills:
Adaptability, Adaptability, Biopharmaceuticals, Biopharmaceutics, Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Corrective Action Management, Critical Thinking, Data Analysis, Driving Continuous Improvement, Electrical Systems, Engineering Design, Equipment Maintenance, GMP Compliance, Maintenance Planning, Maintenance Planning Software, Manufacturing Processes, Mechanical Troubleshooting, Microbiology, Microsoft Office, Oral Communications, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Regulatory Compliance, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Safety Procedures, Schedule Planning {+ 3 more}
Preferred Skills:
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San Francisco Residents Only: We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records for employment in compliance with the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance
Los Angeles Residents Only: We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance
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Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existi
