Planner

Aerospace Planner – London Heathrow Location: London Heathrow Salary: £35,000 per annum, depending on experience Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30am to approximately 5:30pm–6:00pm Positions available: One, potentially two Reports to: Operational Manager UK – London Heathrow Role Overview The main purpose of the Aerospace Planner role is to optimise asset utilisation and load factor while minimising route costs and maintaining consistently high levels of customer service. You will work as part of a busy operational team, maintaining close communication with drivers, customers and colleagues throughout the UK and Europe. The position involves planning the movement of aircraft engines, related components and exceptional cargo using a range of specialised vehicles. Once fully trained and familiar with the operation, you will also need to be available by telephone during some evenings and weekends to provide backup support to drivers when questions or issues arise. A team member covers most weekends, and the wider team monitors a shared email inbox outside normal office hours. Qualifications and Experience The successful candidate should have: At least three years’ experience within logistics Knowledge of customs procedures Knowledge of logistics and transport-planning principles Knowledge of drivers’ hours and relevant transport legislation An understanding of automated planning systems and an interest in using them Basic knowledge of cost-price calculations Good spoken and written English Strong communication and organisational skills The ability to remain calm and organised within a busy operation Previous experience within aerospace, specialist transport or exceptional-load planning would be advantageous. Duties and Responsibilities Plan the movement of aircraft engines, related components and exceptional cargo within a 24/7, 365-day operation Communicate daily with blue-chip clients and other business professionals Ensure planned collections and deliveries achieve required on-time performance Plan work across a range of specialised vehicles Optimise vehicle utilisation and load factor Minimise empty running wherever possible Plan efficient routes to reduce kilometres, toll charges and overall route costs Monitor and improve truck productivity across individual trips and the wider fleet Plan fuel stops during trips in line with fleet planners’ requests Maintain active communication with drivers and operational colleagues Work closely with teams across Europe, including freight planning, expedition, customer service, truck planning and fleet service Help ensure the smooth and calm running of a busy planning team Provide out-of-hours telephone backup once fully trained and familiar with the operation Monitor the shared team email inbox outside normal office hours as part of the wider team arrangement Key Performance Indicators Performance within the role will be measured against: On-time performance Truck productivity Asset utilisation Load factor Reduction of empty running Planned route costs Account service and customer performance