At a Glance
- Tasks: Plan and coordinate maintenance activities to optimise asset reliability in a dynamic manufacturing environment.
- Company: Leading International FMCG business with a commitment to innovation and transformation.
- Benefits: 30 days annual leave, private health scheme, and free company products monthly.
- Other info: Join a supportive team with excellent personal development and career progression opportunities.
- Why this job: Shape and build a proactive maintenance strategy from the ground up.
- Qualifications: Experience in maintenance planning; strong analytical and communication skills required.
The Opportunity
We are working with a leading International FMCG business based in Greater Manchester to recruit two Maintenance Planners to join their engineering team. These are brand new, newly created roles representing a genuine opportunity to shape and build something from the ground up. If you are someone who thrives on making a real difference, introducing new ways of working, and being part of a business that is genuinely committed to transforming how it manages maintenance, this could be the perfect next step in your career.
Why This Role Is Different
This business is on an exciting journey. Having recently implemented a new SAP system, they are now looking to fundamentally shift their maintenance approach - moving away from reactive firefighting towards a structured, proactive maintenance strategy. These roles are central to making that happen. You won't just be slotting into an existing process, you'll be building one. That takes resilience, fresh thinking, and strong people skills, but for the right person it is an incredibly rewarding challenge with real scope to make your mark.
The Role
As Maintenance Planner you will be responsible for the effective planning, scheduling, and coordination of maintenance activities across a busy manufacturing site. Working closely with the Engineering team, you will play a key role in optimising asset reliability, minimising downtime, and ensuring full compliance with safety and quality standards.
Your key responsibilities will include:
- Developing and maintaining preventive and predictive maintenance schedules for plant equipment and facilities
- Planning and coordinating corrective maintenance activities, ensuring timely resolution of equipment failures in line with production schedules
- Collaborating with engineering, production, and HSE teams to prioritise maintenance tasks
- Managing work orders, spare parts, and resource allocation through the SAP system
- Ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and internal maintenance policies
- Monitoring contractor performance and coordinating external service providers
- Tracking and analysing maintenance KPIs including equipment availability, mean time between failures, and maintenance costs
- Supporting continuous improvement initiatives in reliability and asset management
- Providing input into capital projects and equipment upgrades
What We're Looking For
Experience & Background:
- Must have experience in a maintenance planning or similar role
- Any manufacturing background will be considered
- A formal engineering qualification is not essential - what matters most is a solid understanding of stores and inventory management, strong planning skills, and the ability to work effectively within a maintenance environment
- Hands-on engineering experience is not necessary - this role is about planning, coordinating, and driving reliability through strong process and systems knowledge
- Experience of a CMMS platform (SAP, Maximo, Infor or similar) — SAP S/4HANA experience is a real advantage but not essential
- Understanding of reliability engineering principles and asset performance improvement
- Familiarity with UK/EU maintenance-related safety and environmental regulations
- Experience managing contractors and external service providers
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to report on and interpret maintenance KPIs
- RCM or CMMS professional certifications would be advantageous
The Person:
This is as much about personality as it is about technical skills. The successful candidate will be:
- Resilient and confident enough to introduce new ideas to an established team, a strong communicator who can build credibility and bring people on a journey, proactive and driven with a genuine desire to improve the way things are done
- Comfortable working in a fast-paced, manufacturing environment
What's On Offer
- Monday to Friday 7am - 3:30pm.
- Up to 8% matched pension.
- 30 days annual leave.
- Entitled to participate in the Company’s Private Health Scheme.
- Free company products every month.
- A permanent role within a well-established and growing international business.
- A collaborative and supportive engineering team environment.
- Personal development and progression opportunities.
If you are self-motivated, hardworking, and ready to take the next step in your maintenance career, we'd love to hear from you.
Please note: All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. Our client does not offer sponsorship.
Maintenance Planner in Manchester employer: Madoc Recruitment
Join a leading International FMCG business in Greater Manchester as a Maintenance Planner, where you will have the unique opportunity to shape and build maintenance processes from the ground up. With a commitment to employee growth, a collaborative work culture, and benefits such as a generous pension scheme, 30 days of annual leave, and private health coverage, this role offers a rewarding challenge for those looking to make a real impact in a dynamic environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Maintenance Planner in Manchester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and don’t be shy about letting people know you’re on the lookout for a Maintenance Planner role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company’s recent projects and their new SAP system. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re genuinely interested in how you can contribute to their proactive maintenance strategy.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As a Maintenance Planner, you’ll need to collaborate with various teams. Role-play common interview scenarios with a friend to boost your confidence and ensure you can articulate your ideas clearly.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take that extra step to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Maintenance Planner in Manchester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your maintenance planning experience and any relevant achievements that show how you can contribute to our exciting journey.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you're passionate about this role and how you can help shape our maintenance strategy. Be genuine and let your personality shine through – we want to see the real you!
Showcase Your Skills:Don’t forget to mention your familiarity with CMMS platforms like SAP, as well as your analytical skills. We’re looking for someone who can drive reliability and improve processes, so make sure to highlight any relevant experiences.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Madoc Recruitment
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your maintenance planning knowledge, especially around preventive and predictive maintenance strategies. Familiarise yourself with the SAP system if you can, as it’s a key part of the role.
✨Show Your People Skills
This role is all about collaboration. Be ready to discuss how you've worked with engineering, production, and HSE teams in the past. Highlight your communication skills and how you’ve successfully introduced new ideas to a team.
✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to talk about how you track and analyse maintenance KPIs. Bring examples of how you've used data to improve processes or resolve issues in previous roles. This will show that you can drive reliability through strong analytical thinking.
✨Be Proactive and Resilient
The company is looking for someone who can thrive in a fast-paced environment and isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo. Share examples of when you’ve taken initiative to improve processes or overcome challenges in your previous jobs.
