Mechanical Planner

Location: Hartlepool, Co Durham

Contract Type: Permanent / Full Time

Closing Date: Sep 11th, 2026

Ref: 1700190

Wolviston Management Services are recruiting on behalf of Tioxide Materials Ltd for a Mechanical Planner to join their engineering team at their manufacturing facility in Greatham, Hartlepool. Please see details below:

Job Purpose

The Mechanical Planner is responsible for developing detailed, executable maintenance work plans for mechanical maintenance activities across the site. The role ensures all mechanical maintenance work is fully scoped, planned, resourced and prepared prior to scheduling and execution. Working closely with Operations, Engineering, Maintenance Supervisors, Technical Authorities and external parties including OEMs, inspectors and contractors, the Mechanical Planner will improve maintenance efficiency, increase planned maintenance performance, support mechanical asset reliability and minimise plant downtime. The position plays a key role in ensuring the safe, cost-effective and reliable operation of mechanical assets throughout the site.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Develop safe, executable mechanical maintenance plans by defining work scope, priorities, resources, materials, tools and contractor requirements, ensuring work orders are ready for scheduling and effective execution with minimal delay or downtime.
• Create, maintain and improve SAP PM work orders, task lists, job plans, equipment history and planning records, ensuring accurate scopes, resources, spares and material requirements are captured to support effective maintenance execution.
• Plan shutdowns and major outages by defining work scopes, labour, contractor, material, specialist service, inspection and testing requirements, supporting readiness reviews, progress monitoring, issue resolution and post-outage lessons learned.
• Identify and coordinate spares and materials requirements for maintenance work, working with Stores to confirm availability, support critical spare reviews, optimise inventory and manage equipment life-cycle requirements.
• Plan and coordinate contractor requirements for specialist maintenance activities, ensuring scopes, mobilisation, site access, permits and work pack requirements are clearly defined and aligned with contract management processes.
• Support reliability improvement by reducing reactive maintenance, contributing to failure investigations, developing plans from reliability reviews and improvement projects, improving maintenance strategies and strengthening maintenance planning processes.
• Ensure maintenance plans meet safety, environmental, permit-to-work, statutory inspection, COMAH and site engineering compliance requirements.
• Promote safe working practices through effective planning and preparation.

Experience and Qualifications

Essential

• HNC/HND in Mechanical Engineering or equivalent technical discipline and/or 5+ years' experience in maintenance planning/scheduling.
• Significant maintenance planning experience within chemical, process, manufacturing, energy or heavy industrial environments.
• Experience using SAP PM or equivalent maintenance management systems.
• Strong understanding of mechanical maintenance practices and equipment.
• Experience planning maintenance activities in a high-hazard operating environment.
• A good working knowledge of pressure system inspections.

Desirable

• COMAH site experience.
• Experience with maintenance practices of rotating equipment.
• Reliability-Centred Maintenance (RCM) knowledge.
• APMP, IAM, SMRP or equivalent maintenance qualification.
• Shutdown and turnaround planning experience.

We offer a Workplace Pension Scheme via Legal & General, there is a 4% minimum employee contribution, the company will match your own contributions up to a maximum of 8%. We also allow employee Additional Voluntary Contributions to help you save for the future. Private Medical Insurance (optional), Life Assurance and Income Protection are all included as contractual benefits with us, providing desired security where it matters most.

About the Organisation

Tioxide manufactures premium-performance titanium dioxide (TiO2) pigments, marketed under the TIOXIDE® and DELTIO® brands, and supplied to customers worldwide across a range of essential applications. Headquartered in Stockton-on-Tees in the UK, Tioxide combines more than 50 years of manufacturing heritage with advanced technical expertise, strong customer partnerships, and a commitment to continuous innovation. As a wholly owned subsidiary of LB Group, the world's leading TiO2 pigment and titanium sponge manufacturer, Tioxide is entering an exciting new chapter. As the business continues to evolve, we are welcoming new talent to help build on our strong heritage and contribute to our future success. At Tioxide, you'll have the chance to make a real impact in a business where people work together, take ownership, deliver on their commitments and continually look for better ways of doing things. Whether you're starting your career or bringing years of experience, you'll be joining a business with a proud history, a supportive team and a clear vision for the future.