Maintenance Planner

Job Description

Job Description

Maintenance Planner

Chicago

1st Shift

$70k-85k

Job Description

The maintenance planner maximizes equipment reliability and operational efficiency by planning, scheduling, and coordinating preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance. This role collaborates with Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, and Purchasing to minimize production downtime in a safe, cost-effective manner.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and coordinate weekly and long-term maintenance schedules in collaboration with Maintenance Supervisors and Operations leadership.
• Plan preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities to minimize equipment downtime and production disruptions.
• Create detailed maintenance work packages through on-site reviews with Engineering, Maintenance Supervisors, and mechanics, including job scopes, labor estimates, required parts, tools, access requirements, and safety considerations.
• Prioritize maintenance work orders based on equipment criticality, operational requirements, and safety considerations.
• Coordinate planned equipment shutdowns and maintenance outages with Operations and Engineering to ensure efficient execution.
• Identify opportunities to combine maintenance activities to improve labor efficiency and reduce equipment downtime.
• Maintain and manage a backlog of maintenance work orders, ensuring timely planning, scheduling, and follow-up.
• Develop, review, and continuously improve preventive maintenance programs for production equipment and facility systems.
• Ensure preventive maintenance activities are properly scheduled and completed in accordance with established requirements and standards.
• Analyze equipment failures, maintenance histories, and recurring issues to identify reliability improvement opportunities.
• Collaborate with Maintenance and Engineering to implement corrective actions that reduce unplanned downtime and improve equipment performance.
• Support predictive maintenance initiatives, including vibration analysis, oil analysis, thermography, and other condition-monitoring programs.
• Assist in establishing equipment maintenance standards, procedures, and best practices.
• Utilize the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) to create, plan, schedule, track, and close maintenance work orders.
• Ensure work orders contain accurate equipment information, labor estimates, materials, and detailed maintenance instructions.
• Maintain accurate equipment maintenance histories and records within the CMMS.
• Monitor work order completion rates, preventive maintenance compliance, and maintenance backlog, and report on these metrics regularly.
• Identify opportunities to improve CMMS data accuracy, reporting quality, and overall system utilization.
• Generate maintenance reports and provide updates to maintenance leadership regarding planned work, outstanding work orders, and equipment reliability trends.
• Coordinate with Purchasing, Stores, and Maintenance personnel to ensure necessary spare parts, materials, and tools are available before scheduled maintenance activities.
• Identify long-lead-time materials and coordinate procurement activities to prevent maintenance delays.
• Assist in identifying critical spare parts and establishing appropriate inventory levels to support equipment reliability.
• Support inventory optimization initiatives to balance equipment reliability requirements with inventory costs.
• Coordinate outside contractors and vendors when specialized maintenance services are required, ensuring scope, timing, and resources are aligned.
• Verify that labor, materials, and equipment resources are available before maintenance work is scheduled and released.
• Analyze maintenance performance data and recommend improvements to planning processes, scheduling effectiveness, and equipment reliability.
• Track and report key maintenance performance indicators, including PM compliance, planned versus unplanned maintenance, schedule compliance, work order backlog, mean time between failures (MTBF), mean time to repair (MTTR), and equipment downtime.
• Participate in root cause analysis investigations for significant equipment failures and contribute to corrective action plans.
• Identify opportunities to reduce maintenance costs, improve productivity, and increase equipment availability.
• Support the development and implementation of maintenance standard operating procedures and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure maintenance plans incorporate applicable safety requirements, including lockout/tagout (LOTO), confined space entry, fall protection, and other relevant procedures.
• Coordinate with Maintenance Supervisors and Safety personnel to identify potential hazards associated with planned maintenance activities.
• Ensure maintenance documentation supports compliance with company policies and applicable regulatory requirements.
• Promote a proactive safety culture by integrating safe work practices into all maintenance planning activities and reinforcing safety expectations with stakeholders.

Essential Skills

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Minimum of 35 years of experience in industrial maintenance, maintenance planning, or a related manufacturing environment.
• Working knowledge of mechanical, electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, and industrial equipment systems.
• Experience using a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), with familiarity in eMaint preferred.
• Strong understanding of preventive maintenance programs, work order management, and maintenance scheduling.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, equipment manuals, and maintenance procedures.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and other Microsoft Office applications.
• Experience with SAP preferred, including integration with maintenance and supply chain processes.
• Effective communication skills and ability to coordinate and collaborate across multiple departments, including Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Purchasing, and Logistics.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, schedule, and coordinate maintenance activities using CMMS and maintenance planning software.
• Solid understanding of production planning concepts and how maintenance activities impact manufacturing operations.
• Ability to work with supply chain and logistics functions to manage materials, spare parts, and maintenance-related inventory.
• Commitment to safe work practices and adherence to safety procedures in maintenance planning and execution.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Associate degree or technical certification in Maintenance Technology, Mechanical Engineering Technology, Industrial Technology, or a related field preferred.
• Experience in steel manufacturing, forging, heavy industrial manufacturing, or similar high-demand industrial environments.
• Familiarity with industrial equipment such as furnaces, forging presses, cranes, hydraulic systems, CNC machinery, pumps, compressors, and material-handling equipment.
• Experience with predictive maintenance technologies and reliability-centered maintenance practices.
• Experience planning major equipment shutdowns or maintenance outages in complex industrial facilities.
• Familiarity with maintenance performance metrics and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Professional certification in maintenance and reliability, such as Certified Maintenance & Reliability Professional or similar, is a plus.
• Experience with ERP systems and maintenance management software integrated with supply chain and production planning.
• Knowledge of maintenance documentation practices and maintenance scheduling software.
• Demonstrated competencies in planning and organization, with the ability to anticipate maintenance requirements and coordinate resources effectively.
• Strong technical knowledge of industrial maintenance practices, equipment reliability, and manufacturing operations.
• Ability to communicate clearly, collaborate effectively, and build strong working relationships across diverse teams.

Why Work Here?

You will join a culture that values equipment reliability, operational excellence, and continuous improvement, where your ideas to enhance maintenance processes and reduce downtime are encouraged and supported. The organization promotes cross-functional collaboration between Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, and Supply Chain, providing opportunities to broaden your technical and operational expertise. You can expect a professional environment that emphasizes safety, structured processes, and data-driven decision-making, along with the chance to contribute directly to performance improvements and long-term asset reliability.

Work Environment

This role operates in a heavy industrial manufacturing environment that relies on complex production equipment, including furnaces, forging presses, cranes, hydraulic systems, CNC machinery, pumps, compressors, and material-handling equipment. Work is primarily performed in an office setting with frequent interaction on the plant floor to review equipment, validate job scopes, and coordinate maintenance activities. You will work extensively with CMMS platforms (such as eMaint), SAP, ERP systems, and maintenance planning software, as well as Microsoft Office applications for reporting and communication. The position involves regular collaboration with Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Purchasing, Stores, and external contractors, requiring clear communication and coordination across multiple shifts and production schedules. Safety standards are rigorously applied, with strict adherence to procedures such as lockout/tagout, confined space entry, and fall protection. Dress typically aligns with industrial and plant safety requirements, including appropriate personal protective equipment when in production areas.

This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.

The pay range for this position is $70000.00 - $85000.00/yr.

Individual compensation offered for this position within this range will depend on many factors, including qualifications, skills, relevant experience, job knowledge, geographic location, internal equity, and other pertinent job-related factors.

Medical, Dental and Vision benefits 401k Match & Profit Sharing STD and Life Insurance paid holidays & PTO

This is a Permanent position based out of Chicago, IL.

This position is anticipated to close on Nov 20, 2026.

This is a fully onsite position in Chicago,IL.

Aerotek® Inc. provides staffing and services solutions in manufacturing, logistics, construction, aviation, facilities and maintenance. We provide the expertise, solutions and people required to rise to the challenges of North American industry. Headquartered in Hanover, Md., Aerotek operates a unified network of over 200 offices across North America, supporting more than 18,000 clients each year. Aerotek is an Allegis Group company, the global leader in workforce and business solutions. To learn more, visit: Aerotek.com | 1-888-AEROTEK.

Aerotek offers weekly pay, employee benefits including medical, dental & vision, life insurance, health advocacy and employee assistance programs, a 401(k) plan, and employee discounts.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regards to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance:
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector:
It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI):
We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.