Maintenance Planning/Scheduling Manager

Maintenance Planning/Scheduling Manager - (Pharma)

this role is based onsite at our client site in Citywest, North Dublin.

Role Summary:

As part of the site facilities team the Maintenance Planner/scheduler is responsible for leading the planning, scheduling, and optimisation of maintenance activities across the pharmaceutical facility. The role ensures that all maintenance work is executed safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with GMP and the site Quality Management System.

Ideally of the Process Engineering mindset, the manager provides technical insight to improve equipment reliability, support deviation investigations, and influence continuous improvement across utilities, production, and facility systems.

Key Responsibilities Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and develop the maintenance planning function, providing guidance to technicians, and subcontractors.
• Ensure clear communication of priorities and alignment across site facilities team.
• Foster a culture of safety, compliance, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Maintenance Strategy & Planning

• Oversee the development and execution of short term and long term maintenance schedules for facilities and calibration programmes.
• Ensure maintenance activities are properly planned, resourced, and coordinated to minimise impact on manufacturing.
• Approve work order prioritisation and ensure plans align with production needs and engineering strategy.

Compliance & Documentation

• Ensure all maintenance planning and documentation complies with GMP,GXP, and Good Engineering Practices.
• Review and approve CMMS updates, ensuring accuracy and audit readiness.
• Support regulatory inspections and quality audits as the maintenance planning subject matter expert.

Reliability & Continuous Improvement

• Review preventive and predictive maintenance data to identify emerging equipment risks or reliability gaps.
• Lead annual PM/PdM programme optimisation in collaboration with Engineering and Quality.
• Use process engineering knowledge to interpret system issues, support investigations, and drive corrective actions.

Vendor & Stakeholder Management

• Manage subcontractor coordination, performance, and compliance.
• Maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, ensuring transparent communication on schedules and constraints

What you will need:

• Trade qualification, or equivalent; relevant experience in lieu of formal education considered.
• Relevant qualification such as a Process Engineering degree, diploma, or certification (highly advantageous).
• Proven experience (typically 4+ years) in maintenance planning, engineering, or technical leadership within pharma or regulated manufacturing in Ireland.
• Strong understanding of GMP, GXP, and regulatory expectations for maintenance documentation.
• Proficiency with CMMS platforms used in pharma (SAP, Maximo).
• Advanced skills in Word, Excel (VLOOKUP, Pivot Tables), PowerPoint, and Access.
• Detail oriented, organised, and methodical approach to work.
• Excellent organisational skills, decision making ability, and a strategic mindset.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders and lead a team.
• Ability to support physical site activities as required (e.g., walkthroughs, equipment reviews).