What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Planning position at Gradel Professional Search?
Our client is a growing aircraft MRO and conversion company seeking a Director of Planning to strengthen its aircraft planning function. Reporting directly to the CEO, this leader will turn aircraft maintenance requirements and modification work scopes into executable schedules built around clear milestones, available manpower, planned man-hours, and material readiness. The right candidate will bring hands-on aircraft planning experience with Maintenance Planning Documents (MPDs) and CAMP.
Key Responsibilities
Lead long-, medium-, and short-range planning for aircraft maintenance and modification programs.
Translate MPD requirements, CAMP data, customer work scopes, and engineering requirements into executable work packages and production schedules.
Develop and maintain the Integrated Master Schedule, including aircraft inductions, milestones, dependencies, critical-path activities, and completion targets.
Establish schedule flow from aircraft induction through maintenance, modification, testing, and return to service.
Build capacity and resource plans based on available manpower, required skills, planned man-hours, facilities, tooling, and production priorities.
Ensure work packages are properly defined, sequenced, staffed, and supported before release to production.
Integrate parts, materials, tooling, equipment, technical data, and engineering readiness into the production schedule.
Monitor planned versus actual labor, task completion, earned hours, schedule adherence, constraints, and aircraft turnaround.
Identify schedule risks and coordinate recovery plans with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Maintenance, Modifications, Finance, and Program Management.
Maintain accurate planning data and forecasts within approved ERP and MRO systems.
Improve planning standards, labor estimates, task durations, capacity models, reporting, and schedule accuracy.
Build and develop the planning team while establishing consistent planning processes, controls, and accountability.
Requirements
At least 10 years of experience in aircraft MRO, heavy maintenance, aircraft modification, production planning, or related aviation operations.
Direct aircraft planning experience, including the use of Maintenance Planning Documents and CAMP.
Demonstrated experience developing aircraft work packages and converting maintenance requirements into detailed production schedules.
Experience managing schedule flow, program milestones, dependencies, critical paths, and aircraft turnaround plans.
Strong background in capacity and resource planning, including manpower, skill requirements, man-hours, materials, tooling, and facilities.
Experience developing and maintaining Integrated Master Schedules for complex aircraft programs.
Strong understanding of how maintenance, modifications, engineering, quality, supply chain, and material readiness affect aircraft schedules.
Experience tracking planned versus actual labor, earned hours, schedule performance, constraints, and recovery actions.
Proficiency with ERP, MRO, planning, scheduling, and performance-reporting systems.
Experience leading planning teams and coordinating across operational and tech
Gradel Pro Search (GPS) is an Industrial Search and Recruiting Services firm partnering with manufacturing, aerospace & defense, engineered products, chemicals, and industrial organizations to identify and align talent with critical business objectives.
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We work with Fortune 500 companies, global enterprises, private equity-backed organizations, and growth-oriented manufacturers, navigating hiring across complex operational and technical environments.