What are the responsibilities and job description for the Maintenance Planner position at HECLA MINING CO.?
SUMMARY
The Maintenance Planner is a key member of the maintenance team, responsible for planning, scheduling, and coordinating site maintenance activities to ensure safe, efficient, and reliable operation of maintenance systems. This role works closely with maintenance, operations, warehouse, contractors, and reliability teams to optimize maintenance performance and plant uptime.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Planning & Scheduling
• Develop and maintain daily, weekly, monthly, and long-term maintenance schedules to optimize labor, materials, and equipment availability.
• Plan and coordinate shutdown and outage activities to maximize efficiency and minimize downtime.
• Identify required manpower, skills, materials, and timelines for all planned work.
• Coordinate and oversee contractor and temporary labor activities as required.
Maintenance Systems & Data Management
• Administer and maintain the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) (IFS), including work orders, master data, and reporting.
• Ensure accuracy and integrity of records, maintenance history, parts lists, and component tracking.
• Create, manage, and maintain all maintenance work orders, including developing new work orders, updating existing, and ensuring accurate and complete documentation of work performed and equipment history.
• Actively manage the work order backlog by prioritizing and tracking outstanding tasks to ensure timely completion, preventing delays that could lead to equipment failure or unplanned downtime.
• Develop, maintain, and generate maintenance and cost reports, including key performance indicators (KPIs).
Maintenance Strategy & Reliability
• Support and continuously improve preventive and predictive maintenance programs.
• Collaborate with the reliability engineering team to enhance maintenance strategies, processes, and system effectiveness.
• Facilitate Root Cause Analysis (RCA) for chronic or high-risk equipment failures and implement corrective actions.
• Participate in risk assessments and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop, update, and maintain standard job procedures for routine and non-routine maintenance activities.
Materials & Resource Coordination
• Coordinate with warehouse personnel on parts availability, non-inventory procurement, warranty claims, and core returns.
• Work with warehouse to manage inventory parts quantities for maintenance activities.
• Identify and procure required materials and services to support planned maintenance activities.
• Maintain component and warranty tracking systems for major equipment.
Budgeting & Cost Control
• Assist in the development of the maintenance department budget and forecasts.
• Monitor maintenance department expenditures, track variances, and provide analysis to support cost control efforts.
• Support capital maintenance projects as required.
Execution Support & Communication
• Work closely with Supervisors, Foremen, and Operations to ensure effective execution of planned work.
• Provide clear job plans, work instructions, and documentation to maintenance department crews.
• Complete required administrative tasks, including reports, time tracking, and material requests.
• Participate in meetings, training sessions, and cross-functional coordination activities.
Safety, Environmental & Compliance
• Promote and ensure compliance with all applicable safety standards, including MSHA regulations, environmental regulations, and company policies.
• Lead by example in maintaining a strong safety culture and environmentally responsible work practices.
• Support safe work planning by incorporating hazard identification and risk mitigation into all maintenance plans.
• Review, update, and develop standard operating procedures related to mill maintenance tasks.
• Comply with applicable environmental laws and regulations. Conducts activities and work in an environmentally responsible manner. Is aware of procedures to minimize impacts to the environment.
• Must be willing to comply with all company policies and procedures, especially with regard to Safety, Human Resources, and Environmental.
General Responsibilities
• Maintain effective communication and collaboration with all members of the work team.
• Perform additional duties as assigned, including supporting field activities when required, in accordance with applicable labor agreements.
QUALIFICATIONS
Post high-school degree in a related field, or Journeyman Certification, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Prior experience setting up, using, and maintaining computerized maintenance management systems
(CMMS) required. Experience with IFS preferred.
Minimum 3 years of experience in planning maintenance activities.
Minimum 5 years of experience in maintenance.
Experience in a mining environment preferred.
Understanding of maintenance practices within a mining environment, including equipment and systems such as crushing and grinding circuits, pumping systems, flotation circuits, water treatment systems, and mineral processing/concentrator operations preferred.
Must be computer literate and proficient in Excel.