Maintenance Planner / Lead Maintenance Specialist

Hybrid Position: Maintenance Planner / Lead Maintenance Specialist

Department: Maintenance / Operations

Reports To: Plant Manager

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: DeRidder, Louisiana

Position Summary

The Maintenance Planner / Lead Maintenance Specialist is responsible for coordinating maintenance planning activities while serving as the facility's senior maintenance resource for mechanical equipment, utilities, and plant infrastructure.

This position works closely with operations, contractors, and management to ensure maintenance activities are properly planned, prioritized, and executed while supporting safe, reliable, and efficient plant operations. The role combines hands-on maintenance expertise with maintenance planning, scheduling, troubleshooting, and reliability improvement responsibilities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Maintenance Planning & Scheduling

• Plan, schedule, and coordinate preventive, predictive, and corrective maintenance activities.
• Develop and maintain maintenance schedules, work orders, equipment records, and maintenance documentation.
• Coordinate maintenance priorities with operations personnel to minimize downtime and production interruptions.
• Assist with outage planning, shutdowns, inspections, and capital improvement projects.
• Track maintenance performance and identify opportunities to improve equipment reliability and maintenance efficiency.
• Support spare parts inventory management and procurement activities.

Lead Maintenance Activities

• Serve as the facility's lead maintenance technician for mechanical systems and plant equipment.
• Troubleshoot, repair, and maintain pumps, valves, piping systems, tanks, rotating equipment, utilities, and process equipment.
• Coordinate maintenance work performed by contractors and specialty service providers.
• Assist with equipment installations, modifications, upgrades, and startup activities.
• Support root cause investigations related to equipment failures and recurring maintenance issues.
• Provide technical guidance and support to maintenance personnel and operations employees.

Reliability & Operational Support

• Monitor equipment condition and operational performance.
• Identify reliability improvement opportunities and recommend corrective actions.
• Support development and implementation of preventive maintenance programs.
• Assist with equipment inspections and maintenance audits.
• Participate in continuous improvement initiatives related to maintenance, safety, and operational performance.

Safety & Environmental Compliance

• Perform all maintenance activities in accordance with company safety procedures and regulatory requirements.
• Support lockout/tagout, confined space, hot work, contractor safety, and permit programs.
• Participate in incident investigations and corrective action activities.
• Promote safe work practices and operational discipline throughout the facility.

Additional Responsibilities

• Provide after-hours support for maintenance emergencies as required.
• Support facility expansion projects and equipment upgrades.
• Assist with budgeting and maintenance forecasting activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Work Environment

• Industrial manufacturing and chemical processing environment.
• Exposure to rotating equipment, chemicals, noise, heat, humidity, and outdoor conditions.
• Occasional after-hours support, emergency response, and maintenance call-outs may be required.

Employment Type & Schedule

• Full-time position.
• Standard business schedule with flexibility to support operational and maintenance requirements.

This position description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and qualifications required.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or GED required; technical training or trade certification preferred.
• Five (5) or more years of industrial maintenance experience in manufacturing, chemical processing, refining, pulp and paper, or related industrial environments.
• Strong mechanical troubleshooting and repair skills.
• Experience with pumps, valves, piping systems, rotating equipment, utilities, and process equipment.
• Ability to read equipment drawings, P&IDs, manuals, and technical documentation.
• Strong organizational and planning skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with maintenance planning and scheduling systems (CMMS).
• Prior leadership or lead technician experience.
• Experience coordinating contractors and specialty maintenance services.
• Familiarity with reliability-centered maintenance practices.
• Experience in pine chemicals, chemical processing, or continuous manufacturing operations.

Physical Requirements

• Position requires working in office, shop, and industrial plant environments.
• Position requires climbing ladders, working at heights, accessing process equipment, and performing hands-on maintenance activities.
• Position requires lifting up to 50 pounds.
• Position requires wearing required PPE and perform work in industrial operating environments.