Job Description: Planner / Scheduler Subject Matter Expert (SME)

Position Overview

The Planner / Scheduler Subject Matter Expert (SME) is responsible for designing, governing, and continuously improving maintenance planning and scheduling work processes to support asset reliability, disciplined execution, and operational excellence. This role specializes in Reliability‑Centered Maintenance (RCM) work process control and applies Lean principles to standardize workflows, improve backlog management, eliminate waste, and optimize maintenance execution across EPC and operating environments.

The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in maintenance planning and scheduling, strong Lean and continuous improvement experience, and the ability to influence cross‑functional teams to drive consistent, repeatable outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

Planning & Scheduling Governance

• Serve as the Subject Matter Expert for maintenance planning and scheduling processes across EPC and operating assets.
• Design, implement, and govern standardized planning and scheduling workflows that ensure disciplined work execution and schedule compliance.
• Establish planning and scheduling standards aligned with Reliability‑Centered Maintenance (RCM) principles.

Reliability & Work Process Control

• Support RCM strategies by ensuring maintenance work is properly planned, prioritized, and scheduled to improve asset reliability and performance.
• Partner with reliability, engineering, and operations teams to align maintenance execution with asset health strategies.
• Ensure work order quality, scope definition, material readiness, and labor planning meet reliability standards.

Lean & Continuous Improvement

• Apply Lean principles to improve maintenance flow, reduce waste, and eliminate bottlenecks in planning and scheduling processes.
• Improve backlog management, work prioritization, and schedule adherence through data‑driven analysis.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to drive consistency, repeatability, and sustainable maintenance outcomes.

Backlog & Schedule Management

• Establish and maintain disciplined backlog management processes, including work prioritization and resource leveling.
• Drive weekly and long‑range maintenance scheduling to maximize wrench time and schedule compliance.
• Analyze performance metrics and identify opportunities to improve planning accuracy and execution efficiency.

Cross‑Functional Coordination

• Act as a liaison between Maintenance, Operations, Engineering, Reliability, and EPC project teams.
• Support coordination of maintenance activities with project schedules, outages, and operational constraints.
• Provide guidance, coaching, and mentoring to planners, schedulers, and maintenance leadership.

Performance Measurement & Reporting

• Define and track KPIs related to planning effectiveness, schedule compliance, backlog health, and maintenance productivity.
• Provide insight and recommendations to leadership based on performance trends and reliability impacts.

Qualifications

Required

• Extensive experience in maintenance planning and scheduling within EPC, industrial, utilities, power generation, or manufacturing environments.
• Strong knowledge of Reliability‑Centered Maintenance (RCM) principles and work process control.
• Demonstrated experience applying Lean methodologies to maintenance planning and execution.
• Proven ability to standardize processes and drive cross‑functional adoption.

Preferred

• Experience serving as a subject matter expert or process owner for planning and scheduling functions.
• Familiarity with CMMS/EAM systems (e.g., Maximo, SAP, Oracle, etc.).
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and change management skills.
• Experience supporting large‑scale EPC projects or operational handover environments.

Key Skills

• Maintenance Planning & Scheduling
• Reliability‑Centered Maintenance (RCM)
• Lean / Continuous Improvement
• Work Process Standardization
• Backlog Management
• Schedule Compliance
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Data‑Driven Decision Making

Why This Role Matters

This position plays a critical role in ensuring maintenance work is executed predictably, efficiently, and reliably—directly impacting asset performance, cost control, and operational stability. The Planner / Scheduler SME sets the foundation for world‑class maintenance practices and long‑term reliability success.