Manager- Airline Planning

Job Description: Manager - PlanningJob SummaryWe are seeking an experienced and dynamic Manager Planning to lead our team of planners. In this pivotal role, you will be responsible for the end-to-end management, development, and optimization of maintenance work packages for aircraft checks. You will ensure all planning activities adhere to strict regulatory, safety, and operational standards, while driving efficiency, managing Turn-Around-Time (TAT), and leading a team to achieve departmental goals. Expertise in base maintenance procedures for wide-body aircraft is essential for this role.Key Responsibilities Team Leadership & People Management:Lead, manage, and allocate duties for a team of Planners.Provide ongoing guidance, mentoring, and coaching to ensure team members meet deliverables and professional development goals.Oversee team performance, handle escalated issues, and ensure the effective discharge of all functions.Implement and enforce company disciplinary guidelines and policies within the section.Coordinate, forecast, and plan for the training, budgeting, and staffing needs of the section. Work Package Development & Analysis:Analyse initial work packages from Check Packaging at a detailed task level.Evaluate required man-hours, trades, skills, task dependencies, materials, tooling, and OEM/CMM support.Develop, sequence, and optimize workflows and Gantt charts for work package completion.Ensure work packages are comprehensive, revision-controlled, and delivered within stipulated KPIs.Populate and maintain all necessary data in the maintenance planning software ( AMOS). Technical & Operational Excellence:Formulate, declare, and validate the estimated TAT for maintenance checks to facilitate hangar slot booking and validate quotations.Ensure compliance of work packages with all regulatory, airworthiness, and operational requirements.Analyse the material and tooling requirement for accuracy and future database enhancement.Identify and evaluate potential resource conflicts and provide proactive solutions to prevent disruptions.Review actual project performance against the plan, analysing burn rates and adherence to TAT.Propose and discuss TAT reduction strategies (overtime, manpower redeployment) with Operations when required. Stakeholder Management & Communication:Act as the key liaison for maintenance requirements with Engineering Planning, Technical Services, Scheduling, Slot Management, and the Project Team.Coordinate requirements for workshop and external vendor support through the Project Team.Advise and support the Project Team in analysing key planning milestones and critical paths. Database & System Management:Maintain the highest level of confidentiality and integrity for all databases.Ensure databases are segregated by aircraft type, stored in a centralized location, and kept up to date.Champion the adoption of a standardized presentation for all databases.Familiarize with and drive the enhancement of eMRO and digital documentation systems (AMOS). Continuous Improvement:Identify and implement improvements to maintenance processes to reduce downtime, improve efficiency, and lower costs in association with the Project Team.Qualifications & ExperienceBachelor’s degree in Engineering, Aviation Management, or a related field.Experience in aircraft maintenance planning, with a significant portion in a leadership or supervisory capacity.Strong understanding of TAT management, resource planning, and critical path methodologyExtensive and hands on experience in work package sequencing and manhours planning in base maintenance for wide-body aircraft is highly preferred.Extensive and proven experience in base maintenance for wide-body aircraft is highly preferred.Hands-on experience with Maintenance Planning software; proficiency with AMOS would be an advantage.In-depth knowledge of aviation regulations (e.g., FAA, EASA, CAAS), maintenance procedures, and airworthiness requirements.Key CompetenciesStrong Leadership & People ManagementExcellent Analytical & Problem-Solving SkillsEffective Communication & Stakeholder ManagementResults-Oriented with a Focus on TAT & EfficiencyHigh Attention to Detail & Process-Driven