Maintenance Planner

Job Description

We are seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented Maintenance Planner, Specialist Operations - Maintenance to join our team. This role is responsible for planning and coordinating production maintenance work and resources to support efficient manufacturing operations. The ideal candidate will demonstrate strong ownership, accountability, adaptability, and the ability to work independently in a dynamic environment. Experience with GMP, Environmental Monitoring (EM), and SOP-based work is an advantage, and candidates from food manufacturing may also be considered if they can learn and apply these concepts.

Role Responsibilities

• Plan, prioritize, and coordinate all production maintenance work to support safe and efficient manufacturing execution.
• Prepare maintenance work in advance, including job plans, task lists, materials, inventory requirements, permits, and resource allocation.
• Coordinate work for a multi-disciplined technician team through the CMMS/SAP system.
• Manage pre-work planning, shutdown activities, vendor support, and permitting requirements.
• Support Production by reviewing work requests, defining the actual work to be completed, and ensuring maintenance actions are properly scoped.
• Develop and maintain Preventive Maintenance (PM) and calibration schedules.
• Track planned and emergency work orders through completion, ensuring timely execution and accurate system updates.
• Document maintenance activities, equipment changes, PM completion, and parts used.
• Develop detailed shutdown plans and schedules, and track progress during execution with all stakeholders.
• Produce regular reports on schedule adherence, maintenance performance, and trend analysis, and recommend improvements where needed.
• Ensure all maintenance records, workflows, and job plans are maintained accurately in SAP Plant Maintenance.
• Manage maintenance vendors in line with contractor management requirements and company policies.
• Support EHS compliance by ensuring work is completed under Energy Control Procedures (ECPs), Job Safety Analysis (JSAs), Risk Assessments, and Method Statements.
• Contribute to continuous improvement activities, including failure investigations, change control, and Kaizen events.
• Support audits and inspections to maintain department readiness and compliance.
• Comply with global policies, regulatory requirements, and current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP).
• Promote a safe, compliant, and collaborative working culture.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

What skills you will need

In order to excel in this role, you will more than likely have:

Required

• Trade Qualified (national craft certificate, level 6) /Bachelor's Degree or equivalent, ideally in a related Science, Engineering, or other technical discipline.
• Minimum of 5+ years relevant experience in a similar role within a production maintenance/engineering organization of a manufacturing facility (preferably GMP).
• Experience working in a fast-paced environment.
• Understanding of instrumentation, mechanical, and electrical maintenance works.
• Experience in working on Maintenance Systems i.e., CMMS/CCMS.
• Good report writing and presentation skills.
• Comfortable with delegation to team members as an individual contributor.

Preferred

• Experience in reading P&ID's, interpreting vendor documentation, and following all site policies and SOPs.
• Motivated - starter/finisher.
• Experienced in using standard tools and methods for root cause analysis of system failures, such as One Way Problem Solving (OWPS), FMEA, Fishbone diagrams, 5 why's, etc.

Our facility in Carlow site broke ground in 2008 and is a filling site for the launch and commercial supply of vaccines, biologics and small molecule drug product. Since its initial launch, the site has attracted significant internal investment and is now home to a number of state-of-the-art production facilities, laboratories and temperature-controlled warehousing units. The Carlow site is a significant employer in the South East region and attracts high performing talent through close collaborations with universities and colleges in the region.

As an equal opportunity employer, we are proud to be a company that embraces the value of bringing diverse, talented, and committed people together. Please don't hesitate to contact the Talent Acquisition Advisor assigned to this role should you need any support during our recruitment process.

Required Skills:
Computerized Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS), Contractor Management, EHS Compliance, Electrical Maintenance, Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Maintenance Planning, Mechanical Equipment Maintenance, Preventive Maintenance Planning, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), Root Cause Failure Analysis (RCFA), SAP Plant Maintenance (PM), Shutdown Planning, Technical Document Preparation

Preferred Skills:

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Current Contingent Workers apply HERE

Search Firm Representatives Please Read Carefully
Merck & Co., Inc., Rahway, NJ, USA, also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC, Rahway, NJ, USA, does not accept unsolicited assistance from search firms for employment opportunities. All CVs / resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at our company without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of our company. No fee will be paid in the event a candidate is hired by our company as a result of an agency referral where no pre-existing agreement is in place. Where agency agreements are in place, introductions are position specific. Please, no phone calls or emails.

Employee Status:
Regular

Relocation:
No relocation

VISA Sponsorship:
No

Travel Requirements:
No Travel Required

Flexible Work Arrangements:
Not Applicable

Shift:
Not Indicated

Valid Driving License:
Yes

Hazardous Material(s):
NA

Job Posting End Date:
07/14/2026
*A job posting is effective until 11:59:59PM on the day BEFORE the listed job posting end date. Please ensure you apply to a job posting no later than the day BEFORE the job posting end date.