DCS Recruitment
Production Planning & Control Lead - Aviation
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Production Planning & Control Lead - Aviation
Location: Bournemouth
Salary: £56,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent
Hours: Full-time, 37 hours per week
About the Opportunity
We are currently working with a leading aviation and aerospace organisation to recruit an experienced Production Planning & Control Lead for their Hurn operation.
This is a key leadership position within a fast-paced, safety-critical aviation environment. The successful candidate will lead the Production Planning & Control (PP&C) function, ensuring maintenance activity is effectively planned, fully resourced and delivered safely, efficiently, on time and within budget.
Reporting to the Head of Planning, you will lead a team of Production Planners and Controllers and work closely with Engineering, CAMO, Procurement, Supply Chain and the wider Integrated Delivery Team.
The role combines people leadership, detailed maintenance planning, regulatory compliance, stakeholder management and continuous improvement, with a strong focus on achieving predictable aircraft delivery without compromising safety, quality or compliance.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the PP&C function, ensuring compliance with applicable UK CAA, UK MAA, EASA and other relevant aviation regulations and the Maintenance Organisation Exposition (MOE).
- Deliver the maintenance schedule issued by CAMO through effective planning, coordination and control.
- Create and manage work orders, staged worksheets, independent checks and associated documentation for scheduled maintenance, airworthiness directives, service bulletins, repairs and aircraft/component storage activities.
- Develop and manage detailed base maintenance input plans, using daily and weekly progress reviews to ensure activities remain on schedule.
- Plan resource hours and specialist trade requirements to support safe, efficient and timely maintenance completion.
- Work closely with Procurement and Supply Chain to ensure parts, materials and pre-kitting requirements are available when required.
- Manage the production planning system, ensuring the availability of personnel, tooling, equipment, materials, maintenance data and facilities.
- Partner with the Engineering Delivery Manager and wider Integrated Delivery Team to optimise aircraft availability and maintenance scheduling.
- Ensure accurate recording of time and activity within the Critical Chain Project Management tool and use performance data to support continuous improvement.
- Report conditions that have resulted, or may result, in an unsafe condition in support of the Company's Safety Management System.
- Manage audit non-conformances and safety investigation findings, implementing effective root-cause corrective actions and sustainable containment, corrective and preventive actions.
- Lead, coach and develop PP&C personnel, ensuring they are appropriately trained, competent and equipped.
- Build a strong culture of safety, compliance, accountability, continuous improvement and operational excellence.
- Manage succession planning and develop resilience and capability across the PP&C function.
- Ensure PP&C activities are delivered efficiently, effectively, on time and within budget while maintaining strong internal and external customer relationships.
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About You
You will be an accomplished aviation production planning and control professional with proven leadership experience and the ability to manage complex maintenance inputs and competing operational priorities.
You will be calm under pressure, highly organised and committed to maintaining the highest standards of safety and regulatory compliance. You will also be confident communicating and influencing across technical, operational and senior stakeholder groups.
Essential Skills & Experience
- Extensive, proven experience in a similar aviation Production Planning & Control role.
- Expert knowledge of aviation production planning and control principles and practices.
- Strong theoretical and practical knowledge of UK CAA, UK military, EASA and FAA aviation regulations.
- Practical understanding of Safety Management System principles within an aviation environment.
- Relevant technical background demonstrated through one or more of the following:
- EASA, CAA or equivalent Part 66 B1/B2 Aircraft Engineer Licence.
- Aerospace or aeronautical engineering degree.
- Relevant aviation apprenticeship or equivalent qualification with proven industry experience.
- Extensive relevant PP&C industry experience.
- Proven ability to plan and control maintenance activity, forecast aircraft inputs and align resources with operational requirements.
- Strong leadership, organisational and time-management skills.
- Ability to work effectively to demanding deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with confidence presenting and influencing at all levels.
- Highly self-motivated, assertive and resilient, with a practical and collaborative approach.
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office and relevant planning and management systems.
- Ability to obtain and maintain SC-level security clearance.
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Desirable Experience
- Practical knowledge of ISO 9001, ISO 45001, ISO 14001 and ISO 27001 within an aviation environment.
- Demonstrable people leadership and cultural change management experience.
- Relevant aircraft airframe and engine type training or general familiarisation training.
- Tertiary-level business or management qualification.
What's on Offer?
Our client offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:
- £56,000 salary
- Up to 12% matching pension contributions
- Bonus incentives
- Discounted private medical insurance
- Electric car scheme
- Technology vouchers
- Wellbeing programmes
- Additional employee benefits
About the Organisation
Our client is a well-established organisation operating within the aviation and aerospace sector, providing specialist air training and mission support capabilities to military customers internationally.
The organisation operates across the UK, US and NATO countries and provides a technically advanced environment in which engineering, operational and specialist aviation teams work together to deliver critical mission and training capabilities.
Diversity & Inclusion
Our client is committed to creating an inclusive working environment and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.
The organisation is also Armed Forces-friendly and welcomes applications from veterans, service spouses and service partners who meet the requirements of the role.
Reasonable adjustments can be provided throughout the recruitment and interview process for candidates who require them.
How to Apply
If you have the required aviation Production Planning & Control experience and are interested in progressing your career within a safety-critical aerospace environment, we would be keen to hear from you.
Apply now with your CV, and a member of our recruitment team will be in touch to discuss the opportunity in confidence.
Email: max.carr@dcsgroup.uk.com
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