Technical Planner

About the Role

As part of our inflight & corporate catering services, we are seeking a proactive and highly organised Technical Planner to support the planning, coordination, and monitoring of engineering and maintenance activities across our Nairobi and Mombasa operations. This role is central to ensuring operational reliability, compliance, and efficiency in delivering world-class support to airline partners and inflight services.

The role will ensure that preventive and corrective maintenance, proactive equipment checks, engineering projects, work orders, resources and technical teams are effectively planned, scheduled and followed through to completion.

The ideal candidate should have a strong engineering/technical background, combined with excellent planning, coordination, analytical and follow-up skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan and coordinate engineering, maintenance and technical activities across multiple sites.
  

• Develop and maintain preventive maintenance schedules and technical work plans.
  

• Coordinate proactive technical inspections and routine equipment checks to identify potential defects, wear or maintenance requirements before they result in breakdowns.
  

• Ensure findings from proactive inspections and equipment checks are properly documented, prioritised and followed through to closure.
  

• Monitor technician workloads, assignments, resource utilisation and task completion.
  

• Track work orders, maintenance activities and engineering projects from initiation through to completion.
  

• Monitor project timelines, identify delays, resource constraints or bottlenecks and escalate issues requiring management attention.
  

• Coordinate with Procurement, Stores and Operations to ensure timely availability of spares, materials, tools and equipment.
  

• Maintain accurate maintenance records, work orders, inspection reports, technical reports and other engineering documentation.
  

• Support the effective utilisation, planning and maintenance of engineering assets and equipment.
  

• Work closely with technicians to identify recurring equipment failures and recommend preventive and improvement measures to enhance equipment reliability and minimise downtime.
  

• Coordinate activities between Nairobi and Mombasa and promote consistency in maintenance standards and practices.
  

• Support the Technical Manager in planning shutdowns, major maintenance activities, repairs, installations and technical projects.
  

• Monitor outstanding maintenance tasks and ensure appropriate follow-up and closure within agreed timelines.
  

• Generate regular reports on maintenance activities, proactive checks, project progress, outstanding works and key performance indicators.
  

• Support the effective use of CMMS/ERP systems for maintenance planning, work order management and asset tracking.
  

• Identify opportunities to improve maintenance efficiency, equipment reliability, operational continuity and technical service delivery.
  

Requirements

Qualifications & Experience

• Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Mechatronics Engineering or a related engineering discipline.
  

• 3–5 years' experience in engineering, maintenance planning, technical coordination or a similar role.
  

• Strong understanding of engineering operations, preventive maintenance, corrective maintenance and maintenance planning.
  

• Experience working with technical teams, work orders, inspections and engineering projects.
  

• Practical understanding of engineering equipment such as HVAC systems, boilers, ovens, electrical systems and other industrial/hospitality equipment is an advantage.
  

• Experience with CMMS, ERP or other maintenance management systems, preferably in an environment with a large asset base.
  

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Excel and technical reporting.
  

• Experience coordinating technical activities across multiple sites is an added advantage.
  

• Experience in an aviation, hospitality, manufacturing or other asset-intensive environment will be an advantage.
  

Key Competencies

Engineering & Technical Understanding
Strong practical understanding of engineering systems, equipment, maintenance requirements and technical operations.

Proactive Maintenance Mindset
Ability to anticipate potential equipment failures, conduct proactive checks, identify issues early and drive preventive action rather than relying solely on reactive maintenance.

Planning & Organisation
Ability to effectively plan, prioritise and coordinate multiple maintenance activities, projects and resources.

Problem Solving & Analytical Skills
Ability to analyse technical issues, identify root causes and support practical solutions.

Follow-up & Accountability
Strong ownership of assigned activities, with the ability to track actions and ensure tasks are completed within agreed timelines.

Communication & Stakeholder Management
Ability to work effectively with technicians, management, procurement, stores, operations and other stakeholders.

Sense of Urgency
Ability to respond appropriately to critical maintenance requirements and minimise operational disruption.

Teamwork & Collaboration
Ability to work effectively across teams and sites while maintaining positive working relationships.

Key Success Measures

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute to:

• Improved preventive maintenance compliance.
  

• Increased completion of proactive equipment inspections and checks.
  

• Timely closure of maintenance work orders and corrective actions.
  

• Reduced equipment breakdowns and operational downtime.
  

• Effective utilisation of technicians and maintenance resources.
  

• Accurate and timely maintenance reporting.
  

• Improved equipment reliability and asset performance.
  

• Effective coordination of engineering activities across Nairobi and Mombasa.