Planner, Rotable

Job description

At First Quantum, we free the talent of our people by taking a very different approach which is underpinned by a very different, very definite culture – the “First Quantum Way”.

Working with us is not like working anywhere else, which is why we recruit people who will take a bolder, smarter approach to spot opportunities, solve problems and deliver results.

Our culture is all about encouraging you to think independently and to challenge convention to deliver the best result. That’s how we continue to achieve extraordinary things in extraordinary locations.

Job description:

Purpose

To plan, coordinate, control and continuously improve the full rotable and repairable component life cycle for the Process Plant, ensuring that the correct components are available at the right time, in the right condition, and at the optimal cost to support planned maintenance, shutdowns, services and reliability improvement initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

The incumbent will be required to adhere to all relevant requirements, policies, procedures and legal regulations pertaining to health, safety, environment and quality, as well as finance, human resources, and any other regulations as required by the company and relevant to the level of the role and responsibilities of the following functions:

• Develop, maintain and communicate the rotable and repairable component plan aligned to the 12-month maintenance strategy, 4-month forecast, 4-week schedule and approved shutdown plans.
• Translate component replacement forecasts into actionable plans covering inspection, repair, refurbishment, procurement, kitting, delivery and return-to-stock requirements.
• Monitor rotable stock levels, repair cycle status, lead times, minimum/maximum levels and critical component availability to reduce maintenance delays and unplanned downtime.
• Manage the rotable component life cycle through the approved rotable application, CMMS and warehouse systems, including tagging, serialization, material movements, repair status and return-to-service records.
• Maintain an accurate rotable database with OEM part numbers, serial numbers, equipment fitment history, repair history, warranty status, vendor details and component condition status.
• Coordinate with maintenance, reliability, warehouse, procurement, planning and vendor teams to ensure repairable items are inspected, dispatched, repaired, returned and made available in line with committed timelines.
• Expedite rotable repairs and material requirements, escalate delays or risks, and provide clear status updates to end users and maintenance leadership.
• Verify material specifications, drawings, safety data sheets, repair scopes and vendor quotations to ensure repair activities conform to OEM, site and safety requirements.
• Support QA/QC inspection of repaired or refurbished components, ensuring that repair quality, documentation, test certificates and acceptance criteria are completed before return to stock or fitment.
• Track vendor performance, repair quality, warranty claims, repair turnaround times and cost trends, and recommend corrective actions where performance does not meet business requirements.
• Prepare and issue weekly and monthly rotable reports covering component status, overdue repairs, component availability, repair costs, warranty recoveries, high-risk shortages and improvement actions.
• Analyse rotable usage, failure history, repair trends and component performance data to identify opportunities for cost reduction, standardisation, improved reliability and optimized component holding levels.
• Participate in Root Cause Failure Analysis and reliability reviews for premature or repeat component failures and ensure agreed actions are incorporated into repair scopes, standards and future plans.
• Manage the identification, evaluation and disposal process for uneconomical-to-repair components in accordance with site procedures, financial controls and approval requirements.
• Support shutdown and major service readiness by confirming component availability, repair completion, preservation status, staging, kitting and delivery requirements before execution.
• Ensure all tasks assigned under the Management of Repairable Items SOP are completed with the required quality, compliance and timeline standards.
• Maintain compliance with health, safety, environmental, quality, finance, procurement and company governance requirements applicable to rotable planning and repairable item management.
• Promote safe work practices, housekeeping, correct component handling, contamination control and preservation standards for all rotable and repairable items.

Qualifications

• Grade twelve (12) school certificate or equivalent.
• Diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Maintenance Planning, Supply Chain, or a relevant technical trade qualification.
• Working knowledge of rotable management, repairable item control, component serialization, warehouse processes and maintenance planning principles.
• Competent in CMMS or ERP systems such as Pronto or SAP, including work orders, materials, inventory, purchasing and repair tracking functions.
• Computer literate with strong Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and reporting skills; Microsoft Project or Power BI experience will be an added advantage.
• Basic understanding of reliability principles, condition monitoring, OEM repair standards, Root Cause Analysis and Failure Modes and Effects Analysis will be advantageous.
• All Qualifications must be certified by Zambia Qualifications Authority (ZAQA)

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years’ relevant experience in rotable planning, maintenance planning, materials coordination, warehousing, component repair management, or fixed plant maintenance.
• Experience in mining, processing plant, heavy industry, mobile fleet, or large-scale maintenance environments will be advantageous.
• Practical experience with components such as gearboxes, pumps, motors, crushers, mills, conveyors, compressors, valves, hydraulic components and other repairable plant assets.
• Demonstrated ability to plan and track repairable components, expedite vendors, manage repair lead times and support shutdown or major service readiness.
• Experience interpreting OEM manuals, repair scopes, parts lists, drawings, inspection reports and technical documentation.
• Strong understanding of inventory control, preservation, warranty tracking, vendor performance monitoring and cost control for repairable components.

BEHAVIOURAL TRAITS

• Planning discipline and attention to detail
• Accountability and ownership of component status
• Teamwork and cross-functional collaboration
• Proactive communication and timely escalation
• Safety awareness and quality focus
• Analytical thinking and continuous improvement mindset
• Customer service orientation toward maintenance execution teams

OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Overtime and standby support may be required to meet shutdown, breakdown or urgent repair requirements.
• Regular interaction with maintenance areas, warehouses, vendors, procurement and repair workshops.
• Exposure to operational plant conditions including dust, heat, noise and mobile equipment movement.
• High level of PC literacy and accurate data entry discipline required.
• Valid driving licence required.
• Ability to work under pressure, manage multiple priorities and meet planning deadlines.
• Understanding of relevant legislation, company policies, procurement controls, warehouse procedures and safety requirements.