PLANNING MANAGER
Lead strategic maintenance planning for a major airline fleet. Ensure compliance, optimize aircraft availability, and manage a high-performing team in a dynamic, safety-driven environment.
Welcome to this recruitment process with Vueling!
Applying is your first step to having the opportunity to join the first Top Employer airline in Europe. We hope the information you find here encourages you to apply so we can get to know you and stay connected.
Let's start by getting to know us better!
At Vueling, we love things to happen. We always do our best to go one step further and do it better. We invite our people to celebrate their unique strengths, work as a team to overcome challenges and achieve their goals for the greater good.
Our team is made of great professionals. Great and passionate people who collaborate, support and complement each other's skills.
We are one of Europe's leading low-cost airlines, with special relevance in the Spanish domestic market, as well as in France and Italy.
Job Purpose
Strategically plan and coordinate all scheduled maintenance activities for the airline’s fleet within the Maintenance Department, in alignment with regulatory requirements and company operational standards, in order to achieve maximum fleet availability and ensure compliance with aviation safety protocols.
Main Accountabilities
- Ensuring that all planned maintenance activities, both long- and short-term, are executed with accuracy and efficiency, meeting regulatory deadlines, minimizing yield loss, and preventing operational disruptions.
- Secure the seamless flow of resources, including materials, workforce, and facility availability, to ensure uninterrupted maintenance operations, efficient turnaround times, and minimal aircraft downtime.
- Establish strong communication and coordination with external maintenance partners, ensuring maintenance activities are executed within the planned schedule and maintaining continuity in fleet operations.
- Continuously improve maintenance planning efficiency, incorporate predictive strategies to prevent unplanned maintenance, and enhance compliance with evolving
industry standards. - Facilitate the effective allocation of maintenance events by lifecycle intervals (such as 90-day, 750-hour, or 500-cycle checks) to optimise task scheduling and maximise aircraft availability.
- Establish robust monitoring processes, allowing for databacked adjustments to the maintenance plan and supporting the alignment of operations with compliance requirements.
- Achieve high synergy across departments, maintaining aircraft operability by balancing maintenance schedules with operational and commercial priorities.
- Build a high-performing planning team, capable of managing complex maintenance schedules with agility and aligning with Vueling’s standards for safety and operational
excellence. - Increase overall cost-effectiveness by balancing the timing and execution of tasks to reduce resource expenditure without compromising maintenance standards.
- Foster a compliance-centric environment by ensuring the availability of detailed maintenance records, meeting both internal and external audit requirements, and addressing improvement areas proactively.
- Provide swift response and reintegration of unplanned maintenance needs, maintaining operational flexibility and ensuring minimal impact on scheduled maintenance and flight operations.
- Make the department managed a better place to work.
- Fulfill the mission of the job if it is in the employee´s hand.
Main Responsibilities - Tasks
- Strategically supervising and directing the planning and execution of scheduled maintenance tasks across the fleet.
- Managing and coordinating resources for maintenance operations, including parts procurement, workforce allocation, and time management.
- Collaborating with external MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) providers to align on heavy maintenance planning and capacity.
- Implementing and refining data-driven planning methodologies, including predictive maintenance.
- Adjusting and optimizing maintenance schedules based on fleet lifecycle phases and operational priorities.
- Monitoring and evaluating key maintenance performance metrics such as task completion rates, yield efficiency, and compliance with scheduled checks.
- Coordinating with departments, especially Operations and Supply Chain, to align maintenance timelines with fleet needs.
- Leading and developing the Maintenance Planning team, focusing on skills in planning, compliance, and resource management.
- Evaluating and optimizing cost-efficiency through schedule adjustments.
- Supporting quality and regulatory audits by providing timely, accurate documentation and collaborating on corrective actions.
- Responding to ad-hoc and unplanned maintenance events, integrating them into ongoing schedules.
- Managing and organizing the team, promoting communication, development, and teamwork within and across departments.
- Performing any other tasks or responsibilities inherent to the position as assigned.
Main Relationships
- Operations: Align maintenance schedules with fleet demand to ensure daily operational requirements are met.
- Supply Chain & Materials Management: Coordinate procurement and timely availability of essential parts and equipment.
- Maintenance Teams (Line & Heavy): Synchronize execution of maintenance within scheduled windows.
- Quality & Compliance: Ensure alignment with regulatory audits and adapt to procedural updates.
- Human Resources: Plan manpower and support training on procedures, standards, and systems.
- Fleet Management: Integrate fleet lifecycle and growth into long-term maintenance strategy.
- Finance: Forecast maintenance costs and improve efficiency through scheduling optimization.
- MRO Providers: Coordinate complex and heavy maintenance projects in line with company timelines.
- Regulatory Authorities (e.g., AESA, EASA): Ensure maintenance plans comply with mandatory standards and participate in audits and updates.
- Component & Engine Suppliers: Ensure timely availability and replacement of high-demand or critical components.
- IT & Software Vendors: Leverage and adapt planning software for accuracy, forecasting, and compliance tracking.
- Airports & Ground Services: Coordinate logistics during inspections and extended stays at specific bases.
Education
Bachelor's degree in Aeronautical Engineering or related field.
Experience
10+ years in aviation maintenance planning (scheduled & unscheduled).
5+ years technical team leadership in regulated environments.
Competencies
- Solid understanding of CAMO, MPD/MRB programs, and EASA/FAA regulations.
- Strong organizational and communication skills.
- Ability to prioritize, lead under pressure, and drive performance.
- Experience with Airbus 320 and Boeing Fleet
- Degree in Aviation, Engineering, or related field.
- Proven experience in process improvement and optimization
- Experience in roles directly involved with compliance to international aviation standards is essential, as well as familiarity with managing heavy and line maintenance within an airline or MRO environment.
- Demonstrated success in coordinating across departments and external partners (MROs, suppliers) to align on goals and manage long-term maintenance schedules
Languages
English and Spanish - Proficiency (C1)
Location
Viladecans, Barcelona
Level
People Manager 4
We are the only Top Employer airline in Europe
For the second year running, Vueling is the only European airline and the only low-cost airline in the world to obtain this certification. The Top Employers Institute programme certifies organisations based on the participation and results of their HR Best Practices Survey. This survey covers six HR domains consisting of 20 topics including People Strategy, Work Environment, Talent Acquisition, Learning, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Wellbeing and more.

🟡 #FlyToYourFullPotential
Every single person who works with us is unique. Join us is accepting the invite to fly to your full potential through self-development and pursuing your professional passion. Our employee value proposition and benefits include staff travel, discounts, a flexible working model, and more! Want to learn more? Click here.
🟡 Our Culture
We thrive on teamwork and collaboration. Joining our team means being part of a cohesive unit that works together, shares knowledge, and supports each other.
Our positive working atmosphere is unique and essential to our productivity and growth. You'll be surrounded by diverse and dynamic professionals. We are passionate about what we do: Connecting People and Places! Learn more about our Mission, Vision, & Values.
🟡 Our Recruitment Process
Your experience as a candidate is critical for us. We firmly believe that understanding our process will alleviate anxiety and ignite your passion for this extraordinary experience! Please take a closer look at how our process works.
- Department
- Operations
- Locations
- Viladecans - Barcelona
Viladecans - Barcelona
Fly to Your Full Potential
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Being part of IAG Group
At Vueling, we're not just any airline - we're part of the IAG group, which means you've got plenty of chances to grow and develop your career within the group. Join us at Vueling and be a part of this exciting journey.
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Our work environment
We know that a good working environment is vital to foster employee engagement, productivity and overall wellbeing. Our spaces reflect our energy and innovative spirit to provide a welcoming and pleasant working environment.
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Great Professionals. Great people.
Our team is not only made up of experts in their field, but also of people who inspire and uplift those around them. The perfect combination that makes a positive impact on our work
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Opportunities for training and development
We offer each person who joins our team the opportunity to grow, to develop, to learn. Because we believe in people, in their talent, we want to see them shine, being their best professional version.
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Our benefits
Flight benefits: Our team get ready to start flying by booking benefit flights as soon as joining us.
Variable compensation: To add to the fixed compensation, our team have variable compensation according to your role, company and individual performance.
Vueling Flex: We know life changes, so we are able to adjust our benefits each year to your personal and family situation – Health insurance, training, transportation and much more.
Vueling Discounts: We know there is also more to life than work. That's why we have access to our discount platform where we can find more than 400 offers in different categories such as travel, shopping, training, and many more!
Make it Healthy: Our programme focuses on our team and our well-being! It includes: Gym, Nutrition, Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Psychology support, Medical service, etc.
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Diversity & Inclusion
With a team of more than 60 nationalities and more than 51% of the positions occupied by women, there is no doubt that we have the perfect scenario for growth and innovation.
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Commitment with sustainability
At our core, we are a sustainable-oriented company, dedicated to reducing our environmental impact. Through the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) and the efficiency of our fleet, we actively contribute to achieving our Net Zero 2050 goal.
At Vueling, we invite you to fly to your full potential through self-development and pursuing your professional passion. We invite you to celebrate your unique strengths, work as a team to overcome challenges and achieve your goals for the greater good.
We practice our values every day, create the best working environment and are ready to support you with what you need to shine and make us shine with you.
About Vueling
We're one of the top ten companies in Catalonia, and we're part of IAG, one of the world's leading aviation groups.
We are one of Europe’s leading low-cost airlines, with special relevance in the Spanish domestic market, as well as in France and Italy.
We fly direct to over 140 destinations in 30 countries in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East.
As part of IAG, we’ve led the way in setting a target of zero net emissions by 2050.
Our purpose is about more than just providing a transport service; it's about connecting to new adventures, reunions, firsts.
It's about who we are.