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Maintenance Planner

Greif · Alsip, IL · $29.38–$50.00 an hour · Full time

Posted Sep 16, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Oct 6, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

About your past

Tell me about a time you rewrote or created a preventive maintenance task. What did you change and why?

What they are checking: Whether they refine PMs based on failure history rather than copying generic manufacturer intervals.

Tell me about a time you anticipated a delay and solved it before it hit the floor.

What they are checking: Whether they think ahead about manpower, parts, and access, which is the core of the planner role.

What would you do

A technician shows up to a planned job and the part isn't there. How do you keep that from happening again?

What they are checking: Whether they own kitting and parts staging as the planner's job, since missing parts waste the most labor.

How do you get production to give you equipment access for planned work?

What they are checking: Whether they can negotiate downtime windows with operations instead of waiting for a machine to break.

A big breakdown wipes out half of this week's schedule. What do you do with the planned work that got bumped?

What they are checking: Whether they can re-sequence work and communicate changes without letting critical PMs fall off entirely.

About the work

Walk me through how you turn a maintenance request into a planned job that's ready for a technician to start.

What they are checking: Whether they know a planned job includes scope, parts, tools, labor hours, and equipment access before work begins.

The posting talks about corrective, preventive, predictive, and proactive maintenance. How do you balance those in a weekly schedule?

What they are checking: Whether they understand that planning should shift work away from breakdowns and toward prevention over time.

What CMMS have you used, and how do you make sure the equipment history in it is actually useful?

What they are checking: Whether they keep clean failure records that help with root cause analysis and future planning.

How do you estimate how long a job will take, and how do you check whether your estimates were right?

What they are checking: Whether they compare actuals to estimates and use that to make future schedules more accurate.

How would you measure whether planning is working at this plant?

What they are checking: Whether they know metrics like schedule compliance, PM completion, and reactive work percentage, not just how busy they are.

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The full job description

As published by Greif.

Greif is a global leader in performance packaging located in 40 countries. The company delivers trusted, innovative, and tailored solutions that support some of the world's most in demand and fastest-growing industries. With a commitment to legendary customer service, operational excellence, and global sustainability, Greif packages life's essentials - and creates lasting value for its colleagues, customers, and other stakeholders. Learn more about the company's Customized Polymer , Sustainable Fiber , Durable Metal , and Integrated Solutions at www.greif.com and follow Greif on Instagram and LinkedIn. OUR VISION: To Be the Advantage That Helps Our Customers Win. OUR PURPOSE: Creating packaging solutions for life’s essentials. Job Requisition #: 035507 Maintenance Planner (Open) Job Description: Job Summary Coordinates and schedules activities in the maintenance area, including corrective, preventive, predictive, and proactive maintenance, and maintenance planning. Anticipates and eliminates potential delays through planning and coordination of manpower, parts and materials, and equipment access. Develops or refines preventive maintenance tasks and schedules as needed. May be responsible for maintaining documentation related to equipment history. Typically possesses a high school diploma (or equivalent) and a technical certificate with 6-8 years of relevant experience. Key Responsibilities • Plans, schedules, and coordinates corrective, preventive, predictive, and proactive maintenance activities with long term focus on increased reliability and productivity of the workforce. • Obtains and organizes all information and parts required for maintenance work to be performed (e.g. diagrams, sketches, operations manuals, manufacturer's instructions). • Locates sources of problems by observing mechanical devices in operation, listening for problems, discussing issues with the operators, and using precision measuring and testing instruments to diagnose issues. • Collaborates with other maintenance colleagues to ensure work orders are completed in a timely manner and machinery is operational. • Controls and optimizes spare parts ordering, stocking, issuing, and inventorying. • Develops new or refines existing preventive maintenance tasks and schedules. • Provides assistance and guidance to junior maintenance colleagues. • Adheres to all plant safety policies. Participates in plant-wide safety, housekeeping, Operational Excellence, and Lean Manufacturing programs. • Inventory and vendor management required (ordering materials, maintaining accuracy, quantities, etc.) • Performs other duties as assigned. Education and Experience Required • Typically possesses a high school diploma (or equivalent) and a technical certificate with 6-8 years of relevant experience. • Proficiency in MS Office and ERP Systems knowledge required. • Experience with MaintainX CMMS platform is a plus Knowledge and Skills • Demonstrates ability to select and operate appropriate hand, power and specialty tools and testing devices to complete job tasks. • Possesses a mechanical background and direct maintenance work experience. High volume manufacturing experience a plus. • Demonstrates ability to read blueprints, diagrams, manuals, and machine and process drawings, with the ability to sketch or alter existing drawings. • Demonstrates strong written and oral communication skills. • Demonstrates the ability to manage multiple priorities or projects and keep them progressing to completion. • Possesses excellent time management skills. • Skilled in estimating and communicating the labor hours, material requirements, and skills needed to complete a job. #LI-MK1 At Greif , we believe that our colleagues are the center of our success. Our Total Rewards have a comprehensive focus on well-being and offer a competitive package that enables you to thrive, be engaged, and reach your full potential. Compensation Range: The pay range for this position is $29.38 - $50.00 annually. Typically, a competitive wage for new hires will fall between35.00 to45.00 annually. Offers for this position may vary based on market data and other factors such as job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and geographic location. The position may also be eligible for a short-term incentive. Benefits Statement: Greif offers a comprehensive benefits package, including competitive core benefits, paid time off, and a range of local benefits for eligible colleagues. Protect Yourself From Scams: We value the integrity of our recruitment process and prioritize the well-being of our candidates. While you may find Greif job postings on various platforms, all legitimate opportunities can be verified on our official Careers page at www.greif.com . All communication from Greif regarding job opportunities will also come from an @greif.com email address. If you have concerns about the legitimacy of a job posting, receive an unsolicited job offer or suspect fraudulent activity, please contact us for verification via this link Contact Us - Greif . EEO Statement: https://www.greif.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/HR-101-Equal-Employment-Opportunity-Policy-English.pdf We offer a competitive salary, excellent benefits and opportunity for growth. Greif is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, national origin, color, disability, veteran status or any other any other legally protected characteristic. For more information read Greif’s Equal Opportunity Policy.

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