A maintenance scheduler is a person who coordinates and dispatches work crews or service vehicles for a variety of purposes depending on the business or company for which the person works. The maintenance scheduler will need to be organized and efficient, as well as a good communicator and team player. He or she will be responsible for using communication devices such as radios or telephones, and the scheduler must also be able to use common computer programs such as word processing and spreadsheet programs. Completion of a high school education will usually be necessary to become a scheduler.
In some cases, a candidate may need to earn an associate's degree or professional certificate in order to become a maintenance scheduler. In rare instances, a person may be required to earn a bachelor's degree, though most jobs will not require this. The maintenance scheduler will work for any company that regularly dispatches work crews or service vehicles, such as fire departments, police departments, repair companies, installation companies, or even delivery companies. The maintenance scheduler will need to know the location of all work crews and vehicles at all times, and he or she will design and implement a daily schedule for those workers and vehicles.
The maintenance scheduler may also routinely interact with work crews and drivers to advise them on the best routes to specific locations, the status of traffic or weather conditions, or changes in the scheduling for the day. Before the crews leave for a specific job, the scheduler may coordinate with those crews to determine what equipment must be taken along for the job. All paperwork associated with the dispatch of work crews and equipment will be the responsibility of the scheduler, and if the work crews must fill out any paperwork, the scheduler must be sure to collect those documents in an appropriate time frame.
It is likely that the maintenance scheduler will also need to interact with customers. A background in customer service is often preferred by companies hiring such positions, since the scheduler will need to make adjustments to work orders as dictated by customers, deal with customer complaints in an appropriate manner, and essentially ensure the satisfaction of customers at all times. Other responsibilities of the planner may vary according to the specific industry; some may need to know local laws and regulations, and others may need to know fire and police codes for dispatch purposes.