Associate Director - Planning

-; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering services organization seeks a planning leader for its Complex Projects team in Birmingham. You will manage multi-disciplinary project planning, ensuring compliance with NEC frameworks and delivering advanced reporting. The ideal candidate holds a degree in Project Management or related fields and has proven experience in transport or energy sectors. Strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and analytical skills are essential. Flexible working opportunities and a supportive culture await you.

Benefits

Competitive salaries

Flexible working arrangements

Opportunities for training and professional development

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success as a planning leader in sectors such as transport, energy, defence, water, or rail.
• Strong people-management capabilities, with a track record of mentoring and developing high-performing teams.
• In-depth knowledge of NEC contracts and their practical application in complex environments.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain, and manage robust baselines aligned with contractual and performance metrics.
• Lead the planning function across complex, multidisciplinary projects.
• Integrate schedule, cost, and risk to provide strategic insights and decision support.

Skills

Project Management

Leadership

Stakeholder Engagement

Analytical Skills

Negotiation

Education

Degree in Project Management, Engineering, or Construction Management

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Job description

Job Description

Overview

Step into a pivotal role within our Complex Projects team at AtkinsRéalis, where you’ll help shape some of the world’s most iconic infrastructure and energy projects. From cutting‑edge transport systems to sustainable urban regeneration, your leadership will drive progress and inspire excellence. We’re not just building projects – we’re engineering a better future. That means fostering a truly collaborative culture where every voice is valued, every contribution recognised, and every talent nurtured. If you’re ready to lead with empathy, manage with clarity, and elevate those around you, this is your platform.

We champion flexible and remote working. Whether you’re looking to reduce your working week, buy additional leave, or pursue passions outside of work, we’ll support your ambitions and make reasonable adjustments to help you thrive.

Your role

• Develop, maintain, and manage robust baselines aligned with contractual and performance metrics.
• Lead the planning function across complex, multidisciplinary projects.
• Facilitate workshops and performance reviews that challenge assumptions and drive accountability.
• Ensure schedule compliance with contract obligations, particularly under NEC frameworks.
• Deliver advanced reporting outputs including Earned Value Management (EVM).
• Integrate schedule, cost, and risk to provide strategic insights and decision support.
• Conduct critical path analysis and scenario planning to mitigate risks and enhance delivery.
• Apply expert‑level delay analysis techniques and assure contractor schedule integrity.

About you

• A degree in Project Management, Engineering, or Construction Management.
• Demonstrated success as a planning leader in sectors such as transport, energy, defence, water, or rail.
• Strong people‑management capabilities, with a track record of mentoring and developing high‑performing teams.
• In‑depth knowledge of NEC contracts and their practical application in complex environments.
• Outstanding interpersonal and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to influence at all levels.
• Proficiency in planning tools such as Primavera P6 and MS Project.
• Analytical acumen, strategic thinking, and a collaborative mindset.
• Advanced understanding of project management methodologies and industry best practices.

Reward & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive at every stage of your life and career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards, and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. Combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and a fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We are AtkinsRéalis, a world‑class engineering services and nuclear organisation. We connect people, data and technology to transform the world’s infrastructure and energy systems. Together with our industry partners and clients, and our global team of consultants, designers, engineers and project managers, we can change the world. We are committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Security clearance

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong – a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family‑friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

Worker Type

Employee

Job Type

Regular

At AtkinsRéalis, we seek to hire individuals with diverse characteristics, backgrounds and perspectives. We strongly believe that world‑class talent makes no distinctions based on gender, ethnic or national origin, sexual identity and orientation, age, religion or disability, but enriches itself through these differences.