Associate Director (Planning)

Cobalt Consulting (UK) Ltd; City Of London; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consultancy firm is seeking an experienced Associate Director to lead planning and project controls for a landmark healthcare development in London. Candidates must have a proven track record in high-value capital projects, and strong skills in planning software like Primavera P6 and Asta Powerproject. This role involves developing integrated schedules, driving performance tracking, and engaging with multidisciplinary teams.

Qualifications

• Proven track record in complex, high-value capital projects, ideally in healthcare or life sciences.
• Expertise in project controls and risk management.
• Professional membership (APM, CIOB, ICE, RICS or similar) is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the project's master schedule from preconstruction to commissioning.
• Develop and maintain integrated programmes using planning tools.
• Drive earned value management (EVM) and programme performance tracking.

Skills

Project controls

Risk management

Earned value management (EVM)

Communication skills

Analytical mindset

Education

Degree in construction, engineering or related discipline

Tools

Primavera P6

Asta Powerproject

MS Project

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and forward-thinking Associate Director level candidate to lead the planning and project controls function for a landmark capital development in the healthcare and research sector. You will be a key player in driving integrated project planning, supporting delivery across multidisciplinary teams, and ensuring alignment to time, cost, and quality objectives on one of the UK's most strategically important programmes.

The Programme
This is a flagship, state-of-the-art healthcare and translational research facility being delivered by a global Tier 1 contractor on behalf of a prominent academic and clinical client. The project will bring together world-leading researchers, clinicians, patients, and public stakeholders under one roof in an environment purpose-built to accelerate medical innovation and deliver cutting-edge patient care.

Key features of the development include:

• Multiple floors of advanced laboratory and clinical research space
• Specialist imaging suites housing multiple MRI scanners
• Flexible workspaces and zones for collaboration across scientific, clinical, and technical disciplines
• A major lecture and public engagement theatre
• Inclusive and shared core facilities supporting cross-institutional research and diagnostics
• The facility is designed to enable true bench-to-bedside integration-streamlining the transition from research discovery to clinical application and transforming how complex health conditions are diagnosed, treated, and understood.

Key Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of the project's master schedule, from preconstruction through to final commissioning and handover.
• Develop and maintain fully integrated and resource-loaded programmes using tools such as Primavera P6, Asta Powerproject, and MS Project.
• Drive earned value management (EVM) and programme performance tracking across all workstreams.
• Lead risk-based schedule assessments, including time impact analyses, to inform mitigation strategies and scenario planning.
• Collaborate closely with project leadership, commercial teams, designers, and subcontractors to ensure programme integrity.
• Provide clear, concise, and data-driven reporting to stakeholders across technical, operational, and executive levels.
• Mentor junior planners and embed best-practice planning processes across the team.
• Align programme outputs with procurement milestones, sustainability goals, and contractual obligations under NEC or similar frameworks.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Proven track record delivering the planning function on complex, high-value capital projects, ideally in healthcare, science, life sciences, or large-scale institutional development.
• Expertise in planning software tools such as Primavera P6, Asta Powerproject, and MS Project.
• Strong foundation in project controls, risk management, EVM, and change control processes.
• Familiarity with NEC3/4 or other modern forms of construction contract.
• Confident working with multidisciplinary teams and engaging with senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication skills and a highly analytical mindset.
• Degree-qualified in construction, engineering, or a related discipline.
• Professional membership (APM, CIOB, ICE, RICS or similar) is advantageous.

If this is the role for you, please apply with your latest CV.