Associate Director - Planning

AtkinsRéalis; Manchester; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Hybrid working

Flexible holidays

Training & development

Job summary

AtkinsRéalis in the United Kingdom seeks a regional planning leader to drive delivery of complex projects across transport, energy, and other sectors. You will recruit and mentor planners, develop baselines, and lead multidisciplinary planning while ensuring NEC contract compliance and robust reporting (including EVM).

This role champions flexible and hybrid working, supports a healthy work-life balance with adaptable leave, and offers a collaborative culture where voices are valued and talents

Qualifications

• Degree in Project Management, Engineering or Construction Management.
• Proven leadership in planning across transport, energy or similar sectors.
• Strong people management and mentorship experience.
• Deep knowledge of NEC contracts and practical application.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing skills.
• Proficiency with Primavera P6 and MS Project.

Responsibilities

• Lead a regional planning team of planners and managers.
• Develop, maintain baselines aligned with metrics and contracts.
• Lead planning across complex, multidisciplinary projects.
• Facilitate workshops and performance reviews.
• Ensure NEC contract compliance and robust reporting (including EVM).
• Integrate schedule, cost, and risk with senior stakeholders.
• Conduct critical path and scenario planning, delay analysis.

Skills

Leadership

Planning

NEC contracts

Primavera P6

MS Project

EVM

Stakeholder management

Critical path analysis

Education

Degree in Project Management or Engineering

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Job description

Job Description

Overview

Step into a pivotal role within our Complex Projects team where you help shape iconic infrastructure and energy projects. From cutting-edge transport systems to sustainable urban regeneration, your leadership will drive delivery. 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 recognized, 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

• Lead a regional planning team, recruiting planners, senior planners and planning managers and growing the regional planning team.
• Develop, maintain, and manage robust baselines aligned with contractual and performance metrics.
• Lead planning across complex, multidisciplinary projects.
• Facilitate workshops and performance reviews.
• Ensure compliance with NEC contracts.
• Deliver advanced reporting including EVM.
• Integrate schedule, cost, and risk.
• Conduct critical path and scenario planning.
• Apply delay analysis 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, defense, 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.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your 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. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Be rewarded. Find out more.

About AtkinsRéalis

We’re AtkinsRéalis, a world-class engineering services and nuclear organization. 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’re committed to leading our clients across our various end markets to engineer a better future for our planet and its people.

Find out more.

Additional information

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. _