Associate Director - Planning and Controls

ZipRecruiter; London; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative consultancy is seeking an Associate Director to lead their planning and project controls function. This role offers the opportunity to shape delivery strategies and mentor a high-performing team. You'll collaborate closely with senior stakeholders, ensuring major programmes are delivered on time and within budget. With a focus on continuous improvement, you'll drive better reporting workflows and risk analysis. If you're ready to step into a senior leadership role where you can genuinely influence project outcomes, this position is a strong opportunity.

Qualifications

• Strong leadership experience in planning or project controls.
• Proven ability to manage stakeholders at a senior level.

Responsibilities

• Developing smart, scalable planning strategies.
• Leading and mentoring a high-performing team of planners.

Skills

Leadership in Planning

Stakeholder Management

Planning Tools (P6, Asta Powerproject)

Data-Driven Reporting (Power BI)

Strategic Mindset

Tools

Power BI

P6

Asta Powerproject

Job description

Job Description

Associate Director – Planning & Project Controls

We're supporting a growing consultancy that’s redefining how complex infrastructure and energy projects are delivered - combining technical rigour with a refreshingly pragmatic approach. They're now seeking an Associate Director to play a key leadership role within their planning and project controls function.

You’ll be involved in shaping delivery strategy, leading a high-performing team, and working closely with senior stakeholders to ensure decisions are based on robust, data-driven insight. You’ll be central to ensuring major programmes are delivered on time, on budget, and with confidence.

The Role

You’ll be:

• Developing smart, scalable planning strategies
• Leading and mentoring a high-performing team of planners and project controls professionals
• Acting as the linchpin between technical delivery and senior stakeholders (you’ll need to be just as comfortable with Power BI dashboards as you are in boardroom conversations)
• Driving continuous improvement - whether that’s better reporting workflows, stronger risk analysis, or more integrated systems

What They’re Looking For

You’ll need:

• Strong leadership experience in planning or project controls, ideally in infrastructure or complex build environments
• Proven ability to manage stakeholders and influence outcomes at a senior level
• Deep understanding of planning tools (P6, Asta Powerproject) and experience working with data-driven reporting solutions like Power BI
• A strategic mindset - but you’re not afraid to get into the weeds when needed

The business is built on genuine collaboration, clear communication, and delivery that speaks for itself.

You’ll have real autonomy, influence over how things are done, and the opportunity to shape major programmes from the inside.

If you're already leading teams or ready to step into a senior leadership role where you can genuinely influence project outcomes, this is a strong opportunity to do so.