Associate Director Planning (Project Controls) - Energy & Natural Resources

Turnertownsend; Warrington; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Turnertownsend is seeking an experienced Associate Director Planning (Project Controls) to lead the planning and scheduling discipline across a portfolio of major programmes and projects. This senior leadership role drives planning excellence, establishes robust controls practices, and ensures delivery outcomes for clients.

As a senior leader you will develop schedules, manage risks, and collaborate with clients and programme teams, while developing people, growing client relationships and

Qualifications

• Significant leadership experience in Planning and Project Controls on major capital projects.
• Experience across full project lifecycle from development to close-out.
• Advanced Primavera P6 expertise and schedule governance knowledge.
• BPSS security clearance eligibility or ability to obtain BPSS clearance.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Planning and Project Controls across major programmes and projects.
• Lead and develop Planning and Project Controls teams with coaching and mentoring.
• Establish governance frameworks for planning, scheduling and project controls.
• Oversee integrated project schedules with critical path analysis and resource planning.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure integrated controls and informed decision-making.
• Support business development activities including bids, proposals and framework opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients and senior stakeholders.

Skills

Planning leadership

Stakeholder management

Team development

Governance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Associate Director Planning (Project Controls) to lead the planning and scheduling discipline across a portfolio of major programmes and projects. This senior leadership role is responsible for driving planning excellence, establishing robust project controls practices, and ensuring successful delivery outcomes for clients.

As an Associate Director, you will provide strategic leadership across planning and project controls functions, working closely with clients, programme leadership teams, and senior stakeholders to develop integrated schedules, manage risks, optimise performance and support informed decision‑making. You will also play a key role in developing people, growing client relationships, and contributing to business development activities.

Day to day duties:

• Provide strategic leadership for Planning and Project Controls services across a portfolio of major programmes and projects, ensuring alignment with client objectives and organisational goals.
• Lead, develop and manage high-performing Planning and Project Controls teams, providing line management, coaching, mentoring and career development support to build capability and succession within the business.
• Establish and maintain robust planning, scheduling and project controls governance frameworks, ensuring consistency, quality assurance and compliance with industry best practices.
• Oversee the development, review and assurance of integrated project schedules, ensuring accurate critical path analysis, resource planning, forecasting and performance measurement throughout the project lifecycle.
• Act as a trusted advisor to clients, programme leadership teams and senior stakeholders, providing informed recommendations and strategic direction on planning, scheduling and project performance.
• Lead project controls activities including schedule management, progress monitoring, change control, risk management, earned value management and performance reporting.
• Drive proactive identification and management of programme and project risks, opportunities and constraints, ensuring appropriate mitigation and recovery strategies are implemented.
• Manage resource planning and utilisation across multiple commissions, balancing workload requirements while supporting business growth and project delivery objectives.
• Provide clear and insightful reporting to clients and senior leadership, communicating project performance, schedule health, emerging risks and recommended interventions.
• Collaborate with Project Management, Cost Management, Commercial Management, Risk Management and Engineering teams to ensure fully integrated project controls and effective decision‑making.
• Support business development activities including bids, proposals, client presentations and framework opportunities, helping to grow the Planning and Project Controls service offering.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key clients and stakeholders, acting as the senior point of contact for planning and project controls matters.
• Champion innovation, digital tools and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance planning capability, project controls maturity and delivery performance.
• Contribute to the development of departmental strategy, operational objectives and service delivery standards, ensuring the Planning function remains aligned with wider business priorities.
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative and high-performance culture that promotes professional excellence, knowledge sharing and continuous learning across the Planning and Project Controls community.

You will have significant Project Controls and Planning leadership experience , gained across major capital projects and programmes within sectors such as Nuclear, Energy, Infrastructure, Transportation, Defence, Utilities, or Construction.

You will be recognised as a subject matter expert in planning and scheduling, with extensive experience across the full project lifecycle, from project development and pre-contract phases through to delivery, commissioning, and close-out.

You will be a strong communicator and leader, capable of influencing senior stakeholders, developing high-performing teams, and driving a culture of excellence, accountability, and inclusivity.

You also:

• Be eligible to obtain BPSS level security clearance.
• Hold a bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Have substantial experience leading Planning and Project Controls teams on major projects and programmes.
• Demonstrate advanced expertise in Primavera P6, with experience in schedule governance, critical path analysis, resource loading, progress measurement, and performance reporting.
• Have experience implementing and assuring Project Controls frameworks, methodologies, and reporting standards.
• Possess strong knowledge of project lifecycle management, programme controls, schedule risk analysis, and integrated proj