Project Planner

TN United Kingdom; Loanhead; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Project Planner to support the front-end planning of new business opportunities. This role is crucial in developing structured, integrated schedules that ensure successful project delivery. By collaborating with engineering, procurement, and delivery teams, you will translate early-stage project concepts into realistic plans, enabling confident decision-making and effective risk management. Join a company that values employee development and offers flexible working arrangements, allowing you to balance work with personal priorities while contributing to innovative engineering solutions across the UK and beyond.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

4- or 5-day working week

Generous leave policy

Learning and Development support

Referral programme

Employee Assistance Programme

Onsite nurse

Qualifications

• Proven experience in project planning or scheduling within engineering or defence.
• Strong knowledge of planning tools like Microsoft Project or Primavera P6.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrated project schedules for bid-stage opportunities.
• Interpret contract documents to ensure schedule alignment with milestones.

Skills

Project Planning

Scheduling

Microsoft Project

Primavera P6

Communication Skills

Organizational Skills

Attention to Detail

ERP Systems Knowledge

Lean Six Sigma

Education

Experience in Engineering or Manufacturing

Knowledge of Defence Environments

Tools

Microsoft Office

IFS ERP

Job description

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MacTaggart Scott primarily supports the Naval Defence industry, providing complete solutions to customer needs from analysis of initial customer requirements, to design and manufacture, and right through to commissioning and through life support. Established in 1898, we are proud of our history and tradition, but believe that sustainable competitive advantage can only be achieved through continuous improvement, investment, and a commitment to business excellence at every level within the company. At MacTaggart Scott, we are committed to employee development, providing opportunities for career progression and professional growth. Join us in shaping the future of engineering solutions across the UK and beyond.

Overview

The Project Planner supports the front-end planning of new business opportunities by developing structured, integrated schedules that form the foundation for successful bids and project delivery. Focused primarily on pre-contract activity, the role translates early-stage project concepts into realistic and deliverable plans by working closely with engineering, procurement, and delivery teams. This role ensures that bids are underpinned by accurate timelines, resource profiles, and milestone planning—enabling confident decision-making, effective risk identification, and smooth handover into execution. By shaping the planning approach early, the Business Planner helps position projects for success from the outset.

Responsibilities

1. Develop and maintain integrated project schedules that reflect the scope, delivery strategy, and contract requirements for bid-stage opportunities.
2. Interpret contract documents, specifications, and customer deliverables to ensure schedule alignment with key milestone dates, payment plans, and technical obligations.
3. Work with engineering, procurement, operations, and commercial teams to refine the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), establish logic-driven task networks, and accurately estimate durations.
4. Chair schedule development and review meetings during the bid process, ensuring planning assumptions are challenged, validated, and aligned.
5. Present schedule status, risks, and delivery strategy at internal Gate reviews, supporting informed decision-making and risk mitigation.
6. Conduct multi-level planning and bill of materials (BOM) reviews to identify critical path items, long-lead components, and schedule-sensitive dependencies.
7. Input and maintain project schedules in ERP systems (e.g. IFS), including task structures, milestone dates, responsible owners, invoice triggers, and activity classes.
8. Identify critical and near-critical paths, float, and schedule risks, recommending mitigation strategies to maintain project and programme viability.
9. Facilitate planning reviews and planning input sessions with cross-functional stakeholders, promoting alignment, transparency, and buy-in.
10. Actively contribute to process improvement initiatives within the planning function, including enhancements to tools, reporting, and standard operating procedures.

Requirements

1. Proven experience in project planning or scheduling within engineering, manufacturing, or defence environments
2. Strong working knowledge of planning tools such as Microsoft Project or Primavera P6
3. Experience developing and managing integrated schedules with clear critical path logic and milestone structures
4. Ability to interpret contractual documents, technical scope, and Bill of Materials (BOM) to inform planning assumptions
5. Familiarity with Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), schedule risk identification, and mitigation planning
6. Experience collaborating across departments (e.g. engineering, procurement, production) to gather planning inputs
7. High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel (e.g. formulas, lookups, pivot tables)
8. Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with confidence in presenting schedule data to stakeholders
9. Proactive, self-motivated, and capable of working with minimal supervision
10. Strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills
11. Experience working with or within defence, naval, or regulated project environments
12. Knowledge of ERP systems, preferably IFS, including schedule integration and activity management
13. Understanding of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and its role in supporting schedule accuracy
14. Familiarity with Rough-Cut Capacity Planning (RCCP) and long-term resource forecasting
15. Aware of Earned Value Management (EVM) principles and performance metrics
16. Experience producing and maintaining a Basis of Schedule (BoS)
17. Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement initiatives

Your future at MacTaggart Scott – What we offer

1. As part of our Healthy Work-Life Balance employees can choose between a 4- or 5-day working week. Allowing you to fit work around your priorities and personal life, not the other way round.
2. Flexible working hours between 07:00 and 19:00, and core hours of 09:30 – 15:30.
3. Our leave policy brings together leave entitlements which include annual leave, paid parental leave, military reservist leave, plus more.
4. We will provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career, with a dedicated Learning and Development team.
5. A generous referral programme.
6. Your wellbeing is supported through our online wellbeing program as well as our Employee Assistance Programme and an onsite nurse.