Lead Planner

NUKEM Ltd.; West Burton; Hybrid; GBP 52,500 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

NUVIA UK is seeking a Lead Planner to drive integrated planning for a large fusion energy programme with an value around £20M. The role spans design, procurement, manufacturing, construction and commissioning, delivering on time and within budget.

The Lead Planner will oversee multi-tier schedules, resource loading, and governance, reporting to the Programme Planning and Delivery Manager. Strong leadership and risk management are essential.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of project planning and scheduling principles.
• Ability to develop and maintain logically linked and resource-informed schedules.
• Proficiency in critical path analysis, forecasting, and earned value concepts.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organisational skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication abilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities within complex project environments.
• Understanding of programme controls, governance, and risk management processes.
• Degree in Engineering, Physics, Project Management, Construction Management, or equivalent experience.
• Expert level proficiency in programme management and scheduling tools such as Primavera P6 and MS Project.
• Proven experience working in a senior or leadership position.
• Experience in Earned Value Management.
• Proven experience in SRA (Monte Carlo) schedule analysis. Experience in NEC form of contract.
• Professional certifications (APM, PMI-SP, PSP, PMP).

Responsibilities

• Support the development of sequenced design, manufacturing, construction, assembly, and commissioning plans.
• Support the development of multi-tier (L2-L4 schedule) capturing all Tokamak subsystems, engineering, manufacturing, construction, and programme phases deliverables.
• Identify critical paths, key dependencies, and resource requirement.
• Promote best practices in Programme and project planning, and reporting.
• Perform schedule simulations, "what-if" analyses, and scenario planning to support executive decision-making.
• Facilitate the development of WBS and work packages to support IPT and Programme deliverables.
• Coordinate baseline schedule updates, recovery plans, and forecasting.
• Monitoring progress using earned value management (EVM) and variance analysis.
• Analyse deviations from baseline and recommend corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain detailed resource-loaded schedules.
• Perform baselining, re-baselining, configuration control, and maintain full schedule audit history.
• Conduct continuous critical path analysis and identify near-critical paths across engineering, manufacturing, and construction programmes.
• Evaluate schedule impacts to change requests in programme deliverables.
• Lead and coordinate the alignment between Programme objectives, project plans, resource allocation, and deliverables.
• Work closely with project managers and delivery teams to define scope, milestones, activities, dependencies, and resource requirements.

Skills

Project planning

Critical path analysis

Earned value management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Problem solving

Leadership

Governance & risk management

Education

Engineering/Physics/PM/Construction Management degree or equivalent

APM, PMI-SP, PSP, PMP certifications

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Monte Carlo analysis

Job description

ENGINEERING/DESIGN STUDIES/METHODS - Other

Job title

Lead Planner

Contract type

Permanent

Telework?

Hybrid (telework possible)

Description of the assignment

Job Title:Lead Planner

Location: West Burton (Hybrid)

Salary Banding: £52,500-£75,000 (Dependant on experience)

We are actively recruiting on either a contract or permanent basis.

Description of job:

The Lead Planner will lead and be accountable for the planning and scheduling development for a large, technically complex fusion energy programme involving advanced engineering, multidisciplinary design, specialist procurement, manufacturing, high-accuracy construction, and commissioning phases with a value of circa £20M. The role ensures integrated planning across scientific, engineering, manufacturing, construction, and regulatory workstreams; provides decision-quality schedule intelligence to senior leadership; and drives schedule governance needed to deliver a first-of-a-kind fusion facility, safely, on time, and within budget. The ideal candidate combines deep technical knowledge of engineering, manufacturing, and construction programmes planning with advanced programme and project schedule management expertise. The Lead Planner will report to the Programme Planning and Delivery Manager.

Responsibilities:

• Support the development of sequenced design, manufacturing, construction, assembly, and commissioning plans.
• Support the development of multi-tier (L2-L4 schedule) capturing all Tokamak subsystems, engineering, manufacturing, construction, and programme phases deliverables.
• Identify critical paths, key dependencies, and resource requirement.
• Promote best practices in Programme and project planning, and reporting.
• Perform schedule simulations, "what-if" analyses, and scenario planning to support executive decision-making.
• Facilitate the development of WBS and work packages to support IPT and Programme deliverables.
• Coordinate baseline schedule updates, recovery plans, and forecasting.
• Monitoring progress using earned value management (EVM) and variance analysis.
• Analyse deviations from baseline and recommend corrective actions.
• Develop and maintain detailed resource-loaded schedules.
• Perform baselining, re-baselining, configuration control, and maintain full schedule audit history.
• Conduct continuous critical path analysis and identify near-critical paths across engineering, manufacturing, and construction programmes.
• Evaluate schedule impacts to change requests in programme deliverables.
• Lead and coordinate the alignment between Programme objectives, project plans, resource allocation, and deliverables.
• Work closely with project managers and delivery teams to define scope, milestones, activities, dependencies, and resource requirements.

Profile

Qualifications, experience and skills:

• Strong knowledge of project planning and scheduling principles.
• Ability to develop and maintain logically linked and resource-informed schedules.
• Proficiency in critical path analysis, forecasting, and earned value concepts.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and organisational skills.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication abilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities within complex project environments.
• Understanding of programme controls, governance, and risk management processes.
• Degree in Engineering, Physics, Project Management, Construction Management, or equivalent experience.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Expert level proficiency in programme management and scheduling tools such as Primavera P6 and MS Project.
• Proven experience working in a senior or leadership position.
• Experience in Earned Value Management.
• Proven experience in SRA (Monte Carlo) schedule analysis. Experience in NEC form of contract.
• Professional certifications (APM, PMI-SP, PSP, PMP).

Why us?

There has never been a more exciting time to join NUVIA UK. As a result of significant growth and major contract awards, including the STEP fusion programme and major frameworks supporting the UK's defence and nuclear infrastructure, we are expanding our capability and delivering some of the UK's most innovative and strategically important programmes. Operating across the nuclear, defence and energy sectors, our work supports critical national infrastructure, strengthens energy security and contributes to the UK's long-term resilience.

From helping to deliver the UK's ambitious fusion energy programme to supporting major defenceand nuclear infrastructure projects, our teams work at the forefront of complex, safety-critical. challenges. Our diverse portfolio offers the opportunity to develop specialist expertise, work alongside industry-leading professionals and build a rewarding career while contributing to projects of national significance.

Join NUVIA and be part of a growing organisation where you can make a lasting impact on society,industry and future generations, while benefiting from meaningful career development.

Job location

Job location

Europe, United Kingdom, England

YES=Do not include address NO=Include the address

No

Address

west burton power station

General information

Affiliated entity

NUVIA is a branch of VINCI, the world's largest integrated concessions and construction group. NUVIA is more specifically the nuclear entity of the VINCI Group and is involved in the entire life cycle of nuclear facilities, from new build to decommissioning, maintenance and operation.

NUVIA is constantly growing, with more than 2700 employees worldwide. On average, 100 men and women join us every year. Now, more than ever, we are looking for new talent to support the group's growth.