Lead Planner - Regional Civils

Balfour Beatty plc; Exeter; Hybrid; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote up to 40%

25 days annual leave (pro‑rata)

Pension

Share incentive plan

Job summary

Balfour Beatty plc in Exeter is seeking an experienced Lead Planner to shape delivery of civil engineering projects in the region. You will lead the development of detailed programmes, monitor progress, and drive risk mitigation across multiple schemes.

You will collaborate with delivery teams and clients to ensure robust planning from pre-construction through to delivery, while mentoring junior planners and advancing planning standards within the regional team.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in Planning Manager or Senior Planner within civil/infra.
• Strong proficiency in Primavera P6 or equivalent planning tools.
• Excellent analytical skills and proactive risk management approach.
• Strong communication and stakeholder-management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and management of detailed project programmes across multiple civil schemes.
• Provide strategic planning support during tender and pre-construction stages.
• Monitor progress, identify risks and implement mitigation to meet targets.
• Collaborate with delivery teams to align planning, design and construction activities.
• Analyse programme performance and produce regular reports for senior management and clients.
• Drive improvements in planning standards, processes and tools across the regional civils team.
• Mentor and support junior planners to foster a high-performing function.

Skills

Planning management

Primavera P6

Stakeholder management

Analytical thinking

Leadership

Education

Engineering/Construction degree

Tools

MS Office

Project controls software

Job description

About the Role

Shape the future of infrastructure with one of the UK’s leading construction and engineering organisations. Balfour Beatty’s Regional Civils team is seeking an experienced and driven Lead Planner to support the successful delivery of a diverse portfolio of civil engineering projects across the region. This is a key leadership role where you will drive project performance through effective planning, programming, and strategic insight. You will collaborate with project teams, clients and stakeholders to ensure robust planning processes are in place from pre‑construction through to delivery.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and management of detailed project programmes across multiple civil engineering schemes.
• Provide strategic planning support during tender and pre‑construction stages.
• Monitor project progress, identify risks and implement mitigation strategies to meet programme targets.
• Work closely with delivery teams to ensure planning, design and construction activities are aligned.
• Analyse programme performance and produce regular reports for senior management and clients.
• Drive improvement in planning standards, processes and tools across the regional civils team.
• Mentor and support junior planners, fostering a high‑performing planning function.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Planning Manager or Senior Planner within civil engineering or infrastructure.
• Strong expertise in project planning software (e.g., Primavera P6 or equivalent).
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving skills with a proactive risk‑management approach.
• Strong communication and stakeholder‑management abilities.
• Ability to work across multiple projects in a fast‑paced environment.
• Relevant qualification in engineering, construction or project management (preferred).

Benefits

• Smart working with up to 40% remote work where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro‑rata).
• Family‑friendly policies: 28 weeks paid maternity/parental leave, four weeks paid paternity/partner leave.
• Self‑funded pension, share incentive plan, voluntary leave, recognition schemes and other benefits.

About Balfour Beatty

With a strong track record of delivery, our civils teams connect communities through infrastructure projects across England and Wales.

Diversity and Inclusion

We are committed to improving our workforce and ensuring an inclusive environment. Mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mand mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mandatory mand