Lead Planning Manager

Cobalt Recruitment; Lancashire; Hybrid; GBP 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Cobalt Recruitment is assisting a major healthcare capital programme in Manchester to recruit a Lead Planning Manager. You will own planning strategy, master programmes and schedule leadership for a multi-phase hospital redevelopment.

The role requires senior stakeholder management with NHS, contractors and consultants, strong NEC contract knowledge, and delivery-focused leadership in a live healthcare environment. Hybrid/site-based working with significant programme activity from 2028.

Qualifications

• Extensive experience in planning major infrastructure projects.
• Proven track record delivering GBP100m+ projects.
• Knowledge of NEC contracts and public sector governance.
• Experience with NHS or healthcare estates is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning for a major sector of the hospital redevelopment.
• Develop and maintain integrated master programmes across design to delivery.
• Establish planning strategies, controls and governance.
• Create complex phasing and sequencing for live healthcare environments.
• Provide senior planning leadership to contractors, consultants and NHS.
• Monitor progress, risks and milestones; propose mitigations.
• Produce programme reporting for governance boards.

Skills

Planning

Stakeholder management

NEC contracts

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Tools

Primavera P6

Asta Powerproject

BIM

Job description

Job Title - Lead Planning Manager - Major Healthcare Capital Programme

Location: Crumpsall, Manchester (Hybrid / Site-Based Requirements)

Project: GBP1-1.5bn NHS New Hospital Programme

Salary - Up to GBP125k plus bonus and an excellent package

The Opportunity

We are currently working with a leading organisation delivering one of the UK's most significant healthcare infrastructure programmes: The redevelopment of North Manchester General Hospital.

This is a unique opportunity for an experienced planning professional to take a senior role within a nationally important capital programme that will transform healthcare delivery across Greater Manchester.

The redevelopment forms part of the Government's New Hospital Programme, representing a major investment of GBP1-1.5bn into modern, sustainable and resilient healthcare infrastructure. This once-in-a-generation transformation will deliver a new hospital campus designed to improve patient care, enhance operational efficiency and provide a modern healthcare environment for future generations.

The programme is being delivered in partnership with Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, the largest NHS Trust in Greater Manchester, alongside leading construction partners, consultants and specialist supply chain organisations.

Significant progress has already been achieved, including enabling works and the successful completion of the GBP106m all-electric North View mental health inpatient facility. The wider hospital redevelopment is now moving towards the next critical stages, with major construction activity planned from 2028 onwards.

This represents a pivotal opportunity for an experienced planner to join at a key stage and help shape the delivery strategy, programme controls and long-term success of this landmark healthcare project.

The Role

As Lead Planning Manager, you will take ownership of planning strategy, programme development and schedule leadership for a defined sector of this complex, multi-phase hospital redevelopment.

You will play a central role in ensuring that programme controls, construction sequencing, logistics planning and delivery strategies are fully integrated with design development, procurement requirements, stakeholder expectations and the challenges of working within a live healthcare environment.

This is a senior leadership position requiring a combination of technical planning expertise, strategic thinking and strong stakeholder management skills. You will work closely with senior leadership teams, NHS representatives, contractors, consultants and wider project stakeholders to drive programme certainty and successful delivery.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to influence delivery methodology, improve planning processes and contribute to the successful completion of one of the UK's most significant healthcare infrastructure investments.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning function for a major sector of the North Manchester General Hospital redevelopment programme
• Develop, manage and maintain integrated master programmes covering design, procurement, construction and delivery phases
• Establish and implement effective planning strategies, controls and governance processes across the programme
• Develop complex phasing and sequencing strategies to support delivery within a live operational healthcare environment
• Work collaboratively with clinical, estates and operational stakeholders to ensure construction activity aligns with healthcare requirements
• Provide senior planning leadership across multidisciplinary teams including contractors, consultants, designers and NHS representatives
• Monitor programme performance, progress, critical path activities, risks and key milestones
• Identify potential delays and constraints, implementing effective mitigation and recovery strategies where required
• Produce high-quality programme reporting and insight for senior governance boards and programme leadership teams
• Support risk management, change control and commercial processes through accurate programme intelligence and analysis
• Ensure compliance with New Hospital Programme standards, reporting requirements and governance frameworks
• Support the implementation of digital planning approaches including 4D planning and BIM integration where applicable

About You

We are seeking an experienced planning professional with a strong background in delivering complex construction programmes. You will have the ability to operate at a senior level, influence key stakeholders and provide strategic planning leadership within a challenging project environment.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Significant experience working within construction planning on major infrastructure, healthcare or similarly complex programmes
• Proven experience managing and delivering large-scale, multi-phase projects (GBP100m+ preferred)
• Strong understanding of NEC contract environments and public sector project governance
• Experience working within live operational environments such as healthcare, transport, defence or other highly constrained sectors
• Strong technical knowledge of planning methodologies and programme management principles
• Experience using planning software such as Primavera P6, Asta Powerproject or equivalent
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to influence senior teams
• Ability to analyse complex programme information and translate it into clear, actionable recommendations
• Experience working with NHS clients, healthcare estates or major public sector organisations would be highly advantageous

This is an exceptional opportunity for an ambitious Senior Planner or Planning Manager looking to take ownership of a career-defining programme and make a lasting impact on one of the UK's most important infrastructure projects.