Part-Time Microsoft Project Planner (Railway Engineering – M&E & Telecoms

Gee’s; Cardiff; Hybrid; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading engineering firm in Cardiff seeks a part-time Project Planner to provide scheduling support for rail engineering projects. Role involves developing schedules, coordinating with teams, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. Ideal candidates will have experience in railway engineering and strong skills in Microsoft Project. This role offers a competitive day rate and the opportunity to work on high-profile projects.

Benefits

Competitive day rate

Flexible working hours

Opportunity for career development

Qualifications

• Experience in project planning/scheduling for railway engineering, M&E, or telecoms.
• Knowledge of rail industry standards, particularly Network Rail GRIP/PACE stages.
• Understanding of NEC contract requirements.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain project schedules in Microsoft Project for rail M&E.
• Integrate schedules with procurement, design, and installation activities.
• Identify schedule risks and recommend mitigation strategies.

Skills

Project planning/scheduling

Microsoft Project expertise

Communication skills

Competency in Microsoft Office Suite

Education

Relevant professional qualifications (APM, PMI)

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

Overview

Location: Cardiff (South Wales) – hybrid working available

Employment Type: Part-time (permanent or contract)

Role Purpose

The Project Planner will provide planning and scheduling support to rail engineering projects, with a focus on mechanical & electrical (M&E) and telecommunications workstreams. Using Microsoft Project, you will develop and manage project schedules, coordinate with engineering teams, and support compliance with Network Rail and industry standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, update, and maintain project schedules in Microsoft Project for rail M&E and telecoms works.
• Capture project scope, work breakdown structures (WBS), dependencies, and critical path activities.
• Integrate schedules with procurement, design, installation, testing, and commissioning activities.
• Work with project engineers, construction managers, and subcontractors to ensure accurate progress reporting.
• Identify schedule risks, slippage, and resource constraints, recommending mitigation strategies.
• Support the preparation of project progress reports, dashboards, and schedule submissions for clients.
• Coordinate with commercial teams to support cost forecasting, change management, earned value management (EVM) and programme performance tracking.
• Attend project and planning meetings, providing schedule advice to stakeholders.
• Support project close-out, lessons learned, and continuous improvement activities.

Skills & Experience

Essential:

• Proven experience in project planning/scheduling for railway engineering, M&E, or telecoms projects.
• Strong expertise with Microsoft Project (MSP).
• Knowledge of rail industry standards and processes, particularly Network Rail GRIP/PACE stages.
• Ability to manage multiple workstreams and align project schedules with possession/line access constraints.
• Understanding of NEC contract requirements and their impact on planning and reporting.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to liaise with engineers, contractors, and client representatives.
• Competency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams).

Desirable:

• Familiarity with Primavera P6 or other industry-standard planning tools.
• Knowledge of health & safety regulations within railway environments (e.g., CDM, Safe System of Work).
• Relevant professional qualifications (APM, PMI, or planning-specific certifications).
• PTS (Personal Track Safety) certification.

Working Pattern & Benefits

Part-time hours (e.g., 2–3 days per week, or flexible hours to align with project milestones).

Hybrid working: Cardiff office, occasional site presence, and remote working.

Competitive day rate (contract) or pro-rata salary + benefits (permanent).

Opportunity to work on high-profile UK rail projects, contributing to the modernisation of M&E and telecoms infrastructure.

How to Apply

If you’re an experienced Project Planner with Microsoft Project expertise in railway engineering (M&E/Telecoms) and are seeking part-time opportunities within commuting distance of Cardiff, we’d love to hear from you.

Send your CV and a short cover letter to [e-mail]