Planner

VSL International Ltd.; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

VSL International is seeking an experienced Planner to join VSL UK, supporting multiple civil engineering and infrastructure projects across the UK. You will develop and monitor construction programmes, coordinating client and subcontractor schedules to ensure on-time delivery.

The role requires five years of planning experience, NEC contract knowledge, and proficiency with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years' experience as a Planner or Planning Engineer.
• Strong civil engineering or infrastructure background.
• Experience managing multiple project programmes, including client and subcontractor schedules.
• Good working knowledge of NEC contracts and contractual programme requirements.
• Experience in progress monitoring, critical path analysis, forecasting and recovery planning.
• Proficiency in Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project.
• Experience on major infrastructure, highways, tunnelling or ground engineering projects would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and update construction programmes across multiple projects.
• Prepare baseline programmes, lookahead schedules and recovery plans.
• Coordinate activities, sequencing, dependencies and milestones with project teams.
• Ensure programmes reflect construction methodologies, resources and contractual requirements.
• Lead subcontract procurement for project packages, including strategy, tendering, evaluation, and award recommendations.
• Prepare subcontract documentation, manage tender analysis, and support negotiation of commercial terms.
• Participate in subcontractor interviews and support package award decisions in line with project requirements.
• Coordinate client and subcontractor programmes, ensuring alignment with overall project schedules.
• Review subcontractor programmes, challenge assumptions and identify potential delays or conflicts.
• Agree programme interfaces, milestones and reporting requirements with stakeholders.
• Monitor progress against planned activities, identifying delays, risks and critical path impacts.
• Prepare programme updates, progress reports and forecasts.
• Undertake critical path analysis and develop mitigation measures to address programme slippage.
• Maintain accurate programme records and reporting information.
• Ensure programmes comply with relevant NEC contractual requirements.
• Assess programme impacts arising from compensation events, design changes and project developments.
• Support delay analysis, extensions of time and programme-related claims.
• Work closely with commercial teams to support effective change management.
• Work closely with clients, subcontractors, engineers, commercial teams and site management.
• Communicate programme risks, progress and delivery constraints effectively.
• Support planning meetings, progress reviews and programme coordination workshops.

Skills

Planning & scheduling

NEC contracts knowledge

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

Organisational skills

Communication

Problem solving

Multi-project coordination

Education

Civil engineering background

Tools

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

Job description

As part of Bouygues Construction's Public Works division, VSL International participates in the construction of major technical structures and guarantees their structural safety and durability: transport infrastructure (bridges, tunnels), industrial and energy production structures, and commercial buildings. VSL's Business Is Based On Four Areas Of Expertise

• Structural systems and technologies
• Civil engineering
• Foundations and soil engineering
• Preservation, structural repairs, renovation and optimization of structures.

VSL has 4,000 employees at 25 locations worldwide (Asia and Oceania, Middle East, Europe, Latin America, Canada). Project VSL UK, part of Bouygues Construction, delivers specialist engineering solutions across major civil engineering and infrastructure projects throughout the UK. Based at our Head Office, this role will support the wider business, working across multiple projects and teams to support effective planning, programme coordination and project delivery. Role Overview We are seeking an experienced Planner to join VSL UK, supporting the wider business across multiple civil engineering and infrastructure projects. This is a planning role focused on the development, coordination and monitoring of construction programmes across multiple projects and work packages. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing project programmes, coordinating client and subcontractor schedules, monitoring progress and identifying programme risks to support effective project delivery. Working closely with engineering, commercial and construction teams, the role will ensure programmes remain robust, achievable and aligned with contractual and operational requirements. Main Responsibilities Planning and Programme Development

• Develop, maintain and update construction programmes across multiple projects.
• Prepare baseline programmes, lookahead schedules and recovery plans.
• Coordinate activities, sequencing, dependencies and milestones with project teams.
• Ensure programmes reflect construction methodologies, resources and contractual requirements.

Procurement and Tendering

• Lead subcontract procurement for project packages, including strategy, tendering, evaluation, and award recommendations.
• Prepare subcontract documentation, manage tender analysis, and support negotiation of commercial terms.
• Participate in subcontractor interviews and support package award decisions in line with project requirements.

Client and Subcontractor Programme Management

• Coordinate client and subcontractor programmes, ensuring alignment with overall project schedules.
• Review subcontractor programmes, challenge assumptions and identify potential delays or conflicts.
• Agree programme interfaces, milestones and reporting requirements with stakeholders.

Progress Monitoring and Reporting

• Monitor progress against planned activities, identifying delays, risks and critical path impacts.
• Prepare programme updates, progress reports and forecasts.
• Undertake critical path analysis and develop mitigation measures to address programme slippage.
• Maintain accurate programme records and reporting information.

Contracts and Change Management

• Ensure programmes comply with relevant NEC contractual requirements.
• Assess programme impacts arising from compensation events, design changes and project developments.
• Support delay analysis, extensions of time and programme-related claims.
• Work closely with commercial teams to support effective change management.

Stakeholder Management

• Work closely with clients, subcontractors, engineers, commercial teams and site management.
• Communicate programme risks, progress and delivery constraints effectively.
• Support planning meetings, progress reviews and programme coordination workshops.

Candidate Profile Education & Experience

• Minimum of five years' experience as a Planner or Planning Engineer.
• Strong civil engineering or infrastructure background.
• Experience managing multiple project programmes, including client and subcontractor schedules.
• Good working knowledge of NEC contracts and contractual programme requirements.
• Experience in progress monitoring, critical path analysis, forecasting and recovery planning.
• Proficiency in Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project.
• Experience on major infrastructure, highways, tunnelling or ground engineering projects would be advantageous.

Personal Attributes

• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Confident managing multiple priorities and stakeholder expectations.
• Proactive in identifying programme risks and proposing solutions.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Commercially aware, detail-oriented and collaborative.

VSL/Bouygues Construction is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse working environment where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender identity, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. A copy of our Equal Opportunities Policy is available upon request.