Planner

OCU Group; Scotland; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

OCU Group is seeking a Planner to develop and maintain project programmes across major infrastructure initiatives in Scotland. You will work with project managers, engineers and operations to keep programmes on track, manage risks, and meet milestones.

You will use Primavera P6 or MS Project, analyse data, and support continuous improvement in planning processes. This role is office-based in Scotland with permanent, full-time employment.

Qualifications

• Must have planning experience in construction, infra, or utilities projects.
• Degree in a relevant discipline required; professional certifications are a plus.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills with ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain detailed project programmes from inception to completion.
• Collaborate with project teams to understand requirements, constraints and delivery objectives.
• Produce and update project schedules using planning software and tools.
• Conduct programme analysis to identify critical activities, risks and delivery challenges.
• Monitor progress against baselines and suggest corrective actions.
• Prepare progress reports, dashboards and planning updates for teams and stakeholders.
• Coordinate planning activities with internal teams, subcontractors, suppliers and external stakeholders.
• Support resource planning and utilisation across project delivery activities.
• Assist with risk assessments, contingency planning and programme recovery.
• Promote best practice planning and drive continuous improvement across teams.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Stakeholder management

Communication

Organisational skills

Problem solving

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Project Management or related

PRINCE2 / PMP certification (advantage)

Tools

Primavera P6

Microsoft Project

Job description

Planner

Department: Regulated Power

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Scotland

Reporting To: Stephen Donnelly

Description

Location: Scotland | Contract Type: Permanent | Working Pattern: Full-Time | Office Based

Pay / Benefits: Remuneration for this role is benchmarked competitively within our sector.

The Opportunity

OCU is delivering major infrastructure and utility projects that play a critical role in supporting the UK's energy transition and future network requirements. As a Planner, you'll be responsible for developing, maintaining, and monitoring project programmes that help drive successful delivery across the project lifecycle.

This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing project controls function where you'll work closely with Project Managers, Engineers, Designers, and operational teams to ensure projects remain on track, risks are proactively managed, and key milestones are achieved. If you enjoy problem-solving, analysing project data, and influencing successful project outcomes, we'd like to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Develop and maintain detailed project programmes from project inception through to completion.
• Collaborate with project teams to understand project requirements, constraints, and delivery objectives.
• Produce and update project schedules using planning software and project control tools.
• Conduct programme analysis to identify critical activities, risks, and potential delivery challenges.
• Monitor project progress against baseline programmes and recommend corrective actions where required.
• Prepare progress reports, dashboards, and planning updates for project teams and stakeholders.
• Coordinate planning activities with internal teams, subcontractors, suppliers, and external stakeholders.
• Support resource planning and utilisation to maximise efficiency across project delivery activities.
• Assist with risk assessments, programme recovery plans, and contingency planning.
• Promote best practice planning processes and support continuous improvement across project delivery teams.

What You'll Bring

• Previous experience as a Planner within construction, infrastructure, engineering, utilities, or a similar project-led environment.
• Proficiency in Primavera P6, Microsoft Project, or similar planning software.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to interpret project data and programme performance.
• Good understanding of project planning methodologies, scheduling techniques, and project controls.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel.
• Ability to work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams.

• Degree qualified in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Project Management, or a related discipline.
• Bonus if you have experience working within utilities, power, energy, or infrastructure projects.
• It would be great if you have knowledge of NEC contracts and project change management processes.
• It would be great if you've supported multidiscipline project teams delivering complex construction programmes.
• Project management qualifications such as PRINCE2, PMP, or equivalent would be advantageous.

What We Offer

At OCU, we believe that meaningful work should come with meaningful support. That's the principle behind Careers with Purpose, our commitment to ensuring every person at OCU feels supported, developed, and valued, not just in their role today, but throughout their career with us.

Alongside the opportunity to work on some of the UK's most significant infrastructure projects, we offer a benefits package that we are continuing to develop as we grow, and the kind of career acceleration that only comes from being inside a business moving at this pace. As a rapidly growing organisation, there are genuine opportunities to progress, broaden your experience, and build a long-term career within OCU Group.

For a confidential conversation about this opportunity, please contact Jonathan Bryden at [e-mail].

Our vacancies are typically advertised for two weeks; however, we reserve the right to close applications early should we receive a sufficient number of suitable candidates. We therefore encourage early applications.