Planner - Cumbria

Balfour Beatty plc; Penrith; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading construction firm in the UK is seeking an experienced Planner to join their team on a major infrastructure project. The role involves creating and maintaining robust construction programmes, analyzing project risks, and coordinating with stakeholders. Ideal candidates will have strong analytical skills, proficiency in Primavera P6, and experience in planning within the construction sector. This position offers up to 40% remote working and a comprehensive benefits package.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

25 days paid annual leave

Family-friendly policies

Qualifications

• Proven track record in planning roles on major infrastructure or construction projects.
• Experience in stakeholder engagement and supporting teams with planning data.
• Construction background is preferred but not mandatory.

Responsibilities

• Create, update, and maintain construction programmes using Primavera P6.
• Identify and analyse project critical paths and advise on risks.
• Support the analysis of progress and performance metrics.

Skills

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Time management

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Excel

Job description

About The Role

At Balfour Beatty, we deliver projects that transform lives and communities across the UK. We are currently seeking an experienced and driven Planner to join our dynamic Planning team on the A66 Northern Trans-Pennine project, a major national infrastructure programme that will significantly improve transport links across northern England.

This role offers a unique opportunity to be involved from the early stages through to main construction delivery, making a tangible impact on a once-in-a-generation project.

What you'll be doing

Working independently or as part of a wider planning team, your duties will include:

Programme Development & Management

• Create, update, and maintain robust and realistic construction programmes using Primavera P6, ensuring alignment with project milestones and contractual requirements.
• Ensure planning deliverables are compliant with internal planning procedures and best practice guidelines.
• Develop project planning documentation, including planning philosophies, presentations, and progress reports.

Project Controls

• Identify and analyse project critical paths and advise the delivery team of potential risks and required actions.
• Assist with producing and maintaining baselines, managing change control processes, and ensuring project teams are kept informed of changes and impacts.

Performance Tracking & Reporting

• Support the analysis of progress and performance, including the preparation of key performance indicators (KPIs) and other project metrics.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to ensure timely and accurate project reporting, and provide insights to aid decision-making.

Resource & Contract Management

• Assist in resource planning including labour, plant, and material forecasting.
• Support the management of subcontractor programmes and their integration into the main project schedule.
• Help resolve contract-related planning issues and support claims or variations with evidence-based documentation.

Who we're looking for

Essential Skills

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a proactive mindset.
• Excellent communication, coordination, and negotiation skills.
• Well-organised, with effective time management and the ability to prioritise in a fast-paced environment.

Technical Knowledge

• Proficient in Primavera P6, MS Project, and Excel.
• Good understanding of construction methodologies, phasing, and delivery processes.
• Solid grasp of project scheduling techniques and project lifecycle management.
• Familiarity with various forms of contract documentation, including NEC and similar frameworks.

Experience

• Proven track record in planning roles on major infrastructure or construction projects.
• Experience of stakeholder engagement and supporting teams with planning data.
• Construction background is preferred, but experience from other relevant sectors with transferable skills will be considered.

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

Benefits

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata).
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave.
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more…

About Us

Balfour Beatty’s Highways business delivers major schemes including motorway upgrade programmes, complex national infrastructure projects and regional investment programme works for National Highways. We have a strong orderbook and a positive pipeline of opportunities, we put the road user, at the heart of everything we do. We work safely, reduce carbon emissions and added social value to the communities within which we work.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence Employer Recognition Scheme and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: [e-mail]