Planner (DV Cleared)

Sanderson Government & Defence; Aldermaston; On-site; GBP 104,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanderson Government & Defence in the United Kingdom is seeking a Senior Project Planner to support a major programme at Aldermaston. You will develop and maintain detailed schedules using Primavera P6, manage baselines and change control, and provide trusted reporting to senior stakeholders.

You will mentor colleagues to elevate planning capability across the team, working onsite in a security-sensitive, regulated environment with MOD DV clearance requirements.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in programme or project planning.
• Strong practical experience using Primavera P6 and other planning software.
• Knowledge of recognised planning methodologies and scheduling best practice.
• Understanding of the wider project controls disciplines.
• Experience developing and maintaining detailed schedules, baselines and forecasts.
• Ability to undertake schedule change, what-if scenario and impact analysis.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and presentation skills.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands and deliver to challenging timescales.
• Proactive mentoring of others and promotion of planning practices.

Responsibilities

• Develop detailed project schedules using Primavera P6.
• Define the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and ensure alignment with planning standards.
• Maintain schedule integrity and alignment with the programme timeline.
• Coordinate forecast updates with internal teams, external stakeholders and suppliers.
• Manage schedule changes through change-control processes.
• Produce and present planning reports for stakeholders.

Skills

Project planning

Primavera P6

Stakeholder engagement

Scheduling best practices

Change management

Communication skills

Mentoring others

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

Senior Project Planner - Primavera P6

Location: Aldermaston, Berkshire
Contract: 12 months, with a strong possibility of extension
Rate: £91.32 per hour
Working Pattern: Full-time onsite, with a 9-day fortnight or alternative compressed working arrangement potentially negotiable
Security Clearance: Active MOD Developed Vetting (DV) clearance required - confirmation pending

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Senior Project Planner to support a major programme within a highly regulated, security-sensitive environment in Aldermaston.

This role will focus on developing, maintaining and managing detailed project schedules using Primavera P6, ensuring accurate forecasting, effective baseline management and robust change control. You will work closely with internal project teams, external stakeholders and suppliers to maintain schedule integrity and provide clear, reliable reporting to senior stakeholders.

The successful candidate will also play an important role in developing the wider planning community, sharing best practice and mentoring colleagues to ensure strong, sustainable planning capability.

Key Responsibilities

Schedule Development and Planning

• Develop and establish detailed project schedules using Primavera P6.
• Define the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and ensure schedules align with organisational planning standards.
• Maintain schedule integrity and alignment with the overall programme timeline.
• Apply recognised planning methodologies and best practice throughout the project lifecycle.

Forecasting and Schedule Updates

• Coordinate forecast updates by collecting and validating information from internal teams, external stakeholders and suppliers.
• Ensure schedule updates are accurate, consistent and compliant with P6 planning standards.
• Monitor progress against agreed plans and identify potential delays, dependencies and delivery risks.

Baseline and Change Management

• Develop and maintain baseline schedules in collaboration with project teams.
• Ensure baselines accurately reflect agreed project requirements and delivery commitments.
• Manage schedule changes through established change-control processes.
• Develop what-if scenarios and undertake impact analysis to inform decisions before changes are approved and incorporated into the schedule.

Resource Planning and Project Controls

• Resource-load schedules using the Enterprise WBS Dictionary.
• Support resource levelling across the programme.
• Assess the impact of resource changes and proposed schedule adjustments.
• Apply an understanding of wider project controls disciplines to support effective programme planning and delivery.

Reporting and Stakeholder Engagement

• Produce and present clear, accurate planning reports for key stakeholders.
• Provide schedule data and progress updates for team meetings and monthly Programme Review Boards.
• Communicate schedule performance, risks, dependencies and potential impacts effectively.
• Ensure stakeholders have the information needed to make informed programme decisions.

Mentoring and Knowledge Transfer

• Share planning expertise and promote the benefits of effective project scheduling.
• Support and mentor colleagues within the wider planning community.
• Encourage consistent planning standards and knowledge sharing.
• Help develop enduring planning capability within the permanent team ahead of contract completion.

Essential Experience and Skills

• Proven experience in programme or project planning.
• Strong practical experience using Primavera P6 and other relevant planning software.
• Knowledge of recognised planning methodologies and scheduling best practice.
• Understanding of the wider project controls disciplines.
• Experience developing and maintaining detailed schedules, baselines and forecasts.
• Ability to undertake schedule change, what-if scenario and impact analysis.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and presentation skills.
• Ability to prioritise competing demands and deliver to challenging timescales.
• A proactive approach to mentoring others and promoting effective planning practices.

Desirable Experience

• Experience within the nuclear and/or defence sectors.
• Experience working in a nuclear-regulated environment.
• Experience supporting complex programmes with multiple stakeholders, suppliers and resource dependencies.

Working Arrangements and Contract Details

• Location: Aldermaston, Berkshire.
• Attendance: Full-time onsite, as access to the site network is required.
• Working pattern: A 9-day fortnight is envisaged, although alternative compressed arrangements, such as a four-day week, may be negotiable.
• Duration: Initial 12-month contract, likely to extend.
• Security: Active MOD DV clearance required, subject to confirmation.
• Expenses: In accordance with the applicable expenses policy and subject to prior Line Manager approval.

Reasonable Adjustments

Respect and equality are core values to us. We are proud of the diverse and inclusive community we have built, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and perspectives. Our success is driven by our people, united by the spirit of partnership to deliver the best resourcing solutions for our clients.

If you need any help or adjustments during the recruitment process for any reason, please let us know when you apply or talk to the recruiters directly so we can support you.