Planning Leader

Uslaing O'rourke; Dartford; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke is seeking a Planning Leader to shape and deliver best-in-class planning across our projects and programmes. This senior role focuses on setting direction, standardising planning processes, and embedding robust project controls on high-value programmes.

You will work with senior stakeholders to influence strategy, optimise delivery methods, and develop planning teams to ensure capability and succession. Strong strategic thinking and deep technical planning expertise are essential.

Qualifications

• Senior-level experience leading planning and controls for complex programmes.
• Proven ability to influence senior stakeholders with data and insight.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking with delivery-focused mindset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage integrated programmes across all project stages, including digital and 4D modelling alignment.
• Establish and maintain robust project controls, reporting, forecasting, and performance analysis.
• Define milestones, production outputs, and resource requirements to optimise delivery.
• Lead, develop, and support planning teams, ensuring capability and succession planning.

Skills

Planning leadership

Strategic thinking

Stakeholder engagement

Project controls

Data-driven decision making

Job description

You will need to login before you can apply for a job.Contract Type: Permanent. Hours: Full Time.Laing O'Rourke is looking for a Planning Leader to play a key role in shaping and delivering best-in-class planning across our projects and programmes.This is a senior leadership position, focused on setting direction, driving consistency in planning standards, and ensuring robust project controls are embedded across complex, high-value programmes. You will work closely with senior stakeholders to influence strategy, optimise delivery methodologies, and ensure planning capability supports both internal teams and client organisations.If you bring strong strategic thinking, leadership capability, and deep technical expertise in planning and project controls, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact at scale.What will the role look like?Develop and manage integrated programmes across all project stages, including digital and 4D modelling alignmentEstablish and maintain robust project
controls, reporting, forecasting, and performance analysisDefine key milestones, production outputs, and resource requirements to optimise deliveryLead, develop, and support planning teams, ensuring capability, performance, and succession planningWhat skills & experience are we looking for?Proven experience leading planning and controls functions across complex projects or business unitsStrong expertise in project/programme controls, contract planning, and strategic planning methodologiesAbility to influence senior stakeholders using data, insight, and commercial awarenessExperience implementing systems, driving improvement, and embedding best practice across teamsAbout you:Clear and confident communicator, able to engage effectively at all levelsStrategic and analytical thinker, able to challenge and improve delivery approachesStrong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise in complex environmentsMotivating leader who develops teams and drives high performance#LI-YA1About