Planning Manager

Balfour Beatty plc; Tees Valley; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary + bonus

25 days’ annual leave + bank holidays

Up to 7% employer pension contribution

Professional fees paid + chartership

40% remote flexibility

Job summary

Balfour Beatty Power T&D is seeking a Planning Manager to oversee strategic planning and scheduling across multiple construction projects, with Middlesbrough as a preferred base. The role focuses on aligning timelines with organizational goals, optimizing resource use, and guiding the planning team to successful project outcomes.

You will lead tender and contract planning efforts, manage critical paths, and mentor junior planners, ensuring best practices and data-driven decision making across

Qualifications

• Analytical and problem solving capabilities.
• Excellent understanding and management of data and processes.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Negotiation and conflict resolution.
• Leadership and mentorship.

Responsibilities

• Identify planning scope, constraints, and contract requirements with key quantities affecting the programme.
• Lead tender planning, ensuring efficient design, procurement and construction strategy.
• Develop and oversee programmes, planning philosophy, presentations and reports for Tender programmes.
• Guide the planning team in producing and maintaining Contract Programme alignment with procedures.
• Display and evaluate critical path, advise on corrective actions and maintain baselines.
• Manage labour, equipment and materials to meet objectives while minimizing costs/delays.
• Oversee contracts with subcontractors and suppliers and resolve related issues.
• Produce project data and KPIs to track progress and support decisions.
• Provide leadership and mentorship to junior planners.

Skills

Analytical and problem solving

Data and process management

Excellent communication

Negotiation and conflict resolution

Leadership and mentorship

Tools

Excel

MS Project

Primavera P6

ASTA

Job description

About the role

Balfour Beatty Power T&D is recruiting for a Planning Manager to oversee strategic planning and scheduling of multiple construction projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.

Aims to optimise project timelines, resource allocation and coordination efforts. Fosters efficiency across the construction portfolio Oversees the strategic planning and scheduling of multiple construction projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Aims to optimize project timelines, resource allocation and coordination efforts. Fosters efficiency across the construction portfolio, implementing best practices and guiding the planning team to achieve successful project outcomes., implementing best practices and guiding the planning team to achieve successful project outcomes.

Ideal location for this role is Middlesbrough

Project portfolio: Substations

What you'll be doing

Working independently or part of the planning team:

• Expert in identifying planning scope, major constraints, and contract requirements alongside identifying major quantities and factors affecting the programme.
• Tender: Lead the collaborative development and agreement on a logical sequence and methodology, overseeing the planning team. Ensure the adoption of the most efficient design, procurement, and construction strategy for the successful delivery of the works.
• Lead planning processes, overseeing the development of key deliverables such as programs, planning philosophy, presentations, and reports. Guide planners in formulating Tender Programmes, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Drive effective planning strategies to achieve project success.
• Contract: Offer strategic guidance throughout the contract stage, overseeing the Senior Planner and planning team in producing, managing, and maintaining the Contract Programme. Ensure meticulous alignment with planning procedures and actively contribute to the project's overall success under the leadership of the Planning/Project Lead.
• Displaying and evaluating the project critical path, advising the project team of the results and any appropriate corrective action alongside producing and maintaining project baselines, and execute the change control process as appropriate.
• Resource Management: Expertise in managing labour, equipment, and materials efficiently to meet project objectives while minimizing costs and delays.
• Contract Management: Manage contracts with subcontractors and suppliers, monitoring performance, and resolving contract-related issues.
• Data Analysis: Aid the planning team to produce project data and key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress, identify deviations, and make data-driven decisions for project improvement.
• Training and Development: Provide leadership and mentorship to less experienced planners and personnel, fostering their professional growth and competence.

Who we're looking for

Skills:

• Analytical and problem solving
• Excellent understanding and management of data and processes
• Excellent communication skills
• Negotiation and Conflict resolution
• Leadership and Mentorship

Knowledge:

• Proficient competence in project management tools and software like Excel, MS Project, Primavera P6 or ASTA.
• Extensive understanding of construction project management principles, methodologies, and best practices.
• Expert in project scheduling and planning, including the ability to develop and manage complex project schedules using industry-standard tools.
• Expert in Risk Management in project programmes: TRA, QSRA, etc.
• Understanding of financial aspects related to project planning, including budgeting, cost estimation, Earned Value Management, and analysis to support effective decision-making.

Experience:

• Significant experience in successfully planning and managing a variety of construction projects, including large-scale and complex.
• Substantial experience in leading and managing planning resources for construction projects, highlighting a track record of successful project delivery.
• Previous experience in managing relationships with clients, subcontractors, and other stakeholders, demonstrating excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Why work for us

Join a team at the forefront of shaping the UK’s energy infrastructure. At Balfour Beatty Power T&D, you'll work on industry-leading projects that support the transition to a greener, more resilient power network, with the opportunity to grow your career in a high-performing and supportive environment.

What we offer:

• Competitive salary + bonus opportunities
• 25 days’ annual leave + bank holidays
• Up to 7% employer pension contribution
• Professional fees paid + chartership pathways
• Smart working with up to 40% remote flexibility
• Smart working with up to 40% remote flexibility
• Life assurance, EAP, and family-friendly policies
• Volunteering opportunities to make a real impact

Access to industry-leading training and qualifications

About us

Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution (T&D) teams work with regional, national and international electricity network owners and operators to deliver technical engineering solutions across the full spectrum of the electricity grid including overhead lines, cabling, substations and distribution networks.

From scoping and feasibility through to design, construction and ongoing maintenance, our in-house expertise, flexible resources and industry-leading innovations support customers in delivering some of the UK’s most ambitious power transmission and distribution projects.

Diversity and Inclusion

At Balfour Beatty, we believe diversity and inclusion are essential to building a successful and fulfilling workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing a diverse workforce and fostering an inclusive culture where everyone can thrive, regardless of their identity or background. Learn more at:www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To support our commitment to an inclusive culture, we are proud members of WISE, enei, the Business Disability Forum, and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter, demonstrating our commitment to sustainable, long-term actions on Black inclusion. We are also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Schemeand actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to removing barriers for people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. We guarantee an interview to applicants with a disability who meet the minimum requirements for the role. More information: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We continually strive to improve our recruitment process to ensure it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have feedback on the process, please contact us at:[e-mail]