Planning Manager

Aldwych Consulting Ltd; West of England; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Aldwych Consulting Ltd is seeking a Planning Manager with a civil engineering background to lead programme development for rail projects and CP framework delivery. You will ensure construction sequencing, logistics, and NEC-based change management are reflected in the programme and progress reporting is accurate.

Close collaboration with engineering, delivery and commercial teams is essential to drive clarity.

Qualifications

• Civil engineering degree or equivalent with a strong technical foundation in construction methodology.
• Proven Planner/Planning Manager experience in civil engineering on multi-disciplinary projects.
• Rail project experience, CP frameworks, possession planning and access constraints.
• Proficiency in Primavera P6 with logic-linked programmes and critical path analysis.
• Strong working knowledge of NEC contracts and change control.
• Experience developing tender programmes and aligning with commercial strategy.
• Able to interrogate design information and ensure buildability reflected in programme.
• Understanding of site constraints, interfaces, labour and materials affecting sequencing.

Responsibilities

• Lead programme development from tender through delivery, ensuring sequencing and logistics are reflected.
• Maintain accurate progress reporting and support NEC-based change management.
• Drive clarity across civils and rail projects through strong communication with teams and clients.
• Interrogate design information, challenge assumptions, and ensure buildability in the programme.
• Produce structured progress reports and narratives to support commercial decision-making.

Skills

NEC contracts

Programme planning

Change management

Progress reporting

Communication

Delay analysis

Forensic planning

Coordination

Education

Civil engineering degree

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

An opportunity for a Planning Manager with a civil engineering background and experience supporting rail projects or CP‑framework delivery. This role suits someone who can build clear, logic‑driven programmes, operate confidently in NEC environments, and manage planning across complex, multi‑disciplinary works.

The Role

You’ll lead programme development from tender through delivery, ensuring construction sequencing, methodology and logistics are fully reflected. Working closely with engineering, delivery and commercial teams, you’ll maintain accurate progress reporting, support change management under NEC, and drive clarity across civils and rail projects.

Required Experience

• Civil engineering degree or equivalent, with a strong technical foundation in construction methodology, sequencing and engineering principles
• Proven background as a Planner or Planning Manager within civil engineering, ideally on multi‑disciplinary projects with interfaces across structures, earthworks, utilities and rail systems
• Rail project experience, preferably within CP frameworks, including exposure to possession planning, access constraints, operational railway requirements and multi‑disciplinary coordination
• High‑level proficiency in Primavera P6, including building fully logic‑linked programmes, resource loading, critical path analysis, baselining, progress updates and scenario modelling
• Strong working knowledge of NEC contracts, particularly programme obligations, early warnings, compensation events, change control and the contractual significance of programme acceptance
• Experience developing tender programmes, including methodology input, construction sequencing, logistics planning and alignment with commercial strategy
• Demonstrable ability to interrogate design information, challenge assumptions, and ensure buildability and methodology are accurately reflected in the programme
• Clear understanding of construction delivery, including how site constraints, access, plant, labour, materials and interfaces influence sequencing and programme risk
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to work closely with project managers, engineers, commercial teams and clients to maintain programme clarity and alignment
• Experience producing structured progress reports, forecasts and programme narratives that support decision‑making and commercial reporting
• Experience in change management under NEC, including assessing programme impact, supporting compensation event submissions and maintaining robust audit trails
• Delay analysis capability, including identification of causes, quantification of impacts and preparation of clear, evidence‑based assessments
• Forensic planning experience, including retrospective analysis, review of contemporaneous records and preparation of structured reports for commercial or contractual purposes

Aldwych Consulting values diversity and promotes equality. No terminology in this advert is intended to discriminate against any of the protected characteristics that fall under the Equality Act 2010. We encourage and welcome applications from all sections of society and are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments and/or additional arrangements as required to support your application.

Candidates must be eligible to live and work in the UK.

For the purposes of the Conduct Regulations 2003, when advertising permanent vacancies we are acting as an Employment Agency, and when advertising temporary/contract vacancies we are acting as an Employment Business.