Planning Manager - 50+ Project M&A Programme (Flexible)

Sword Group; Aberdeen City; On-site; GBP 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working

Competitive salary

Pension scheme

Job summary

Sword Group is seeking an experienced Planning Manager to oversee a major M&A programme comprising 50+ projects. You will develop and maintain an integrated plan, align milestones and dependencies, and provide clear visibility of the programme's critical path.

Working with Project Managers and stakeholders, you will consolidate plans, monitor progress, and produce governance reports. The role requires advanced MS Project skills and experience in complex multi-project environments.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Planning Manager, Programme Planner, or Senior Project Planner.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain an integrated programme schedule across 50+ projects.
• Work with Project Managers to capture key milestones, stage gates, and deliverables.
• Consolidate individual project plans into an overall programme plan.
• Identify and manage project dependencies and critical path activities.
• Monitor progress and highlight schedule risks and potential impacts.
• Produce planning reports and updates for programme leadership.
• Support programme governance and forecasting activities.
• Proven experience as a Planning Manager, Programme Planner, or Senior Project Planner.
• Strong experience managing schedules within complex, multi-project environments.
• Advanced Microsoft Project skills.
• Strong understanding of project dependencies, critical path analysis, and programme planning.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement skills with the ability to challenge and influence Project Managers constructively.
• Understanding of project management methodologies (e.g., PRINCE2, Agile).
• Experience in project controls or PMO environments preferred.

Skills

Planning & scheduling

Stakeholder engagement

Critical path analysis

Project governance

Communication

Tools

Microsoft Project

Job description

Sword Group is seeking an experienced Planning Manager to oversee a major M&A programme comprising 50+ projects. You will develop and maintain an integrated plan, align milestones and dependencies, and provide clear visibility of the programme's critical path.

Working with Project Managers and stakeholders, you will consolidate plans, monitor progress, and produce governance reports. The role requires advanced MS Project skills and experience in complex multi-project environments.