Principal Project Planner

Randstad Cpe London; City of Westminster; On-site; GBP 78,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Randstad CPE London is seeking a Principal Project Planner to lead scheduling for the Transpennine Route Upgrade in Leeds on a 12-month contract with potential extension. You will manage complex schedules across multiple workstreams and report to project stakeholders while guiding a team of planners.

Experience with rail projects and Network Rail processes is essential; familiarity with PACE ES1-ES8 and signalling projects is desirable.

Qualifications

• Strong rail planning and scheduling experience on major construction or engineering projects.
• Experience with train and freight operator projects is required.
• Knowledge of Network Rail processes and PACE lifecycle is essential.

Responsibilities

• Lead and integrate complex project schedules across multiple workstreams.
• Develop delivery strategies and project plans through the Network Rail PACE lifecycle.
• Support planning from development through construction and delivery.
• Review construction staging and delivery strategies.
• Provide schedule assurance and simplify complex programme information for reporting.
• Collaborate with project teams and stakeholders including operators.
• Lead and develop planning teams and junior planners.
• Apply scheduling software and data automation techniques.

Skills

Rail planning

Scheduling

Stakeholder communication

Team leadership

Schedule data automation

Pace ES1-ES8

Proprietary planning tools

Understanding of Network Rail

Integration of multiple schedules

Tools

Proprietary planning tools

Job description

Are you an experienced Project Planner with a strong background in major UK rail infrastructure programmes?

Contract: 12 months with potential to extend

Rate: £424-£531 (Umbrella)

Location: Leeds

This is an opportunity to join the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU), one of the largest railway upgrade programmes in the UK, improving the 76-mile route between York and Manchester via Leeds and Huddersfield.

As Principal Project Planner, you'll take a lead role in planning and scheduling complex rail delivery, integrating multiple schedules and providing clear reporting to project and non-planning stakeholders.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead and integrate complex project and programme schedules across multiple workstreams.
• Develop delivery strategies, output schedules and project plans through the Network Rail PACE lifecycle.
• Support planning from early-stage development through construction and delivery.
• Review construction staging, constructability and delivery strategies.
• Provide schedule assurance and simplify complex programme information for reporting.
• Work closely with project teams, train/freight operators and wider stakeholders.
• Lead and develop planning teams, supporting the development of less experienced planners.
• Apply industry-standard planning and scheduling software, including schedule data automation.

What You'll Bring

• Strong rail planning and scheduling experience on major construction or engineering projects.
• Experience working with train and freight operator projects.
• Understanding of railway design, delivery and access principles, including Railway Access Box Plans.
• Experience across Network Rail PACE ES1-ES8.
• Proven experience integrating multiple schedules and managing project resources.
• Strong stakeholder communication skills, with the ability to explain planning outputs clearly to non-planners.
• Experience with proprietary planning and scheduling tools and schedule assurance processes.
• Membership of a relevant professional body, or an established CPD pathway towards membership.
• Knowledge of the UK rail industry and Network Rail processes.

Desirable

• Experience with Signalling, ETCS or Train Fitment projects, and knowledge of the TRU programme.