Principal Project Planner

Carrington West; Greater London; On-site; GBP 98,000 - 122,000; Full time

Job summary

Carrington West is seeking an experienced Principal Project Planner to lead the planning and scheduling of complex rail infrastructure programmes in the UK. You will integrate multiple schedules, develop delivery strategies, and report clearly to project teams and stakeholders.

The role focuses on major construction or engineering projects, with strong emphasis on Network Rail PACE ES1-ES8, train/freight operator coordination, and the use of proprietary planning tools.

Qualifications

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.

Skills

Rail planning

Scheduling

Stakeholder communication

PACE ES1-ES8

Schedule assurance

Team leadership

Schedule data automation

Professional body membership

Tools

Proprietary planning software

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