Programme Planner - Bradford, UK

Trades Workforce Solutions; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading project management provider in the UK is looking for a Programme Planner to lead the planning and scheduling of district heat network projects. This role focuses on ensuring project efficiency and budget compliance while supporting decarbonisation efforts. The ideal candidate will have experience in project management and a strong understanding of district heating systems. The position offers a hybrid work model with competitive compensation and benefits including a performance bonus.

Benefits

Up to 20% performance bonus

Up to 7% matched Pension

Private medical insurance

Travel insurance

Qualifications

• Experience in Project Management considered essential.
• Strong understanding of district heating systems and low-carbon technologies required.
• Proven experience in programme or project planning within infrastructure or energy sectors.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate planning and scheduling of district heat network projects.
• Ensure projects progress efficiently, remain within budget, and support decarbonisation targets.
• Track KPIs and prepare monthly project board reports.

Skills

Project Management

Stakeholder Engagement

Planning Software Proficiency

Critical Path Analysis

Education

Project Management certification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM)

Tools

MS Project

Excel

Job description

Programme Planner

Salary: Dependent on experience + Up to 20% performance bonus

Benefits: Up to 7% matched Pension, private medical insurance, and travel insurance

Hours/days per week: 37.5 hours/5 days

Place of work: Hybrid (4 days in Bradford)

Reports to: Delivery Director

About the client

To achieve Britain’s climate goals, there is an urgent need for a national shift from fossil fuel heating to low‑carbon alternatives—and heat networks offer a proven, scalable option.

Our client is one of the UK’s leading developers of low‑carbon heat networks, committed to decarbonising heat in towns and cities and helping accelerate the transition to net zero.

Their heat networks offer the lowest-cost, simplest, and fastest route to reducing carbon emissions from heating at scale, while also creating a long‑term foundation for healthier, greener urban areas.

Our client has grown from a start‑up to managing more than £600 million worth of heat‑network projects, with plans to invest £1 billion over the next eight years to build new networks across the UK.

The team includes some of the most experienced professionals in the sector—having delivered and operated more than 100 district heating projects.

About the job

The role focuses on leading and coordinating the planning and scheduling of district heat network projects during the delivery phase, encompassing construction, commissioning, and operational handover. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that projects progress efficiently, remain within budget, and support our client’s strategic decarbonisation targets. Key duties include overseeing and monitoring project activities throughout construction, accurately tracking and reporting on delivery performance, preparing and presenting construction programmes and updates to senior management, forecasting timelines and resource requirements for the delivery phase, and developing enhanced methodologies to optimise project control and predictability. We are looking for an individual who is proactive, meticulous, and dedicated to advancing the delivery of low‑carbon heat networks, furthering the mission to decarbonise heat in cities and towns across the UK.

What you’ll do

• Programme Development & Management: Develop and maintain detailed project schedules using MS Project and MS Planner; integrate multidisciplinary inputs (delivery, finance, sales) into a master programme, monitor progress, identify risks, and implement recovery actions.
• Stakeholder Coordination: Liaise with internal teams and external partners (contractors, consultants, local authorities); facilitate programme meetings and ensure timely information flow across stakeholders.
• Performance & Reporting: Track KPIs and programme milestones, prepare monthly project board reports, lead on data integrity and quality assurance for programme reporting.
• Governance & Compliance: Ensure compliance with heat network regulations; support business planning and controlled document development for heat network delivery.

What you’ll need

• Experience in Project Management.
• Project Management certification (e.g., PRINCE2, APM) is desirable.
• Proven experience in programme or project planning within infrastructure or energy sectors.
• Strong understanding of district heating systems, energy centres, and low‑carbon technologies.
• Demonstrated high level of proficiency in planning software (such as MS Project) and advanced expertise with reporting tools, particularly Excel.
• Critical path analysis, and project controls knowledge.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Ability to interpret legal and commercial documentation.
• All applicants must be eligible to legally work in the UK.