Project Planner

MacTaggart Scott; Loanhead; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in the Naval Defence sector is seeking a Project Planner to support the planning of new business opportunities. This role involves developing structured schedules that are crucial for successful bids and project delivery. The successful candidate will collaborate closely with engineering, procurement, and delivery teams to ensure that projects are set up for success from the outset. With a focus on continuous improvement and employee development, this position offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of engineering solutions while enjoying a flexible work-life balance and a supportive work environment.

Benefits

Flexible working hours

4- or 5-day working week

Annual leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Onsite Canteen

Car Park

Learning and Development opportunities

Generous referral programme

Online wellbeing program

Onsite nurse

Qualifications

• Proven experience in project planning within engineering or defence.
• Strong knowledge of planning tools and Microsoft Office, especially Excel.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrated project schedules for bids.
• Work with cross-functional teams to refine project plans and timelines.

Skills

Project Planning

Microsoft Project

Primavera P6

Communication Skills

Attention to Detail

Organizational Skills

Education

Degree in Engineering or related field

Tools

ERP Systems (IFS)

Microsoft Office (Excel)

Job description

About Us

MacTaggart Scott primarily supports the Naval Defence industry, providing complete solutions to customer needs from analysis of initial customer requirements, to design and manufacture, and right through to commissioning and through life support. Established in 1898, we are proud of our history and tradition, but believe that sustainable competitive advantage can only be achieved through continuous improvement, investment, and a commitment to business excellence at every level within the company. At MacTaggart Scott, we are committed to employee development, providing opportunities for career progression and professional growth. Join us in shaping the future of engineering solutions across the UK and beyond.

Overview

The Project Planner supports the front-end planning of new business opportunities by developing structured, integrated schedules that form the foundation for successful bids and project delivery. Focused primarily on pre-contract activity, the role translates early-stage project concepts into realistic and deliverable plans by working closely with engineering, procurement, and delivery teams. This role ensures that bids are underpinned by accurate timelines, resource profiles, and milestone planning—enabling confident decision-making, effective risk identification, and smooth handover into execution. By shaping the planning approach early, the Business Planner helps position projects for success from the outset.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrated project schedules that reflect the scope, delivery strategy, and contract requirements for bid-stage opportunities
• Interpret contract documents, specifications, and customer deliverables to ensure schedule alignment with key milestone dates, payment plans, and technical obligations
• Work with engineering, procurement, operations, and commercial teams to refine the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), establish logic-driven task networks, and accurately estimate durations
• Chair schedule development and review meetings during the bid process, ensuring planning assumptions are challenged, validated, and aligned
• Present schedule status, risks, and delivery strategy at internal Gate reviews, supporting informed decision-making and risk mitigation
• Conduct multi-level planning and bill of materials (BOM) reviews to identify critical path items, long-lead components, and schedule-sensitive dependencies
• Input and maintain project schedules in ERP systems (e.g. IFS), including task structures, milestone dates, responsible owners, invoice triggers, and activity classes
• Identify critical and near-critical paths, float, and schedule risks, recommending mitigation strategies to maintain project and programme viability
• Facilitate planning reviews and planning input sessions with cross-functional stakeholders, promoting alignment, transparency, and buy-in
• Actively contribute to process improvement initiatives within the planning function, including enhancements to tools, reporting, and standard operating procedures
  
  
  

Requirements

Essential

• Proven experience in project planning or scheduling within engineering, manufacturing, or defence environments
• Strong working knowledge of planning tools such as Microsoft Project or Primavera P6
• Experience developing and managing integrated schedules with clear critical path logic and milestone structures
• Ability to interpret contractual documents, technical scope, and Bill of Materials (BOM) to inform planning assumptions
• Familiarity with Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), schedule risk identification, and mitigation planning
• Experience collaborating across departments (e.g. engineering, procurement, production) to gather planning inputs
• High level of proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel (e.g. formulas, lookups, pivot tables)
• Strong communication skills, both written and verbal, with confidence in presenting schedule data to stakeholders
• Proactive, self-motivated, and capable of working with minimal supervision
• Strong attention to detail and excellent organisational skills
  
  

Desirable

• Experience working with or within defence, naval, or regulated project environments
• Knowledge of ERP systems, preferably IFS, including schedule integration and activity management
• Understanding of Material Requirements Planning (MRP) and its role in supporting schedule accuracy
• Familiarity with Rough-Cut Capacity Planning (RCCP) and long-term resource forecasting
• Awareness of Earned Value Management (EVM) principles and performance metrics
• Experience producing and maintaining a Basis of Schedule (BoS)
• Exposure to Lean, Six Sigma, or continuous improvement initiatives
  
  
  

Benefits

Your future at MacTaggart Scott - What we offer

• As part of our Healthy Work-Life Balance employees can choose between a 4- or 5-day working week. Allowing you to fit work around your priorities and personal life, not the other way round
• Flexible working hours between 07:00 and 19:00, and core hours of 09:30 - 15:30
• Our leave policy brings together leave entitlements which include annual leave,paid parental leave, military reservist leave, plus more
• We will provide you with a supportive and engaging environment where you can grow your career, with a dedicated Learning and Development team
• A generous referral programme
• Your wellbeing is supported through our online wellbeing program as well as our Employee Assistance Programme and an onsite nurse
• Onsite Canteen and Car Park