Project Planner

Rolls-Royce SMR; Warrington; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A cutting-edge engineering company is seeking a Project Planner to develop and maintain schedules that support complex engineering projects. This role requires strong skills in Primavera P6 and experience in project controls. You will collaborate with various teams, perform Earned Value Management, and mentor junior planners. The position offers a competitive salary package, hybrid working, and opportunities for growth in a dynamic environment.

Benefits

£2,200 benefits allowance

12.5% bonus opportunity

28 days holiday + bank holidays

Flexible & part-time working options

Qualifications

• Experience in project controls / PMO environment on complex programmes.
• Deep knowledge of Primavera P6 and its functionalities.
• Understanding of stakeholder collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain work package schedules.
• Support Earned Value Management processes.
• Provide mentoring to junior planners.

Skills

Primavera P6

EVM principles

Change management

Collaboration with multidisciplinary teams

Education

Primavera P6 Practitioner

APM PMQ (or working towards)

APM PPC Practitioner (or equivalent)

Job description

Directorate:

Project Management Office

Location:

Derby, Manchester, Warrington with Hybrid Working

Reports to:

Lead Planner

Why this role matters

We need you to join us as a Project Planner and play a key role in creating and maintaining the schedules that keep our programmes moving. You’ll be our specialist in planning and scheduling—building robust work package schedules that reflect 100% of the scope and directly support confident, informed decision‑making across complex engineering and nuclear‑adjacent environments. Your work will have real impact: enabling On‑Time Delivery, supporting programme governance, and contributing to a system that underpins the safe and timely delivery of one of the UK’s most complex engineering programmes.

What You’ll Be Doing

• Develop, baseline and maintain work package schedules in line with SMR planning processes and guidance.
• Apply deep knowledge of Primavera P6, including WBS architecture, coding, resource structures and user‑defined fields.
• Capture and analyse schedule performance, comparing progress vs baseline to support effective decision making.
• Work within an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) environment, collaborating with engineering, supply chain, operations, procurement and programme management teams.
• Support Earned Value Management (EVM) processes, focusing on the theory and application rather than specific toolsets.
• Manage change control and baseline updates, ensuring accurate reflection of approved programme shifts.
• Provide mentoring and coaching to junior or apprentice planners as needed, supporting their development as our planning capability grows.

What You’ll Bring

There’s no such thing as a perfect candidate. If you meet ~75% of what we’re looking for, we’d love to hear from you.

Core Technical Skills

• Strong Primavera P6 practitioner‑level capability (front‑end scheduling + architecture).
• Working within an IMS / MIP structure, including horizontal & vertical logic.
• Knowledge of EVM principles and value management concepts.
• Change management and baseline control.

Programme Experience

• Experience supporting complex programmes—from engineering to construction to large‑scale technical delivery. Nuclear background is useful but not essential; complexity is more important.

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Skilled at working with multidisciplinary teams including engineering, programme management, operations, supply chain and procurement.

Nice to have

• Understanding of NEC‑style contractual requirements for schedules (advantageous, not essential).

Qualifications & Training

• Primavera P6 Practitioner – mandatory.
• APM PMQ (or working towards) – mandatory/flexible.
• APM PPC Practitioner (or equivalent) – desirable/willing to work towards.
• Experience within a project controls / PMO environment on complex programmes.

Who you’ll work with

You’ll be part of a high‑performing planning team, collaborating daily with:

• Lead Planners
• Programme managers
• Engineers
• Supply chain and procurement teams
• Operations & manufacturing functions

About You

• Thinks in systems and structure
• Enjoys solving complex problems
• Communicates clearly and confidently with varied stakeholders
• Likes working in a collaborative, growing planning community
• Is excited by engineering and programme complexity—regardless of the sector you come from

What We Offer

• £48,000 – £63,000 salary
• £2,200 benefits allowance
• 12.5% bonus opportunity
• 6x pensionable life assurance
• 50% income protection
• 28 days holiday + bank holidays
• £250 new joiner payment
• Flexible & part‑time working options available

Ready to apply

If you’re excited by complex engineering challenges and want to help shape the future of our planning capability, we’d love to hear from you.

Why Join Us

You’ll be joining a forward‑thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:

• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Our Application Process

Due to the safety regulations within the nuclear industry, applicants will be required to participate in additional screening. These are:

• Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
• Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check