Project Planner - Civil Engineering

M O'Brien Group; St Albans; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Long-term opportunity

Professional environment

Job summary

M O’Brien’s Civil Engineering division is recruiting an experienced Planner to drive planning, programming and strategic support across a diverse portfolio of civil infrastructure projects in the region.

The successful candidate will bring proven planning expertise, strong commercial awareness, and the ability to provide clear strategic insight to optimise project performance and delivery, from tender through to completion.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Planner within civil engineering, infrastructure, or a related construction environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of planning, programming, sequencing, progress measurement, and programme analysis.
• Experience with industry-standard planning tools including P6 Primavera and Asta PowerProject.

Responsibilities

• Implement and manage detailed, fully integrated project programmes across multiple civil schemes.
• Provide strategic planning and programming support through tender, pre-construction and delivery phases.
• Coordinate with project teams, clients, designers, and stakeholders to ensure realistic and aligned programmes.
• Monitor performance against programmes and identify delays, constraints, and risks early.
• Develop mitigation and recovery strategies to maintain milestones and targets.
• Coordinate planning with design, procurement, construction and commissioning activities.
• Provide accurate programme reporting for senior management and clients, including critical path analysis and milestones.
• Support risk and opportunity management across the project lifecycle.
• Contribute to tender submissions with robust programmes and planning information.
• Drive continuous improvement in planning standards, processes, and reporting.
• Provide leadership and mentoring within the planning function.

Skills

Planning expertise

Scheduling

Stakeholder management

Progress measurement

Critical path

Education

Civil/Construction/Project management qualification

Tools

P6 Primavera

Asta PowerProject

Job description

About the Role

M O’Brien’s Civil Engineering team is looking for an experienced and driven Planner to play a key role in the successful delivery of a diverse portfolio of civil engineering and infrastructure projects across the region.

This role is responsible for providing high-quality planning, programming, and strategic support throughout the project lifecycle. Working closely with project teams, clients, designers, and key stakeholders, you will ensure robust and effective planning processes are established from tender and pre-construction through to project completion.

The successful candidate will bring strong technical planning expertise, commercial awareness, and the ability to provide clear strategic insight to support project performance and delivery.

Key Responsibilities

As a Planner, you will:

• Implement and manage detailed, fully integrated project programmes across multiple civil engineering schemes.
• Provide strategic planning and programming support throughout the tender, pre-construction, and delivery phases of projects.
• Work closely with project managers, site teams, design teams, commercial teams, and supply chain partners to ensure programmes are realistic, achievable, and aligned with project objectives.
• Monitor and analyse project performance against agreed programmes, identifying potential delays, constraints, and emerging risks at an early stage.
• Develop and implement effective mitigation and recovery strategies to maintain key milestones and overall programme targets.
• Ensure planning, design, procurement, construction, and commissioning activities are effectively coordinated and integrated.
• Provide clear and accurate programme reporting, including progress updates, critical path analysis, key milestones, risk exposure, and recovery actions, for senior management and clients.
• Support the identification and management of programme-related risks and opportunities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Contribute to tender submissions by developing robust programmes, sequencing methodologies, resource strategies, and supporting planning information.
• Drive continuous improvement across planning standards, processes, systems, and reporting within the regional Civils team.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and mentoring to other members of the planning function, promoting a consistent and high standard of planning across projects.
• Challenge existing ways of working and identify opportunities to improve project predictability, efficiency, and delivery performance.

About You

We are looking for an experienced planning professional with a strong background in civil engineering or infrastructure and the confidence to operate at both project and strategic levels.

You will ideally have:

• Proven experience as a Planner within civil engineering, infrastructure, or a related construction environment.
• Strong technical knowledge of project planning, programming, sequencing, progress measurement, and programme analysis.
• Extensive experience using industry-standard planning and project controls software. Preferably P6 Primavera & Asta Power Project.
• A strong understanding of construction methodologies, project interfaces, critical path management, and programme risk.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, with a proactive and solutions-focused approach.
• The ability to identify potential issues early and develop practical, effective mitigation and recovery strategies.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to engage effectively with project teams, clients, senior management, and external stakeholders.
• The ability to manage competing priorities and work effectively across multiple projects within a fast-paced environment.
• Strong organisational skills and a high level of attention to detail.
• A relevant qualification in civil engineering, construction, project management, or a related discipline is preferred.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary (DOE)
• Stable, long-term opportunity within a growing business
• Supportive and professional working environment
• Opportunity to make a direct impact on operational performance