Senior Optimisation Manager - Akordi

Laing O'Rourke; Sale; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 105,000; Full time

Job summary

Laing O'Rourke seeks a Planning Manager / Senior Planning Manager to drive AI-based construction planning across major infrastructure projects. The role blends hands-on planning with leadership, enabling programme delivery and scenario development for complex sites in the UK.

Based in London/Manchester/Ipswich/Dartford, the candidate will use Primavera P6 and advanced analytics to optimise schedules, lead workshops, and influence senior stakeholders while collaborating with a global team of

Qualifications

• Hands-on planning and scheduling capability, including Primavera P6.
• Programme delivery, schedule analysis, recovery planning, and scenario development.
• Practical construction and site-delivery knowledge on major infrastructure or civil projects.
• Ability to lead workshops, challenge teams constructively, and influence senior stakeholders.
• Creative, improvement-focused mindset; civil engineering background preferred.

Responsibilities

• Planning & Scheduling—lead the development and management of project programmes.
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management—steer cross-functional teams and stakeholders.
• Knowledge of site delivery activity—translate site realities into plans.
• Optimisation & Innovation—apply AI-enabled tools to improve efficiency.
• Project team support and collaboration—work with delivery teams and external experts.

Skills

Planning & Scheduling

Primavera P6

Programme delivery

Schedule analysis

Recovery planning

Scenario development

Site delivery knowledge

Stakeholder management

Workshops leadership

Analytical mindset

Civil engineering background

Education

Civil engineering background preferred

Tools

AI optimisation tools

Job description

Planning Manager / Senior Planning Manager – AI Construction Planning

Known as a Senior Optimisation Manager in-house

Location: Dartford, Manchester, London – Others considered

The future is AI in Construction to optimise programmes. The future is here with Akordi, a Laing O'Rourke company.

Akrodi isn't just a platform it is the team of professionals driving the platform. When you take a the most advanced optimisation, analytical, scenario planning and visualisation tool and add industry experts from Planning, Civil Engineering and Digital backgrounds you create an unparallelled capability. You create Akordi.

How does this fit a senior planning professional? These are the expertise that we utilise.

• Hands-on planning and scheduling capability, including Primavera P6.
• Programme delivery, schedule analysis, recovery planning, and scenario development.
• Practical construction and site-delivery knowledge on major infrastructure or civil projects.
• Ability to lead workshops, challenge teams constructively, and influence senior stakeholders.
• Creative, improvement-focused mindset; civil engineering background preferred.

How might you split your time?

• Planning & Scheduling Expertise 30%
• Leadership & Stakeholder Management 30%
• Knowledge of site delivery activity 20%
• Optimisation & Innovation 10%
• Project team support and collaboration 10%

These opportunities do not come around often. A specialist team who are scaling a market leading offering with limitless potential. Future-proof your career by being the person driving the tool, not left behind by it.

Along the way you will bring together risk management, schedule optimisation and advanced analytics to support our project teams with executing certainty.

How do your current skills transfer?

Use simulation, modelling and AI-enabled planning tools to support project delivery decisions. Analyse programme performance, identify optimisation opportunities and assess schedule risks. Produce clear insights and visualisations for clients, present findings to stakeholders and develop mitigation strategies with delivery teams. Work closely with internal and global experts to enhance our services while ensuring compliance with NEC, PACE and GRIP/GRIP-Lite frameworks.

With variations locations being considered our main base of operations are London, Manchester, Ipswich and Dartford.

About Laing O'Rourke

Laing O'Rourke is an international engineering and construction business known for pushing boundaries in digital engineering, modern methods of construction and sustainable delivery. With more than 150 years of heritage, we are committed to creating environments in which diverse teams can excel and thrive.

Accessibility & Inclusion

We are proud to be part of the Disability Confident scheme. If you meet the essential criteria and would like to be considered through our Offer an Interview scheme, please let us know. We're also happy to provide reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process.

If you require an alternative format of this advert or need support during the application, please contact: [e-mail]

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