Senior Planner

Infraspec; Birmingham; Remote; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Infraspec is seeking a Senior Project Planner for a major rail project. Remote-focused role with site travel as required, ideally based in London or Birmingham. You will own design programme development, schedule management and reporting to support delivery and cost forecasting.

You will work with project managers, commercial teams and design stakeholders to maintain programme integrity, monitor progress and identify issues before impact. NEC contracts experience is essential.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in project planning within rail.
• Strong rail sector background and NEC contract experience.
• Experience developing cost-loaded programmes and forecasting.

Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and update detailed project programmes for design activities.
• Manage programme performance against milestones and delivery objectives.
• Produce rolling three-week lookahead programmes for short-term planning.
• Develop cost-loaded schedules to improve visibility of expenditure.
• Provide regular updates to support forecasting and reporting.
• Ensure programme data aligns with cost forecasts across teams.
• Monitor interfaces and dependencies across workstreams.
• Identify delays, risks and critical path impacts.
• Support mitigation strategies and recovery plans.
• Ensure NEC contract requirements are followed and reported.

Skills

Rail planning

NEC contracts

Schedule management

Cost forecasting

Stakeholder communication

Job description

Birmingham or London / Mostly remote working with travel when required

Ready to take your rail planning experience into a major project environment?

I'm currently working with a client looking to appoint an experienced Senior Project Planner to support the delivery of design works across a major rail project.

This is an opportunity for a Planner with strong rail and NEC contract experience to take ownership of programme development, schedule management and reporting, ensuring project teams have the visibility and information needed to manage delivery and cost forecasts effectively.

Working closely with project managers, commercial teams and design stakeholders, you'll play an important role in maintaining programme integrity, monitoring progress and identifying potential issues before they impact delivery.

The position offers mostly remote working, with candidates ideally based in London or Birmingham and willing to travel to site when required.

The opportunity

• Develop, maintain and update detailed project programmes covering design activities.
• Manage and monitor programme performance against key milestones and delivery objectives.
• Produce and maintain rolling three-week lookahead programmes to support short-term planning and coordination.
• Develop cost-loaded schedules to provide greater visibility of programme expenditure.
• Provide regular schedule updates to support cost forecasting and commercial reporting.
• Work closely with commercial and project teams to ensure programme information aligns with cost forecasts.
• Monitor design progress, dependencies and interfaces across project workstreams.
• Identify potential delays, programme risks and critical path impacts.
• Support the development of mitigation strategies and recovery plans where required.
• Ensure programmes are developed and maintained in accordance with NEC contract requirements.
• Provide clear and accurate progress reporting to support project-level decision-making.

What we're looking for

• Minimum 5 years' experience in project planning.
• Strong background within the rail sector.
• Experience working on design-led projects and managing design programmes.
• Good understanding and practical experience of NEC contracts.
• Experience developing cost-loaded programmes and supporting cost forecasting.
• Understanding of three-week lookahead planning and short-term programme management.
• Ability to interpret programme data, identify potential issues and communicate progress effectively.
• Confident working with project managers, commercial teams, designers and wider stakeholders.
• Strong analytical, organisational and communication skills.

What's on offer?

• Mostly remote working - Site travel when required.
• Opportunity to work on a major rail project.
• Involvement in design programme management and project controls.
• Exposure to NEC contract delivery and commercial forecasting.
• A key role within a project delivery team, with genuine responsibility for programme performance.