Senior Planner

Hitachi Vantara Corporation; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous annual leave

Bonus scheme

Enhanced pension

Private healthcare

Health screening

Life insurance

Wellness programs

Fitness benefits

Job summary

Hitachi Energy, supporting Grid & Power Quality Solutions in Europe, invites applications for a Senior Planner. You will join a leading project delivery team across UK energy EPC projects valued from $10m to $250m, taking ownership of scheduling, cost performance, risk, and reporting.

Based in Birmingham with travel to project sites, you will lead Primavera P6 planning, coordinate with clients and contractors, manage NEC/FIDIC contracts, and drive schedule recovery and governance.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Senior Planner/Lead Planner in EPC/energy sectors.
• Experience with NEC and/or FIDIC contracts and contractual reporting.
• Direct engagement with clients, consultants, contractors and senior stakeholders.
• Advanced knowledge of planning, scheduling, forecasting and earned value management.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and governance of integrated project programmes using Primavera P6.
• Manage schedule risk, critical path and forecast analyses for complex EPC projects.
• Produce programme updates, dashboards and reports for internal and external stakeholders.
• Collaborate with engineering, supply chain and construction to align procurement and site activities.
• Advise project teams on schedule performance, risks and recovery options.
• Support governance meetings and project reviews with clear insights.

Skills

Planning

Project controls

Stakeholder comms

Forecasting

Schedule governance

Tools

Oracle Primavera P6

Job description

Job Description

At Grid & Power Quality Solutions and Service business at Hitachi Energy in Europe (HBUEU), Inclusion drives our culture of innovation and collaboration. Our leading technology and strong market position enable us to achieve growth targets in the energy transition acrosscurrent and growing market segments such as hydrogen, data centers and e-mobility.

Hitachi Energy has an exciting opportunity for a Senior Planner. You will Join a leading project delivery team and play a key role in planning and controlling complex EPC projects within the UK energy sector. As a Senior Planner, you will take ownership of multiple projects ranging from $10m to $250m leading all aspects of schedule management, project controls, forecasting, cost performance, risk analysis, and stakeholder reporting.

(Please note we are unable to provide visa support for this position)

How you'll make an impact

• Working closely with Project Managers, clients, contractors, and multidisciplinary teams, you will provide strategic planning leadership across the full project lifecycle, ensuring projects are delivered safely, efficiently, and in line with contractual obligations.
• Lead the development, maintenance, and governance of integrated project programmes using Primavera P6, ensuring alignment with project objectives and contractual requirements.
• Proactively manage programme interfaces and external dependencies, including client and third-party deliverables, identifying impacts to project execution and implementing mitigation measures to protect key milestones and project outcomes.
• Analyse project scope, deliverables, and execution strategies to develop realistic, resource-loaded schedules and performance baselines.
• Monitor project progress, identify critical path and schedule risks, and proactively advise Project Managers on mitigation and recovery strategies.
• Produce high-quality programme updates, progress reports, dashboards, and forecast analyses for internal and external stakeholders.
• Act as a trusted advisor to project teams, customers, and senior management, providing clear insight into schedule performance, risks, opportunities, and project outcomes.
• Support project delivery under NEC and FIDIC contracts, including programme management, change control, schedule impact assessments, compensation event/variation assessments, and extension of time evaluations, ensuring compliance with contractual requirements.
• Engage directly with clients, contractors, consultants, and key stakeholders, building strong working relationships and ensuring effective communication throughout the project lifecycle.
• Collaborate with Engineering, Supply Chain, Construction, Pre-Commissioning, and Commissioning teams to identify scope changes and assess programme impacts.
• Integrate procurement, manufacturing, delivery, and site activities into the project programme, ensuring alignment with project milestones and lead times.
• Participate in project reviews and governance meetings, presenting programme performance, recovery plans, and recommendations to project leadership teams.
• Drive continuous improvement in planning processes, reporting methodologies, and project controls practices.

Your Background

• Proven experience as a Senior Planner, Lead Planner, Project Controls Engineer, or Project Planner within EPC, energy, utilities, transmission & distribution or electrical infrastructure sectors.
• Experience working within projects delivered under NEC and/or FIDIC forms of contract, with an understanding of programme management, change control, delay analysis, and contractual reporting requirements.
• Demonstrable experience working directly with clients, consultants, contractors, and senior stakeholders.
• Advanced knowledge of project planning, scheduling, forecasting, earned value management, and project controls principles.
• Expert user of Oracle Primavera P6.
• Ability to analyse complex projects, identify risks and opportunities, and communicate recommendations confidently to project teams and leadership.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement, communication, and presentation skills.
• Commercial awareness with a solid understanding of project delivery and contractual obligations.
• Self-motivated, proactive, and collaborative team player.
• Ability to travel as required to project sites and the Birmingham office.

More about us

We believe great work thrives in an environment where people feel genuinely supported and fairly rewarded. Our benefits are designed to create real value for every individual – fueling engagement, performance, and growth. By prioritizing well‑being, we build a workplace where personal and organizational success grow together.

Our benefits offering for our roles generally includes:

• Generous annual leave plus public holidays with the ability to buying & selling leave days
• Generous bonus scheme
• Enhanced pension plan with competitive employer contributions
• Private healthcare for our employees
• Health screening program and Dental Plan
• Maternity, paternity, parental leave
• Critical illness plan, Life insurance and income protection
• Fitness & health benefits (access to gyms, studios, on-demand exercise classes and library of wellness apps)
• Employee Assistance Program
• Performance-based rewards and recognition

Accessibility and reasonable accommodation

Qualified individuals with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the Hitachi Energy career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by completing a general inquiry form on our website. Please include your contact information and specific details about your required accommodation to support you during the job application process.

This is solely for job seekers with disabilities requiring accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Messages left for other purposes will not receive a response.

Use of Al and automated tools in recruitment

As part of our recruitment process, Hitachi Energy uses digital and automated tools, including Al-supported solutions, to assist with activities such as application screening, job matching, and interview scheduling. These tools are designed to support our recruiters and do not replace human decision-making. Candidate data is processed in accordance with applicable data protection and employment laws as well as Hitachi's Global Data Privacy Notice.

Background Screening and Security Checks

As part of the hiring process, Hitachi Energy conducts pre-employment background checks that may include verification of employment history, education, criminal records, and other relevant information, in accordance with applicable laws.

For certain roles—particularly those involving access to sensitive information, financial responsibilities, client data, regulated environments, or security-sensitive functions—additional or more comprehensive background or security screenings may be required. These may include, but are not limited to, enhanced criminal history checks, credit history reviews (where legally permissible), sanctions screening, or other due diligence measures aligned with the responsibilities of the position.

The scope and depth of any background or security review will be determined based on the nature of the role and business necessity, and will always be conducted in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Candidates will be notified and, where required, asked to provide consent prior to the initiation of any such checks.