Senior Planner

First Recruitment Group; England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic recruiting agency is seeking a Senior Planner for a 6-month contract based in London. In this role, you will manage project programming and controls for major Rail and Highways projects, supporting successful project delivery through strategic planning and collaboration. The ideal candidate will have a strong construction planning background and experience with large infrastructure projects. The position offers a hybrid work model with 3 days in the office and 2 days remote, appealing to professionals looking to thrive in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Proven construction planning experience, managing interfaces.
• Strong understanding of project life cycle from design to commissioning.
• Experience with performance analysis data and reporting.

Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for project programming and Project Controls.
• Develop and manage project and tender programmes.
• Provide accurate project performance data and reports.
• Identify and escalate project deviations to stakeholders.
• Mentor junior team members as needed.

Skills

Construction planning experience

Strong presentation skills

Understanding of project design and construction

Education

Degree in Mechanical or Civil Engineering

APM membership

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

New Job Opportunity - Senior Planner - Initially 6 Month Contract - Based in London Office

Our Client has a requirement for a Senior Planner, who will be required to work on a Contract basis in Epsom, Surrey.

Office Location: London, 3 days in the office, 2 days from home

Start Date: 21 January 2026

Duration: 6 months

Working Hours: 40 hours per week

Pay Rate: Negotiable Dependent on experience

Background:

This role requires a strong construction planning background, with proven experience on large, complex transportation infrastructure projects.

Job Description

As a Senior Planner within our Rail Systems team, you will bring your technical expertise, planning skills, and professional judgement to a diverse portfolio of projects and tenders. Based in London and working within our Complex Projects team, you will support the successful delivery of major Rail and Highways projects.

You will act as a key facilitator, providing comprehensive Project Controls support to both project teams and clients. The role reports to the Project Controls Manager, with accountability to the Project Manager.

This is an opportunity to join a dynamic, world‑class Project Controls team working on some of the UK’s largest transportation infrastructure programmes. Our client's Project Controls is internationally recognised for delivering major transportation projects across the UK and overseas.

Key Responsibilities

• Take responsibility for all aspects of project programming and Project Controls.
• Develop, manage, and maintain robust project and tender programmes.
• Represent and drive Project Controls policies, including attendance and contribution to client progress meetings.
• Provide accurate and timely project performance data, schedules, and reports.
• Identify project deviations, delays, and risks, escalating issues to senior stakeholders as required.
• Deliver periodic programme updates, clearly communicating changes, delays, and impacts.
• Ensure programme issues are fully understood by Senior Management and provide appropriate planning advice.
• Support delivery of projects to agreed time and cost targets.
• Supervise and mentor junior team members when required.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with a defined client base.
• Demonstrate awareness of commercial and financial aspects of project management.

Skills & Experience Requirements

• Proven construction planning experience, including programming multi-disciplinary engineering design and managing interfaces.
• Strong understanding of how projects are designed, procured, constructed, and commissioned.
• Experience producing planning and scheduling outputs, including:
  • Resource histograms
  • Performance analysis data
  • Asset tracking
  • CPI / SPI reporting
• Strong presentation skills, with the ability to clearly communicate complex information to project teams, clients, and stakeholders.

Detailed knowledge of Project Controls techniques

• Budget and cost management
• Change control
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Data and trend analysis
• Work Package Management
• Ability to work with minimal supervision, using own initiative to produce project and tender programmes.

In-depth understanding of transportation systems

• Signalling
• Track (P‑Way)
• Structures (tunnels, bridges, earthworks, embankments, buildings, gantries, access platforms, etc.)
• Electrification & Plant
• Telecoms

Key Experience

• Experience with schedule risk and cost analysis, claims, and projects up to £50m in value.
• Expert user of Primavera P6.
• Experience working with various contract forms, including NEC.
• Degree‑qualified Engineering professional (Mechanical or Civil preferred).
• APM membership preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a proactive and collaborative approach.

Company information

At First Recruitment Group we understand just how important it is to secure the right people. That is why our Recruitment Consultants always take the time to understand requirements in detail and offer sound advice to both clients and candidates. We actively recruit at all levels and this is a superb opportunity for a Senior Planner looking for new employment.

As part of putting people first, we strive to be an equal opportunities employer and we are always looking to increase the diversity of our workforce, working closely with our clients to ensure everyone is included.

Sector: Commercial, Admin & Office Support