Senior Planner

Balfour Beatty plc; Leiston; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Smart working up to 40% remote

25 days paid annual leave

Pension and share incentive plan

Job summary

Balfour Beatty Rail is seeking a Senior Planner to lead the development and management of complex construction project schedules, ensuring optimal resource utilisation and on‑time delivery. You will provide strategic planning oversight, mentor junior planners and apply advanced scheduling techniques across design, procurement and construction activities.

The role requires extensive experience in rail or civil construction, proficiency in industry tools (MS Project, Primavera P6, Excel), and a

Qualifications

• Advanced knowledge of project scheduling and planning; ability to develop and manage complex schedules.
• Experience in Rail, Civil Engineering or Construction industries.
• Experience leading planning efforts for construction projects.
• Knowledge of tender and contract documents (JCT or NEC).
• Strong data management and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and optimize strategic and efficient sequences for design, procurement, and construction.
• Produce and document planning deliverables: programs, philosophy, presentations, reports.
• Lead Tender Programme development and ensure tender requirements are met.
• Manage contract programmes and supervise subcontractors and suppliers.
• Mentor less experienced planners and foster knowledge sharing.
• Track progress with KPIs and data-driven decision making.

Skills

Project scheduling & planning

Leadership

Communication skills

Negotiation

Tools

Excel

MS Project

Primavera P6

ASTA

Job description

About The Role

Balfour Beatty Rail are recruiting for a Senior Planner to lead the development and management of complex construction project schedules, ensuring optimal resource utilization and adherence to timelines. Aims to provide strategic planning oversight, mentorship to less experienced planners and contribute to project success by implementing advanced scheduling techniques. The Senior Planner's scope encompasses high-level project planning and coordination, playing a key role in achieving efficient and successful construction outcomes.

About The Role

Balfour Beatty Rail are recruiting for a Senior Planner to lead the development and management of complex construction project schedules, ensuring optimal resource utilization and adherence to timelines. Aims to provide strategic planning oversight, mentorship to less experienced planners and contribute to project success by implementing advanced scheduling techniques. The Senior Planner's scope encompasses high-level project planning and coordination, playing a key role in achieving efficient and successful construction outcomes.

What you'll be doing

• Ensuring that the programme content is functionally compliant with the planning procedures and guidance.
• Skilled in Identifying planning scope, major constraints, and contract requirements alongside identifying major quantities and factors affecting the programme.
• Utilize advanced expertise to collaboratively develop and decisively agree on a strategic and optimized sequence and methodology, ensuring the implementation of the most efficient design, procurement, and construction strategy for the successful delivery of the works
• Apply advanced expertise to meticulously produce and document comprehensive planning deliverables, encompassing programs, planning philosophy, presentations, and reports.
• Demonstrate proficiency in developing the Tender Programme and supporting information, ensuring strict adherence to tender requirements with a focus on precision and strategic insight.
• At the contract stage, the Senior Planner takes on a heightened responsibility, utilizing advanced expertise to ensure the meticulous production, management, and maintenance of the Contract Programme.
• Adhering to planning procedures and collaborating closely with the Planning/Project Lead to optimize strategic planning elements.
• Displaying and evaluating the project critical path, advising the project team of the results and any appropriate corrective action alongside producing and maintaining project baselines, and execute the change control process as appropriate.
• Expertise in managing labour, equipment, and materials efficiently to meet project objectives while minimizing costs and delays.
• Manage contracts with subcontractors and suppliers, monitoring performance, and resolving contract-related issues.
• Aims to provide strategic planning oversight by leveraging advanced expertise in developing and implementing intricate scheduling techniques.
• Actively mentors and guides less experienced planners, fostering a collaborative and knowledge-sharing environment.
• Contributes significantly to project success through the application of strategic planning insights and the cultivation of talent within the planning team.
• Aid the planning team to produce project data and key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress, identify deviations, and make data-driven decisions for project improvement.
• Previous experience in managing relationships with clients, subcontractors and Other Stakeholders, Demonstrating Effective Communication And Interpersonal Skills.

Who we’re looking for

• Advanced knowledge and expertise in project scheduling and planning,
• including the ability to develop and manage complex project schedules
• using industry-standard tools.
• Experience gained ideally from the Rail, Civil Engineering or Construction industries
• Advanced competence in project management tools and software like
• Excel, MS Project, Primavera P6 or ASTA.
• Comprehensive understanding of construction project management
• principles, methodologies, and best practices.
• Knowledge of various forms of tender and contract documents, and
• specifications (Ideally JCT or NEC contracts)
• Knowledge of Risk Management in project programmes: TRA, QSRA, etc.
• Experienced in the production and management of Construction
• Programmes in a variety of different and complex projects.
• Experience in leading planning efforts for construction projects, displaying a
• track record of successful project delivery.
• Previous experience in managing relationships with clients, subcontractors
• and Other Stakeholders, Demonstrating Effective Communication And Interpersonal Skills.
• Good understanding and management of data and processes
• Excellent communication, Negotiation, Conflict resolution & Leadership skills

Why work for us

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

Why join us?

Benefits

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more...

About Us

Balfour Beatty works at the heart of the UK’s rail networks - designing, enhancing and maintaining thousands of miles of the railways that connect communities and underpin growth.

From feasibility studies, planning and design through to implementation and asset management, we provide multi-disciplinary rail infrastructure services across the lifecycle of rail assets. Our expertise covers electrification, track, power, civils, specialist rail plant, railway systems and technologies.

Diversity and inclusion

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce and developing our inclusive culture where everyone is able to thrive and reach their full potential, regardless of their identity or background. To find out how we are making this a reality, visit www.balfourbeatty.com/diversityandinclusion

To help and support us with our desired commitment to create an inclusive culture we are members of WISE, enei, Business Disability Forum and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE). In 2020, we signed the Audeliss and Involve Open Letter to demonstrate our commitment to taking key long term and sustainable actions on Black Inclusion. Balfour Beatty is also a Gold Award holder in the Ministry of Defence 'Employer Recognition Scheme' and actively encourage applications from Armed Forces personnel, veterans and reservists.

As a Disability Confident Employer, we are committed to working with people who have disabilities and long-term health conditions to remove barriers for them in obtaining employment. We are also committed to offering applicants with a disability an interview if they meet the minimum requirements for the role. For more info, visit: https://disabilityconfident.campaign.gov.uk/

We are looking to continually improve our resourcing process and ensure that it is fair and inclusive for all. If you have any feedback on the process, please share this with us at: [e-mail]