Senior Planning Manager

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure; West of England; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Morgan Sindall Infrastructure seeks an experienced Senior Planning Manager to lead the planning function for the Metrowest project and oversee planning for the CP7 Wales & Western Framework. The role combines strategic oversight with hands-on delivery, leading project planners and providing expert support across pre-construction and construction phases.

You will develop robust planning strategies, manage risk, monitor performance, and engage stakeholders across a portfolio of rail works, working

Qualifications

• Experience in planning within large-scale infrastructure and rail projects.
• Strong project controls, risk analysis and cost management.
• Experience leading planning teams on major project delivery.
• Understanding of how commercial events impact project programmes.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning function for Metrowest and CP7 Wales & Western Framework.
• Develop and implement coordinated planning strategies across multiple projects.
• Produce, maintain and monitor programmes for pre-construction and construction activities.
• Provide planning leadership, guidance, training and support to project teams.
• Mentor planners and drive capability development and best practice.
• Identify programme risks and mitigation strategies early.
• Produce programme updates, reports, dashboards and commentary for stakeholders.
• Support earned value analysis and programme performance reporting.

Skills

Rail planning

Project controls

Primavera P6

Leadership

Stakeholder management

Education

Engineering degree or HND

ICE or Level 5 ILM membership (desirable)

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

Bristol

Talented people are the key to our success.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced and driven Senior Planning Manager to lead the planning function for the Metrowest project while overseeing planning activities across the CP7 Wales & Western Framework.

This is a high-profile leadership role offering the opportunity to play a key part in the successful delivery of major rail infrastructure projects. The position would suit an established planning professional looking to take the next step in their career, combining strategic oversight with hands‑on project delivery.

As a member of the Project Senior Management Team (SMT), you will lead the planning function, manage project planners, and provide expert planning support throughout both pre-construction and construction phases.

You will be responsible for delivering robust planning strategies that support successful project outcomes across a complex portfolio of rail works. Working closely with operational, commercial and project delivery teams, you will ensure effective programme management, performance monitoring, risk mitigation and stakeholder engagement.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading and managing the planning function for Metrowest and providing strategic oversight of the CP7 Wales & Western Framework.
• Developing and implementing coordinated planning strategies across multiple projects.
• Producing, maintaining and monitoring programmes for pre-construction and construction activities.
• Providing planning leadership, guidance, training and support to project teams and planning personnel.
• Managing and mentoring planners, driving capability development and best practice.
• Identifying programme risks and opportunities early and recommending mitigation strategies.
• Independently assessing project progress and performance against baseline programmes.
• Supporting project teams in identifying critical path pinch points and developing recovery or optimisation strategies.
• Producing programme updates, reports, dashboards and narrative commentaries for internal and external stakeholders.
• Working alongside commercial teams to develop earned value analysis and programme performance reporting.
• Formally issuing programme updates in accordance with contractual requirements.
• Leading planning presentations and reporting at customer and project progress meetings.
• Ensuring effective utilisation of planning software and implementation of system upgrades and improvements.
• Supporting the preparation of tender and submission documentation where required.
• Promoting continuous improvement across planning processes and standards.

Essential Experience

What We're Looking For

• Demonstrable experience in planning within large-scale infrastructure, rail, construction or engineering environments.
• Extensive experience in project controls, programme management and project planning.
• Strong understanding of programme controls, project review techniques, cost and risk analysis.
• Proven experience managing planning teams and supporting major project delivery.
• Understanding of the impact commercial events and activities have on project programmes.
• Strong working knowledge of project management and planning software, ideally Primavera P6.
• Engineering or technical background supporting planning expertise.

Key Competencies

• Achieving results
• Analytical thinking and decision making
• Leadership and team management
• Effective communication and stakeholder management
• Negotiation and influencing skills
• Resource management
• Adaptability and resilience in changing environments
• Teamworking and collaboration
• Coaching, mentoring and people development

Qualifications

• Degree, HND or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Construction Management or a related discipline.
• Professional membership or qualification such as ICE or Level 5 ILM is desirable.

About The Rail Business Unit

Millions of people rely on Britain’s rail network to take them safely and efficiently across the country every day. Morgan Sindall helps this happen by providing renewed and enhanced rail infrastructure with the minimum of passenger disruption.

Our customers receive a multi-disciplined service covering electrification, power supply, tunnelling and a full range of civil engineering and building capabilities including structures, lineside infrastructure, and station enhancements. This is complemented by track and signalling works from our supply chain partners to provide a complete rail offering.

Our expertise is focused not only on effective delivery of projects within a railway environment, but also on minimising disruption for railway users through the adoption of innovative working practices and techniques. These include 'live launch' bridge construction, in which we can install bridges while allowing railways beneath to remain operational.

From landmark station refurbishment projects and platform extensions to tunnelling works and bridge launches, we have a record of delivering rail projects that are helping to provide a rail network fit for the 21st century.

Morgan Sindall is an equal opportunities employer and has been accredited with the Positive About Disabled People 'Two Ticks' accreditation. We are also an Investors in People company.

Morgan Sindall is unable to employ anyone who does not have the legal right to live and work in the UK.