Senior Project Planner

Callen Lenz; Salisbury; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A cutting-edge aviation technology company in Salisbury is seeking a Senior Project Planner to develop and implement a comprehensive Project Planning methodology. The role involves extensive collaboration with project managers to ensure quality project schedules, lead the evolution of planning processes, and contribute to a professional PMO function. Ideal candidates will have robust experience in a PMO or project planning role within fast-paced industries such as Aerospace and Defence, alongside outstanding communication skills.

Benefits

25 days annual leave

Company contributed Share Incentive Plan

Green Car Scheme

Pension Scheme

Life assurance scheme

Income protection policy

Private Health Insurance

Training & development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven ability to establish and implement a PMO function.
• Experience in generating and analyzing project performance data.
• Ability to hold UK security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement a common Project Planning methodology.
• Develop and maintain high-quality, integrated project schedules.
• Support PMs in tracking progress against project schedules.

Skills

Project Planning Methodology

Project Management Software

Risk Analysis

Communication Skills

Education

Experience in PMO

Experience in Aerospace and Defence

Tools

Project Management Tools

Performance Analysis Software

Job description

Overview

As Senior Project Planner, you will work within the Programmes Directorate to develop and implement a common, fit‑for‑purpose, scalable Project Planning methodology and toolset as a key component of the establishment of a wider professional Project Management Office function, operating across a team of Project/Programme Managers delivering a broad spectrum of projects, in a highly dynamic and fast paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Working across the PM community and other key stakeholders to define and implement a common Project Planning methodology and toolset.
• Working with and across the PM community to develop and maintain high‑quality, integrated project schedules.
• Lead the development and evolution of Project Planning processes, and actively contribute to the development and evolution of other PM processes.
• Utilise your user experience of different Project Management software solutions to lead the requirements definition, selection, and implementation of a fit‑for‑purpose PM toolset across the company.
• Actively support the PMs in tracking progress against the project schedules, including forecasting of potential problem areas and proposing mitigation measures.
• Provide critical path and schedule risk analysis support.
• Assess the impact of change to the project planning baseline.
• Lead in the generation of standardised outputs to support routine Project Review Boards and ad‑hoc reporting/governance as required.
• To deputise for the Head of PMO on an as‑required basis.
• Providing planning and scheduling expertise in support of a project/programme team.

Qualifications

• Experience in establishing and implementing a PMO function, either in a leadership role or as a key team participant.
• Knowledge and experience of using best practice project planning processes and toolsets.
• Experience implementing new PM toolsets into an organisation is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to quickly understand the operating landscape and establish own priority activities as a self‑starter.
• Demonstrable experience in the development, integration and analysis of project plans for both development and production projects.
• Demonstrable experience of defining and implementing process change within an organisation.
• Ability to manage priorities and work to challenging timescales.
• Experience in generating and analysing project performance data (schedule, resource, and cost), including SRA/Critical path analysis.
• Clear communication skills, both verbal and written, and the ability to foster collaborative working relationships with colleagues at all levels.
• Experience in a PMO/Project Planning role within a fast‑paced, Engineering‑led Industry such as Aerospace and Defence is desirable.
• Experience in the establishment of a PMO in an SME environment is highly desirable.
• Demonstrable experience of successfully developing and presenting "business cases" for process/tool changes at all levels within a business.
• Must be a British Citizen or must have an existing right to work in the UK and have been a UK resident for 5 years.
• Ability to hold UK security clearance.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Customer focused.

Benefits

• 25 days annual leave per year (plus bank holidays)
• Buy/Sell holiday policy up to 5 days either way
• Company contributed Share Incentive Plan.
• Green Car Scheme via Tusker
• Pension Scheme via Royal London
• Life assurance scheme (6x basic salary)
• Income protection policy (75% of basic salary)
• Private Health Insurance via Vitality
• Private Dental insurance via Bupa
• Enhanced Maternity and paternity
• 1 Professional membership reimbursed per year
• 1 paid volunteering day per year
• Access to an independent financial advisor year round
• Training & development opportunities

Integrity
Collaboration
Excellence

At Callen‑Lenz, we are expanding the limits of what is possible. We specialise in crewed and uncrewed aircraft operations and technology, and having recently received investment into the business we are going through a period of rapid growth and development and are looking for key roles to assist with these changes. Callen‑Lenz offers innovative and customer focused UAS solutions through our 4 key business strands: technical services, products, platforms and operational services. We are looking for individuals to help drive forward our expansion, placing you at the forefront of UAS development in the UK.