Senior Project Planning Manager

Cobalt Consulting (UK) Ltd; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 106,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading UK construction organisation is seeking a Senior Project Planning Manager to lead a team on a significant Defence programme in Birmingham. This senior role involves managing a team of planners, overseeing a £237 million project, and ensuring high levels of stakeholder engagement. Candidates should have proven experience in planning management, particularly in complex construction or defence-related projects. The role offers a competitive salary up to £125,000, an attractive bonus, and an executive benefits package, with opportunities for career advancement.

Benefits

Attractive annual bonus scheme

Executive benefits package

Hybrid working

Qualifications

• Proven experience in a Senior Planning Manager role or similar.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multi-disciplinary planning teams.
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders and clients.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of 8 planners across multiple defence sites.
• Set and implement the planning strategy for the programme.
• Oversee development of master programmes and schedules.
• Ensure accurate progress monitoring and forecasting.
• Provide senior input into risk and recovery planning.

Skills

Experience in Senior Planning Manager

Leadership and team development

Expert knowledge of Primavera P6

Strong communication skills

Background in construction or defence programmes

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

Job Title - Senior Project Planning Manager

Location: Birmingham (Hybrid Working)
Salary: Up to £125,000 + Annual Bonus & Executive Benefits Package

The Opportunity

Our client, a leading UK construction and infrastructure organisation, is seeking an experienced Senior Project Planning Manager to lead the planning function on a major Defence programme in the Midlands.

This is a senior leadership role with responsibility for managing, mentoring, and developing a team of 8 planners, while playing a pivotal role in the successful delivery of a £237 million Army infrastructure programme.

The role offers a unique opportunity to work on secure, long-term defence projects with high levels of complexity, governance, and stakeholder engagement, supported by an excellent salary, bonus, and benefits package.

The Programme

The Senior Project Planning Manager and their team will be responsible for planning and programme leadership across a portfolio of new-build and refurbishment defence facilities, including:

• Modern living, working, training, and storage accommodation
• Specialist military facilities supporting operational and ceremonial functions
• Delivery of sustainable infrastructure within live operational environments

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage a team of 8 planners across multiple defence sites
• Set and implement the planning strategy, standards, and governance for the programme
• Oversee development and maintenance of master programmes, phase plans, and short-term schedules
• Ensure accurate progress monitoring, forecasting, and reporting to senior leadership and the client
• Manage programme interfaces, constraints, and dependencies within live defence environments
• Provide senior input into risk, mitigation, change control, and recovery planning
• Support entitlement discussions with robust, evidence-based programme information
• Drive consistent and effective use of Primavera P6 and industry best-practice planning methodologies

About You

• Proven experience in a Senior Planning Manager / Head of Planning / Planning Lead role
• Background in complex construction, infrastructure, or defence-related programmes
• Demonstrable experience leading and developing multi-disciplinary planning teams
• Expert knowledge of Primavera P6
• Confident communicator with the ability to influence senior stakeholders and clients
• Calm, structured, and commercially aware, with a collaborative leadership style

What's On Offer

• Salary up to £125,000, depending on experience
• Attractive annual bonus scheme
• Executive benefits package, including pension, private medical, and car allowance
• Hybrid working with a Birmingham base
• Long-term, secure workload within the defence sector
• Opportunity to lead planning on a high-value, nationally significant programme
• Clear progression into programme or senior operational leadership roles