Planning Manager-Rail projects

AECOM; Dublin; Hybrid; EUR 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work options

Competitive benefits

Job summary

AECOM in Dublin is seeking a Planning Manager – Rail projects to lead the development, coordination, and management of complex project schedules across our rail portfolio. You will ensure alignment with milestones, regulatory requirements, and industry standards, while mentoring junior team members.

You will partner with project executives, cross-functional teams, and stakeholders to drive best-practice planning, deliver robust reports, and provide timely guidance to safeguard project timelines

Qualifications

• A Level 8 degree in a relevant field such as Project Management or Business Administration.
• Knowledge of quality management systems and process improvement is desirable, ideally in construction.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and maintenance of fully integrated project schedules aligned with programme timelines.
• Monitor milestones and escalate issues to senior leadership and stakeholders.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align scheduling activities across the project lifecycle.
• Oversee updates to PM tools, schedules and data systems, ensuring accuracy of reporting.
• Communicate clearly with engineers, contractors and regulators to support decision-making.
• Identify risks early and implement mitigation strategies to safeguard timelines.
• Provide scheduling guidance to PMO and assurance functions to achieve delivery goals.
• Create key project documentation such as status reports and minutes for governance.
• Champion continuous improvement in scheduling methodologies for project performance.
• Track critical path and float trends, advising on corrective actions as needed.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder management

Scheduling software

Risk management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree (Level 8) in Project Management or Business Administration

Tools

DMS

SharePoint

Microsoft Office

Job description

Company Description

At AECOM, we're delivering a better world. Whether improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water, or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive. We are the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, partnering with clients to solve the world's most complex challenges and build legacies for future generations.

There has never been a better time to be at AECOM. With accelerating infrastructure investment worldwide, our services are in great demand. We invite you to bring your bold ideas and big dreams and become part of a global team of over 50,000 planners, designers, engineers, scientists, digital innovators, program and construction managers and other professionals delivering projects that create a positive and tangible impact around the world.

We're one global team driven by our common purpose to deliver a better world. Join us.

Job Description

At AECOM, we are currently recruiting for a Planning Manager – Rail projects to join our Dublin office.

The Planning Manager plays a critical role in leading the development, coordination, and management of complex project schedules, ensuring full alignment with project milestones, regulatory requirements, and industry standards. The role holder continuously monitors schedule performance, identifies emerging risks, and implements strategic interventions to safeguard project timelines and quality outcomes.

Working closely with project executives, cross‑functional teams, and key stakeholders, the Planning Manager drives effective planning practices that support the successful execution and delivery of projects. The role also provides mentorship and guidance to junior team members, supporting them in developing robust project schedules, conducting detailed data analysis, and producing high‑quality reports that inform decision‑making across the organisation.

Key accountabilities

• Lead the development and ongoing maintenance of fully integrated project schedules, establishing baselines that align with strategic objectives and programme timelines.
• Monitor progress against key milestones and deliverables, promptly escalating issues or variances to senior leadership and relevant stakeholders.
• Foster effective collaboration with cross‑functional teams to ensure alignment and seamless integration of all scheduling activities throughout the project lifecycle.
• Oversee updates to project management tools, schedules, and data systems, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and timely dissemination of reporting insights.
• Maintain clear, proactive communication with project stakeholders‑including senior engineers, contractors, and regulatory bodies‑to support alignment and informed decision‑making.
• Identify and assess potential risks early, developing and implementing mitigation strategies to safeguard schedule performance and project outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulations, industry standards, and internal policies related to project planning and scheduling.
• Provide expert scheduling guidance and strategic recommendations to support PMO and Assurance functions in achieving operational and project delivery goals.
• Lead the creation of key project documentation, including status reports, meeting minutes, and performance analyses, to support oversight and governance activities.
• Champion continuous improvement by advancing best‑practice scheduling methodologies that enhance project delivery performance.
• Analyse and track critical path activities and float trends, advising leadership on required corrective actions to maintain schedule integrity.
• Establish and monitor project budgets and cost profiles, ensuring accurate forecasting, financial transparency, and alignment with delivery expectations.
• Review and validate work valuations and accruals to ensure correct cost allocation and accurate financial reporting.
• Coordinate information requirements across Delivery Teams, ensuring data is captured, validated, and maintained to support reliable reporting and strategic planning.
• Produce high‑level summary reports detailing key risks, issues, milestones, and recommended actions to support timely intervention.
• Support the Project Manager and wider project team to ensure delivery within agreed schedule, budget, and performance objectives.

Key skills

• Strong project management capabilities with proven experience in planning, executing, and closing complex projects.
• Ability to build, manage, and influence productive relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including customers, regulators, and internal teams.
• Proficiency with document management systems (DMS), databases, and tools such as Microsoft Office, SharePoint, and specialised document control software.
• Deep understanding of project management principles and methodologies to ensure document control activities fully support project objectives.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to facilitate clear, consistent, and effective engagement across all parties.
• Expertise in identifying, evaluating, and mitigating project‑related risks.
• Strong collaboration skills and the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams to drive cohesive project delivery.

Qualifications

We are seeking a highly experienced professional with a strong background in our primary infrastructure markets.

As the successful candidate, you will bring the following qualifications and experience:

• A Level 8 degree (or equivalent) in a relevant field, such as Project Management or Business Administration.
• Knowledge of quality management systems and process improvement practices is desirable, ideally gained within the construction sector.

Additional Information

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in‑person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.

About AECOM

AECOM is the world's trusted infrastructure consulting firm, delivering professional services throughout the project lifecycle – from advisory, planning, design and engineering to program and construction management. On projects spanning transportation, buildings, water, new energy and the environment, our public‑and private‑sector clients trust us to solve their most complex challenges. Our teams are driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world through our unrivaled technical and digital expertise, a culture of equity, diversity and inclusion, and a commitment to environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and its Professional Services business had revenue of $16.1 billion in fiscal year 2025. See how we are delivering sustainable legacies for generations to come at aecom.com and @AECOM.

Freedom to Grow in a World of Opportunity

You will have the flexibility you need to do your best work with hybrid work options. Whether you're working from an AECOM office, remote location or at a client site, you will be working in a dynamic environment where your integrity, entrepreneurial spirit and pioneering mindset are championed.

You will help us foster a safe and respectful workplace, where we invite everyone to bring their whole selves to work using their unique talents, backgrounds and expertise to create transformational outcomes for our clients.

AECOM provides a wide array of compensation, benefits and well‑being programs to meet the diverse needs of our employees and their families. We're the world's trusted global infrastructure firm, and we're in this together – your growth and success are ours too.

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person's potential, and we'll help you reach yours.

We are a Disability Confident Employer and will offer an interview to applicants who have a disability or long‑term condition, who meet the minimum/essential criteria for the role.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.