Planning Manager in Gatwick, West Sussex

Location: Gatwick Airport (Hybrid working available)

Employment Type: Permanent

Overview: Our client, a leading consultancy specialising in infrastructure and aviation projects, is seeking an experienced Planning Manager or Senior Planner to support the delivery of key projects within the Gatwick Airport Capital Programme. This role offers the opportunity to work on complex, high-profile aviation schemes, providing expert programme management and project planning services for one of the UK's busiest airports.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, manage, and maintain detailed project and programme schedules for Gatwick Airport projects using Primavera P6.
• Provide planning leadership across multi-disciplinary teams, ensuring integration of design, procurement, construction, and commissioning activities.
• Collaborate with project stakeholders including contractors, consultants, and the airport's in-house teams to ensure alignment on project timelines and deliverables.
• Support the Programme Controls function with schedule risk analysis, critical path identification, and scenario planning.
• Prepare high-level and detailed reports for senior management, highlighting programme risks, progress, and key milestones.
• Drive best practices in project planning, ensuring adherence to client, regulatory, and industry standards.
• Lead programme reviews, schedule health checks, and provide coaching to junior planners where required.
• Engage with stakeholders to ensure early identification and mitigation of schedule risks, dependencies, and resource conflicts.

Requirements:

• Proven background in project planning within major infrastructure or aviation projects, ideally in an airport environment.
• Strong experience using Primavera P6 to build, maintain, and manage project schedules.
• Excellent understanding of project controls processes, critical path analysis, risk management, and schedule forecasting.
• Previous experience working for or with consultancies on large infrastructure programmes.
• Ability to operate in a fast-paced, stakeholder-driven environment with competing priorities.
• Knowledge of NEC contracts is highly desirable.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Degree qualified in Engineering, Construction, Project Management, or a related field is preferred.
• Professional certifications such as APM, PMI, or similar are advantageous.

What's on Offer:

• Opportunity to work on one of the UK's most high-profile aviation programmes.
• Join a market-leading consultancy with long-term pipeline of airport and infrastructure projects.
• Competitive salary or day rate, with hybrid working flexibility.
• Clear career progression pathways into senior leadership or programme controls management.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity in our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, colour, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.