Senior Planner in City of London

DefencePermanent / Project ManagementLondonUnited Kingdom03/11/26On siteJob DescriptionThe Senior Planner is responsible for developing, maintaining, and assuring fully integrated project schedules for complex defence programmes. The role supports effective decision-making by providing accurate planning data, schedule analysis, and risk-informed forecasts aligned with defence governance and assurance requirements.Working closely with Project Managers, Engineering, Commercial, and Risk teams, the Senior Planner ensures that programme schedules reflect scope, cost, risk, and resource constraints, and comply with contractual and regulatory standards.Key ResponsibilitiesPlanning & SchedulingDevelop and maintain integrated, resource- and cost-loaded schedules across the full project lifecycle (design, manufacture, test, acceptance, and in-service support).Establish planning structures aligned to WBS, CBS, and contract deliverables.Ensure schedules comply with defence and organisational planning standards and best practice.Programme Control & ReportingProvide schedule performance analysis including critical path, float, dependencies, and milestones.Support Earned Value Management (EVM) and schedule health assessments.Produce clear, accurate planning reports for internal governance, senior stakeholders, and external customers.Risk & Change ManagementIntegrate risk, opportunity, and mitigation actions into project schedules.Support schedule risk analysis (e.g. Monte Carlo) where required.Assess schedule impacts of change requests and support change control processes.Stakeholder CollaborationWork closely with Project Managers to support delivery planning and decision-making.Liaise with engineering, supply chain, commercial, and delivery teams to ensure schedule realism.Provide planning input to bids, proposals, and contract negotiations as required.Assurance & Continuous ImprovementSupport internal and external assurance reviews, audits, and readiness assessments.Mentor junior planners and promote planning best practice.Contribute to the continuous improvement of planning processes, tools, and standards.Skills & ExperienceEssentialSignificant experience in project planning within defence, aerospace, engineering, or complex regulated environments.Strong proficiency in planning tools such as Primavera P6 (essential)British NationalExperience producing and maintaining integrated master schedules.Solid understanding of critical path analysis, schedule logic, and performance measurement.Ability to communicate complex planning information clearly to non-planning stakeholders.DesirableExperience working with MOD or equivalent defence customers.Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM).Experience supporting bids or major programme re-baselining.Familiarity with risk and schedule risk analysis techniques.Professional accreditation (e.g. APM, PMI) or working towards it.Behaviours & AttributesAnalytical and detail-oriented with a proactive mindset.Confident working in complex, high-assurance environments.Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.Able to work independently while supporting wider programme objectives.Committed to integrity, confidentiality, and compliance.Benefits include:Pension scheme (8% company contribution / 4% personal contribution)25 days’ paid annual leave + bank holidays + option to buy or sell daysProfessional fees reimbursedFlexible workingEmployee referral schemeNOTICE TO CANDIDATES ON RECRUITMENT FRAUD – We are committed to safeguarding candidates from fraudulent activity associated with our recruitment process. Please note that we will never offer specialist CV writing services, request payment or ask for sensitive personal information during the recruitment process.We are committed to equal treatment of candidates and promote, as well as foster all forms of diversity within our company. We believe that bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives is essential for creating innovative and impactful solutions. Skills, talent, and our people’s ability to dare are the only things that matter !. Bring your unique contributions and help us shape the future. #J-18808-Ljbffr