Lead Planning Engineer in Whitehaven

As Lead Planner within the Nuclear Decommissioning sector, you will play a pivotal role in the planning and delivery of complex decommissioning programmes. You will be responsible for developing and managing integrated schedules that reflect the unique regulatory, safety, and technical challenges of nuclear environments. In addition to technical planning responsibilities, you will lead and mentor a team of planners and manage planning activities across multiple projects of varying complexity, ensuring consistency, compliance, and delivery confidence.

Your Purpose:

• Lead the development, maintenance, and management of detailed project schedules using Primavera P6, aligned with decommissioning milestones and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee planning input across all project phases—from feasibility and design through to dismantling and waste management.
• Define and manage work breakdown structures (WBS), logic sequencing, and critical path analysis specific to nuclear decommissioning.
• Manage planning activities across multiple concurrent projects, each with varying levels of complexity, scope, and stakeholder engagement.
• Monitor progress, identify schedule risks, and implement mitigation strategies to maintain delivery confidence.
• Produce and present planning reports, earned value metrics, and performance dashboards to internal and external stakeholders.
• Support regulatory submissions and assurance reviews by providing robust planning evidence and justifications.
• Line manager and mentor a team of planners, providing guidance, performance feedback, and development opportunities.
• Coordinate planning input from multiple workstreams and contractors, ensuring alignment with programme objectives.
• Engage with client representatives, supply chain partners, and regulatory bodies to align planning assumptions and expectations.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Proven experience in a Lead Planner or Senior Planner role within the nuclear or highly regulated infrastructure sectors.
• Demonstrated experience in leading and developing planning teams.
• Strong track record of managing planning across multiple projects simultaneously, with varying complexity and delivery models.
• In-depth knowledge of decommissioning processes, safety case integration, and regulatory interfaces.
• Proficiency in Primavera P6 and MS Project.
• Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM), schedule risk analysis, and integrated baseline reviews.
• Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, particularly in high-scrutiny environments.
• Ability to manage planning inputs across multiple workstreams and contractors.

Desirable Qualifications:

• Degree in Engineering, Project Management, or a related technical discipline.
• Membership of APM, PMI, or equivalent professional body.
• Familiarity with NEC3/4 contracts and nuclear site licence conditions.
• Security clearance (or ability to obtain) is essential due to the nature of the work.

Why work for AtkinsRéalis?

The UK is the first major economy to legislate for a Net Zero target by 2050. To achieve this, our Energy Teams are ensuring a mix of secure and sustainable energies that can meet our industry and lifestyle demands today, and in 30 years\' time. We help to power our world through exciting new technologies and intelligent cybersecurity systems on projects that vary greatly in size, scope, and scale. So, you\'ll be creating the right safe and resilient systems across nuclear power, renewables, decarbonisation development, new builds and energy efficiency.

We value your diversity and believe that everyone deserves to thrive – no exceptions. You\'ll be part of a culture committed to finding new talent from underrepresented groups. We\'re Disability Confident, an Inclusive Employer, and support STEM Returners. We also want to see more women in senior roles at AtkinsRéalis. In the energy sector, we\'ve signed up to the AXIS Pledge, promising to make equal pay, equal leadership, and equal opportunities a reality.

Security clearance:

This role may require security clearance and offers of employment will be dependent on obtaining the relevant level of clearance. If this is necessary, it will be discussed with you at interview. The vetting process is delivered by United Kingdom Security Vetting (UKSV) and may require candidates to provide proof of residency in the UK of 5 years or longer. If applying to this role please do not make reference to (in conversation) or include in your application or CV, details of any current or previously held security clearance.

We are committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop. To help embed inclusion for all, from day one, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee networks to support staff from different backgrounds. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.

#LI-Energy