At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead planning teams and develop effective strategies for complex projects.
- Company: Independent professional services business focused on innovative programme management.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, hybrid working, 25 days holiday, and private healthcare.
- Other info: Opportunity to grow planning capabilities and work in a collaborative community.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team making a real impact on large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Qualifications: 10+ years in project planning, strong leadership, and analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 70089 £ per year.
D2 are an independent and growing professional services business. Since formation in 2011, we have developed a comprehensive suite of programme management capabilities. We combine our industry expertise with innovative thinking and digital products to develop close relationships with our clients and deliver our commitments. We are actively engaged on some of the largest infrastructure projects across the UK and Canada, performing to our mission statement: “Working together to develop intelligent programme management solutions, helping to deliver a more sustainable world.”
The Planning Manager is responsible for leading the planning and scheduling teams across a complex programme or portfolio of projects, ensuring effective planning processes, schedule governance, reporting, and performance analysis are in place to support successful project delivery.
The role requires strong leadership capability, analytical thinking, and the ability to interpret complex project information to provide clear insight and direction. The successful candidate will lead a planning team and work closely with project stakeholders to establish, maintain, and improve integrated programme schedules and reporting structures.
You will also take ownership of key planning responsibilities and support evolving programme requirements throughout the project lifecycle. This is an entrepreneurial role, in that the ideal candidate will have the opportunity to grow D2's planning capabilities on existing or future commissions.
- Develop, implement and maintain an effective planning and scheduling strategy appropriate for programme delivery requirements.
- Lead the planning function across projects and ensure alignment of planning activities and outputs.
- Challenge schedule performance and identify causes of variance against baseline plans.
- Produce and manage programme reporting outputs, dashboards, and planning metrics.
- Monitor and validate planning data inputs, ensuring consistency, accuracy, and compliance with required standards.
- Lead the day-to-day management of the planning team.
- Provide functional leadership, coaching, and development to planning personnel.
- Maintain schedule integrity and ensure planning information remains robust throughout project delivery.
- Monitor and manage compliance with schedule management procedures and governance requirements.
- Analyse schedule trends and provide strategic insight into programme performance.
- Identify planning risks and establish processes to support mitigation activities.
Minimum 10+ years' experience in project/programme planning roles. Significant experience delivering planning services on large-scale engineering, infrastructure, construction, or complex project environments. Strong understanding of planning methodologies and programme controls principles. Experience managing and developing planning teams. Advanced knowledge of planning software and reporting tools. Expert knowledge of project planning and scheduling principles. Strong capability using planning tools such as: Primavera P6, Excel and PowerBI. Strong analytical and data interpretation capability. Understanding of schedule risk and performance analysis techniques.
Competitive salary (Salary dependant on experience level) ~ Pension scheme ~ 25 days holiday + option to buy 4 days. ~ Additional 1 day holiday for your birthday ~ Private healthcare and employee assistance programme ~ Group life insurance. ~ Medi Cash health insurance providing cashback towards everyday healthcare bills. ~ Enhanced family leave, including maternity/ paternity/ adoption. ~ Cycle to work scheme. ~ Financial and technical support for professional memberships ~ Hybrid working ~ Innovation – We are driven to inspire others with fresh creative ideas based on continuously learning. People – We encourage diversity whilst investing in, and developing, the very best talent. Community - We are a collaborative community, understanding challenges from every angle, exploring innovative solutions based on our expert knowledge.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Strategy Manager / Senior Manager in Leeds
✨Dive Into Corporate Strategy Communities
Get yourself involved in online communities or forums focused on corporate strategy. Places like LinkedIn groups or specific Slack channels can hook you up with industry insights, trends, and many potential job leads. Don't hesitate to share your thoughts or ask questions; it’ll boost your visibility!
✨Attend Industry Conferences and Events
Keep an eye out for corporate strategy conferences or networking events in your area (or online!). These gatherings are gold mines for meeting hiring managers and making impactful connections. Plus, having a few good conversations can lead to job referrals at companies like D2!
✨Showcase Your Strategy Skills
Create content that showcases your knowledge of corporate strategy—think reports, blogs, or even video discussions. Sharing these on platforms like LinkedIn or Medium can demonstrate your expertise and make you stand out to employers looking for fresh talent.
✨Apply Directly Through Our Website
Don’t forget to apply for the Strategy Manager / Senior Manager position at D2 via our website! This shows your genuine interest, and who knows, you might just land that interview in a matter of days. Keep your application focused on how you can add value to their strategy team.
We think you need these skills to ace Strategy Manager / Senior Manager in Leeds
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Us Your Strategic Thinking:When crafting your CV and cover letter, highlight your strategic analysis skills. Focus on past experiences where you've effectively assessed market trends or made impactful recommendations. Evidence-based achievements, like improving processes or contributing to significant projects, will help us see your potential for driving corporate strategy at D2.
Tailor Your Narrative:Don’t just send us a generic application! Personalise your cover letter by connecting your experiences and aspirations to D2’s mission and goals. We love seeing candidates who genuinely understand what we do; share how your vision aligns with ours and what you can bring to the table.
Highlight Relevant Academic Credentials:In your CV, make sure to showcase your academic background, especially if you have qualifications in business, economics, or analytics. We appreciate candidates who can back up their skills with relevant degrees or certifications, so don’t be shy about flaunting those achievements!
Utilise Professional Language:While we want you to be yourself, remember that corporate strategy roles demand a level of professionalism in communication. Use clear and concise language in your application materials, ensuring that your ideas come across as well-structured and sophisticated. It’s all about making a great impression right from the written application stage!
How to prepare for a job interview at D2
✨Master the Numbers
Corporate strategy often involves data analysis and financial forecasting. Brush up on your quantitative skills, and be prepared to handle case studies or numerical problems during the interview. We might get questions about how to approach market trends or assess the performance of a hypothetical company — so practice these scenarios!
✨Know Your Frameworks
Familiarity with strategic frameworks like SWOT, PESTLE, or Porter’s Five Forces can set you apart. We should be ready to discuss how we’d apply these tools to real-world business situations — maybe even relating them to D2. This shows we’re not just theory-happy but can articulate our practical application.
✨Engage in Strategic Conversations
In a full-time role like this, it’s crucial to show that we're engaged and informed about current trends in the industry. Keep up with major news and prepare to discuss how recent developments could impact strategic decisions at D2. This will demonstrate our passion and proactive approach to the field.
✨Showcase Relevant Experience
Whether through internships or projects, we should highlight any experience that relates to corporate strategy. Have specific examples ready to talk about how we’ve contributed to strategic growth or improvements. It's about showcasing our unique journey and how it will bring value to D2.
