Senior Consultant – Planning / Delay in Manchester

We are seeking an experienced senior planner to play a key role in the successful planning, project control and delay analysis and delivery of complex projects. This position suits a confident planning professional with strong technical capability, leadership skills, and a well‑developed interest in project controls, delay analysis and schedule forensic techniques. You will take ownership of project programmes, support strategic decision‑making, and provide planning expertise across bids and live projects. The role offers significant exposure to senior stakeholders and the opportunity to mentor and develop junior planners.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, management, and ownership of fully logic‑linked, resource‑loaded project programmes using Primavera P6, Asta Powerproject, or equivalent tools.
• Direct the performance of schedule integrity checks (e.g. DCMA 14-point assessment) and utilise advanced schedule analytics tools such as Acumen Fuse to conduct health checks, forensic analysis, and schedule optimisation.
• Lead programme reviews, baseline development, progress updates, and change control, providing strategic oversight and technical leadership to ensure programmes are robust, defensible, and aligned with project objectives and contractual requirements.
• Provide support to delay claims or dispute resolution activities.
• Undertake and manage delay analysis work, applying established methodologies including time impact analysis (TIA), time‑slice analysis, and collapsed as‑built analysis, drawing on knowledge of the SCL Delay and Disruption Protocol or other recognised recommended practices.
• Provide expert advice on programme risk, mitigation strategies, and recovery planning, utilising quantitative schedule risk analysis (QSRA) and tools such as Primavera Risk Analyser or equivalent risk assessment software.
• Lead the preparation of detailed programme reports, executive narratives, and client-facing dashboards for senior management and key clients, synthesising complex programme data and incorporating client input to deliver strategic insights and support high‑level decision‑making.
• Support tender planning and bid submissions, including methodology development and programme strategy.
• Chair or contribute to planning and progress meetings with internal teams and external stakeholders, including clients, contractors and employers, providing strategic direction, resolving programme issues, and driving consensus on key milestones and recovery actions.
• Mentor and support junior planners, promoting best practice and consistency across planning outputs.
• Provide support to associate directors, directors and other members of the team.
• Actively support business development initiatives and events.

About You

• 6+ years’ experience in a senior planning role within construction, engineering, infrastructure, energy, or similar sectors, with demonstrable expertise across planning, project controls, claims, and delay analysis.
• Strong practical experience in delay analysis, with knowledge of common methodologies and contractual considerations.
• Advanced/expert proficiency in Primavera P6, Asta Powerproject; working knowledge of schedule integrity/analysis tools, e.g. Acumen Fuse.
• Excellent understanding of construction methodologies, sequencing, and critical path analysis.
• Commercially aware, with the ability to support claims, variations, and change management, underpinned by a strong knowledge of various contract forms (e.g., NEC, JCT, FIDIC) and, in particular, their planning and delay‑related clauses.
• Strong communication skills, able to present complex programme information clearly and confidently.
• Relevant degree/professional qualification and professional accreditation (MCIOB and/or MCIArb) required.