PMO Planning Consultant in Bristol

Portfolio, Programme & Project Planning Consultant - Empowering projects in a complex world. Are you ready to start a vital role in shaping our exciting Portfolios, Programmes and Projects? How about joining our talented team, where everyone has a voice, and together we face our clients’ problems head-on.

As a Consultant Programme and Project Planner in Secure Government, you’ll be part of our Delivery Optimisation Practice. In your role you will be working with our clients, suppliers, and AtkinsRéalis teams to enable and achieve maximum benefits from digital transformation and innovative operations. With exciting opportunities across the UK, we are looking to attract the brightest and best talent and have roles suitable for candidates who have a specialism in Planning and Scheduling in transformation and/or engineering/infrastructure delivery and a background in PMO, project/programme controls, and/or other portfolio, programme or project management capabilities.

We provide consulting services across the entire project lifecycle across our key sectors: aviation; defence; security; critical national infrastructure; and local and central government. We also collaborate with our colleagues in other parts of the AtkinsRéalis business world-wide. We solve the most interesting challenges facing organisations today by promoting an innovative and collaborative culture.

We know that different people have different priorities, which is why we’re here to support you. Flexible and remote working is a central part of our culture. So, talk to us about what’s ideal for you – from reduced weeks or buying more leave over school holidays. And if you’re returning from a career break, ask us how we can help you transition back into work with us.

When you join us, you’ll be a part of this genuinely collaborative environment, where everyone’s voice is valued and treated equally. Simply put, this is a great place to be.

Your role

• You will provide consultancy advice on planning and scheduling best practice, facilitate workshops as well as building, analysing, and maintaining schedules on behalf of the schedule owner.
• At Programme level, you will provide quality assurance across the delivery landscape in line with the chosen methodology and against approved planning standards.
• At Portfolio level, you will ensure alignment of critical milestones aligned to strategic objectives.
• You will also provide training and coaching to our wider Project Management community where appropriate to help upskill colleagues.
• Advise and support clients and colleagues on planning best practice and delivery methodology.
• Create, review, maintain and administer Portfolio/ Programme/Project schedules.
• Identify and maintain dependencies across the delivery environment – often interacting with Agile delivery at Project level.
• Input to and review of management products relevant to the schedules.
• Support the schedule update process.
• Conduct analysis and assurance activities.
• Lead/facilitate planning workshops and training sessions.
• Proactively identify and progress opportunities to add value to strategic and tactical decision making.
• Use an understanding of the aspects of both ‘traditional’ and Agile projects to advise on the most appropriate planning practices.
• Support resource utilisation and planning analysis where appropriate.

About you

• Planning and scheduling experience in transformation and/or engineering/infrastructure markets such as defence, security, government and critical national infrastructure is essential.
• A solid understanding of one or more project and programme management methodologies.
• Practical and formal experience of both waterfall and Agile planning principles and methods.
• Consultancy and communication skills to ensure clarity in all situations and to effectively influence and advise.
• A current understanding and working knowledge of the latest trends in planning practices, including one or more planning methodologies.
• Primavera (P6) and / or Microsoft Project and / or Jira to an advanced level (formal and/or comparable experience).
• An understanding of Agile delivery tools.
• An analytical thinker with creative and innovative problem-solving skills.
• Experience or knowledge of concepts such as resourcing and resource levelling, progress measurement, earned value analysis, completion forecasting and status reporting.
• Demonstrable report writing and presentation skills.
• Ability to develop effective communication channels with key stakeholders.
• Work as part of a team, sharing ideas and aiming for planning excellence.
• Ability to deliver effective training and coaching sessions to aid adoption and maturity of planning practices.

Rewards & benefits

Explore the rewards and benefits that help you thrive – at every stage of your life and your career. Enjoy competitive salaries, employee rewards and a brilliant range of benefits you can tailor to suit your own health, wellbeing, financial and lifestyle choices. Make the most of a myriad of opportunities for training and professional development to grow your skills and expertise. And combine our hybrid working culture and flexible holiday allowances to balance a great job and fulfilling personal life.

Additional information

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.

We are committed to creating a culture where everyone feels that they belong - a place where we can all be ourselves, thrive and develop to be the best we can be. So, we offer a range of family friendly, inclusive employment policies, flexible working arrangements and employee resource groups to support all employees. As an Equal Opportunities Employer, we value applications from all backgrounds, cultures and ability.