Preconstruction Planner in London

The Planner – Bidding & Project Support will play a key role in developing, coordinating, and maintaining tender programmes across major infrastructure pursuits in the UK. The role focuses primarily on supporting the bidding department with the preparation of compliant, competitive, and well-structured tender schedules, ensuring alignment with bid strategy, construction methodology, design/procurement assumptions, and third-party interfaces. The position also provides flexibility to support live project delivery teams when required. This includes assisting with baseline schedule development, progress monitoring, and integration of subcontractor and design information in accordance with project controls standards.

This role requires proactive engagement with multidisciplinary teams, strong analytical and communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in a fast-paced and evolving tendering environment.

• Tender / Bidding Responsibilities (Primary Focus)
  • Develop Level 2 and Level 3 tender programmes in collaboration with bid managers, estimators, designers, and construction leads.
  • Analyse client requirements, contract conditions, and tender documentation to ensure programme compliance.
  • Support development and optimisation of construction methodologies and sequencing for tender submissions.
  • Coordinate planning inputs from internal teams, temporary works, design partners, supply chain, and specialist subcontractors.
  • Prepare programme-related deliverables for tender submissions, including narratives, method-related programme outputs, logistics sequencing, and planning clarifications.
  • Review and assess contractor or partner programmes received during two-stage tenders and provide structured feedback.
  • Carry out scenario planning, schedule risk assessments, and optioneering to support strategic bid decision-making.
  • Attend internal tender reviews, design meetings, workshops, and client engagements as required.
  • Support the bid team in responding to tender queries, RFIs, programme clarifications, and governance reviews.
• Project Delivery Support (As Required)
  • Assist project teams with development and maintenance of baseline programmes during mobilisation or periods of resource need.
  • Support integration of subcontractor and design schedules into project-level programmes.
  • Monitor progress against milestones and provide schedule updates when supporting live works.
  • Contribute to reporting cycles, including progress analysis, earned value inputs, and risk schedule updates.
  • Collaborate with project planning leads to coordinate interfaces and maintain alignment with overall project controls requirements.
• General & Cross-Functional Responsibilities
  • Support standardisation of planning processes, templates, and governance across Dragados UK.
  • Produce logistics sequencing and time-related analysis to support planning outputs.
  • Contribute to the development of planning best practice and benchmarking within the bidding function.
  • Work closely with Business Development, Technical Services, Estimating, and Project Controls to ensure coordinated planning inputs.
  • Maintain accurate programme records, assumptions, and data in line with internal governance requirements.

• Strong proficiency in Primavera P6 (essential).
• Experience in developing construction planning outputs for major infrastructure tenders.
• Knowledge of planning and EVA techniques, construction methodologies, risk management, and cost/time integration.
• Ability to interpret contract documents, client requirements, and tender instructions.
• Proficiency in MS Excel and standard IT systems.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, capable of producing high-quality planning narratives.
• Strong attention to detail, analytical skills, and ability to work under pressure to meet tender deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate across multidisciplinary and external stakeholder teams.
• Ability to manage time effectively and prioritise variably paced workloads.

• Demonstrable experience in planning for major construction projects, valuable specific experience within bidding or early-works development.
• Experience supporting tenders for infrastructure projects >£100m preferred.
• Formal planning or project controls qualification desirable (e.g., APM, PMI, or equivalent).
• Experience in rail, highways, tunnelling, water or other major civil engineering sectors beneficial.

• Excellence: Promoting innovation, development, training and continuous improvement to achieve the highest quality of project delivery.
• Integrity: Acting ethically and transparently. Demanding the best standards of integrity from its employees, suppliers and other stakeholders.
• Trust: Nurturing positive relationships at all levels of the organisation, with our clients and supply chain by developing strong and long-term relationships based on mutual trust.
• Sustainability: Commitment to sustainable development to make an efficient and ethically responsible contribution to society and the environment.
• Profitability: Ensuring our profitability as well as contributing value to the communities in which we operate as part of our sustainability agenda.

Dragados is committed to act based on Equality, Diversity and Inclusion principles. Equal opportunities, non-discrimination and respect for human rights are basic principles contained in the Dragados Code of Conduct that apply to all Dragados employees.