Planner

Company Overview

Our client is a specialist civil engineering contractor with a genuine technical edge, focused on complex trenchless (no-dig) works including sewer condition surveys, pipe rehabilitation and specialist trenchless installations.

With a trading history spanning more than three decades, the business operates from multiple bases across Great Britain, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, giving it a genuinely cross-border footprint that is rare among specialist contractors of its size.

The company continues to grow steadily, driven by an expanding project pipeline and rising demand across its core markets. As a result, it is investing further in its project delivery teams, creating a timely opportunity for an experienced planner to join at a pivotal stage and help shape the function going forward.

This is a business that places genuine emphasis on people, performance and progression, with a structured approach to career development and a culture built on collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.

Working Environment & Projects

You will join a lean, technically strong planning function, giving you real ownership of the planning discipline from day one rather than being one of several planners on a rota. The role reports directly into senior leadership, providing close visibility of, and influence over, key delivery decisions.

The project portfolio spans flood alleviation schemes, culvert rehabilitation, major infrastructure crossings, sea outfalls and live rail crossings, delivered across water & sewerage, oil & gas, aviation, road, marine and rail sectors. This genuinely varied sector base means the programme challenges differ from project to project, rather than repeating the same logic year after year.

Contracts are predominantly delivered under NEC3/NEC4 (ECC) terms, typical of utility and infrastructure clients, with the planner owning programme obligations under the contract directly. You will have full autonomy over programme development and updates — genuinely building schedules from first principles rather than only maintaining an inherited schedule.

Responsibilities

• Take full ownership of programme development across multiple live civil engineering projects, building schedules from first principles (WBS, logic links, baseline)
• Update and maintain programmes in line with NEC contract requirements, including progress capture, narratives and acceptance
• Identify and report time impact arising from compensation events
• Coordinate closely with commercial, engineering and site delivery teams to protect programme integrity
• Confidently challenge site teams on programme risk, logic and delivery sequencing
• Report directly to senior leadership on programme status, progress and risk
• Contribute to the ongoing development of the planning function as the business grows
• Maintain consistency and quality across a varied, cross-sector project portfolio

What You Need

• 8+ years' planning experience at a senior/lead level, with proven autonomous ownership of programmes — not solely updating schedules built by others
• A background within a Tier 1 or Tier 2 civil engineering / infrastructure contractor (contractor-side)
• Detailed working knowledge of NEC3/NEC4 contracts, including compensation events and time impact analysis
• Strong, hands-on experience building programmes in Primavera P6 — genuine build capability, not just viewing or light editing
• Genuine first-principles programme build experience: WBS, logic links and baselining
• Existing right to work in the UK, as visa sponsorship is not available for this role
• A confident, meticulous approach, comfortable operating autonomously as sole/lead planner

What You'll Get in Return

This role offers a highly competitive salary of up to £97,000, together with a company car (or £6,000–£8,000 car allowance), private healthcare, a performance bonus and pension. Hybrid working (3 days office / 2 days home) is on offer, along with genuine flexibility on commuting distance. Beyond the package, you will gain genuine autonomy and influence over delivery decisions, exposure to a varied, technically demanding project portfolio, and a clear, structured route into Senior Planner or Head of Planning as the business continues to grow.

How to Apply

To explore this opportunity in confidence, please forward your CV or project profile to or contact 07481 954446 for an initial confidential discussion.