Head of Planning in London

Location: London or Birmingham

Salary: £91,000 to £122,026 + 20% Flex fund

The Head of Planning (Delivery) will be responsible for leading the technical management and integration of the Phase One programme, supporting the development of planning & integration policies, identification of schedule performance improvements, correlation of cost, risk, and implementing processes and standards ensuring these are effectively executed.

Support development of best practice tools, policies and processes and lead on ensuring these are being cascaded to the Schedule team and maintained accordingly. Provide delivery and functional leadership and direction of a team of disciplined subject matter experts across multiple locations. Furthermore, act as the central guiding mind to the wider supply chain ensuring best practice is being maintained across the business.

Accountable for owning and managing the integration of schedules and associated interfaces providing critical path and other such analysis to support Phase One contracts, portfolios, as well as HS2 Exec, HS2 Board and DfT Sponsor Board level decision making. Provide technical leadership and advice in support of the overall programme schedule baseline and the development of programme performance reports to articulate current performance including the use of Earned Value Management.

Responsible for providing support in What-if scenario planning providing integrated solutions to programme and project conflicts and recoveries, supporting trade off decision making. Maintain the Client Schedules, ensuring early visibility of trends are highlighted and acted upon accordingly, allowing teams and executive to make decisions based upon real time intelligence. Ensure change control is actively progressed.

Interaction with senior HS2 leadership, DfT and other third-party stakeholders to provide and maintain overall confidence in HS2 ability to deliver within the prescribed schedule baseline. Maintain a high performing team, drive performance standards through expert communication and effective use of management processes. Provide the leadership and direction of the LOD1 assurance activity for Schedule Management, ensuring that consistency, best practice & lessons learned are being upheld.

Responsible for ensuring planning & integration capability and industry best practice is disseminated across Phase One, through training and development, lessons learnt and sharing ways of working. Developing and leading relationships with key stakeholders, including the Department for Transport, wider government stakeholders, the supply chain and third parties, maintaining high levels of transparency and cooperation to ensure that HS2’s objectives are understood and are being managed with regards to planning and integration.

Accountable for leading the Planning team, setting objectives, reviewing performance and ensuring that employees have the necessary skills and understanding to deliver the team’s objectives. Accountable for the deployment of specialist resources and expertise in planning and integration across HS2 to support delivery within the Project Controls teams. Actively promote and embed Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in all your work, and support and comply with all organisational initiatives, policies and procedures on EDI.

Skills About You

• Skills in leadership and team development, including role modelling, promoting continuous improvement and creating a clear sense of direction.
• Communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage and influence colleagues and external stakeholders at all levels, including the Board and Senior Executives.
• Ability to assimilate large volumes of detail, drawing out the key issues in a clear and concise way, suitable for all audiences.
• Technical competence within planning software including Primavera P6.
• Ability to lead and integrate planning activities across a complex programme portfolio.
• Ability to improve processes, procedures and guidance in support of project delivery and to improve efficiency and accuracy within planning systems.
• Ability to analyse and interpret data, producing accurate, timely and informative reports in multiple formats targeted to the needs of the audience.

Knowledge

• Knowledge of planning systems, processes and procedures capable of delivering large complex programmes.
• Knowledge of the core Project Controls disciplines, including; Schedule Management, Cost Management, Change Management and Risk Management and how they interrelate.
• Knowledge of the Project and Commercial Management principles including understanding of cost delivery, schedule targets.
• Understanding of NEC contracts, amendments, early warning notices and the work flow of communications between contractor and client.
• Knowledge of all stages of the project life cycle.

Type Of Experience

• Experience in a programme management, Area Planning Lead or senior planning role within complex delivery environments.
• Experience of operating effectively as a senior leader, undertaking significant value and high profile programmes of work.
• Experience of managing, developing and supporting a team within a major project or programme.
• Experience in the core project controls functions, including; baseline maintenance, schedule management, cost performance, change management, risk management and performance reporting.
• Experience of working on projects during all stages within the project lifecycle.
• Experience of developing and implementing systems, processes and procedure revisions within complex project environments.
• Experience of leading programmes through significant governance procedures such as re-baselining, funding approval or major contract implementation.
• Experienced in the use of Microsoft applications (e.g. Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) or equivalent.
• Experienced in the management and control of key Project Controls systems (e.g. Primavera P6, Prism, CEMAR, etc.).
• Experience of facilitating and administering governance meetings with Executive level stakeholders.

About Us

High Speed 2 (HS2 Ltd) will be the UK’s new high speed rail network. As well as improving capacity, the new scheme will shorten journey times between a number of Britain’s major population centres, boost the economy and create thousands of jobs. HS2 Ltd will create a skills legacy and develop a diverse range of talent. We aim to be a leader in EDI practice by creating a safe & inclusive working environment for all our staff - living our values of Safety, Respect, Integrity and Leadership.

In practice, this means we are positive and inclusive about making adjustments, providing flexible working, encouraging our staff networks to flourish and providing personal and professional development opportunities. HS2 Ltd is also a safety-critical organisation. Employees are required to ensure reasonable care of their own and others’ health and safety by taking personal responsibility for working to our ‘Safe at Heart’ programme principles and following safe working procedures at all times. HS2 Ltd endeavours to ensure everyone working for us and with us feels included, thrives and achieves their full potential.