At a Glance
- Tasks: Use AI and optimisation tools to enhance project planning and decision-making.
- Company: Join Akordi, a tech-driven subsidiary of Laing O'Rourke, transforming infrastructure delivery.
- Benefits: Flexible working, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with a focus on continuous improvement and career development.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of innovation in construction with cutting-edge technology.
- Qualifications: Experience in construction planning and a passion for AI and optimisation.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
Location: Flexible - Requirement to be Ipswich based 5/6 times a month.
Join Akordi and help transform the future of infrastructure delivery. At Akordi, we're redefining how major infrastructure projects make critical decisions. As a rapidly growing technology business and subsidiary of Laing O'Rourke, we combine deep construction expertise with advanced AI and optimisation technology to help clients deliver complex projects with greater certainty. Our decision intelligence platform enables project teams to better manage risk, optimise schedules and make smarter, data-driven decisions throughout the project lifecycle.
Working across rail, highways, energy, utilities and major capital programmes, we partner with government organisations, developers and tier-one contractors to solve challenges that traditional planning tools simply can't. With continued growth across Australia and the UK, there's never been a better time to join our team.
The Opportunity: We're looking for an experienced Optimisation Manager (Planning) to join our growing Services team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced construction planner who wants to move beyond traditional planning and into the future of project optimisation. You'll combine your planning expertise with AI-driven analytics, simulation modelling and advanced optimisation tools to help some of the world's most complex infrastructure programmes improve certainty, reduce risk and deliver better outcomes. Working alongside industry experts, data specialists and senior client teams, you'll provide strategic insights that influence major delivery decisions across large-scale infrastructure projects.
What You'll Be Doing:
- Use simulation, modelling and optimisation techniques to support project staging, sequencing, scheduling and re-baselining.
- Analyse complex project schedules using Akordi's AI-enabled platform to identify opportunities across time, cost, risk and resource optimisation.
- Assess project performance, extracting lessons learned and identifying opportunities for continuous improvement.
- Identify critical schedule risks and work collaboratively with delivery teams to develop practical mitigation strategies.
- Produce clear, evidence-based reports, dashboards and visualisations for a wide range of stakeholders.
- Facilitate planning workshops, schedule reviews and technical discussions with clients and project teams.
- Collaborate with our Service Design & Delivery team and global specialists to continuously improve our services and products.
- Ensure all assessments align with recognised UK delivery frameworks, including NEC, PACE and GRIP/GRIP Lite.
What We're Looking For: We're interested in people who combine strong planning expertise with curiosity and a passion for innovation.
You’ll Ideally Have:
- Experience delivering construction or infrastructure projects, ideally within major UK or Australian programmes.
- Practical planning experience gained on site or within a project environment.
- Strong capability in developing, analysing and optimising complex master schedules.
- Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 and a solid understanding of other scheduling and project controls tools.
- The ability to interpret engineering drawings, construction methodologies and delivery strategies.
- Excellent analytical, presentation and communication skills, with the ability to explain complex information clearly.
- A proactive, organised approach and the confidence to work independently while contributing to a collaborative team.
- A genuine interest in emerging technologies, AI and innovative approaches to project optimisation.
About Us: Laing O'Rourke are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia. Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.
As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know if you would like to opt in to this scheme and let us know if you require any adjustments for the interview process. We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email resourcingteam@laingorourke.com.
Senior Planning Engineer - AI Optimisation employer: Laing O'Rourke
Laing O'Rourke is an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, particularly in the dynamic environment of Stansted. Employees benefit from comprehensive professional development opportunities, competitive remuneration, and the chance to lead impactful projects within the aviation sector, all while being part of a forward-thinking team dedicated to excellence in procurement.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Planning Engineer - AI Optimisation
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Laing O'Rourke, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Senior Planning Engineer - AI Optimisation at Laing O'Rourke.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Planning Engineer - AI Optimisation
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Laing O'Rourke
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
