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- Tasks: Join us as a Senior Planner, driving excellence in planning and scheduling for major road projects.
- Company: National Highways manages England's motorways, ensuring safer and smoother journeys for all.
- Benefits: Enjoy a supportive work culture with opportunities for training, mentoring, and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on road safety and efficiency while working in a collaborative environment.
- Qualifications: Experience in project management and scheduling tools like Primavera P6 is essential.
- Other info: We value diversity and encourage applicants from all backgrounds to apply.
National Highways have an excellent opportunity for a Senior Planner to join our team in the Yorkshire, North East Region. Reporting to the Programme Management Office Manager, you will deliver excellence in planning and scheduling across all programmes and schemes.
You will also be responsible for embedding the programme planning strategy and associated management processes, tools and documentation into the region, driving measurable improvements in planning and scheduling across the National Highways teams and supply chain.
You will:
- Provide specialist support to delivery teams in documenting and maintaining programme delivery plans, tracking progress against budgets, timescales, and quality.
- Compile yearly scheme programmes for the regional Operations Programme Office to meet in-year and future year targets, supporting a unified "one programme" approach.
- Regularly update scheme progress with consistent use of project controls and provide key programme information such as forecasts, outputs and status and variance reports.
- Ensure regional delivery plans are version-controlled and maintained in line with Operations and National Highways standards.
- Ensure supply chain contractors' project plans and schedules are clear, logical, well-formatted, and contract-compliant, allowing for thorough review.
- Analysing and interrogate the critical path and time risk allowance in supplier and project schedules.
About you:
- Skilled and experienced in project and programme management methodology and techniques, proven in a complex operational environment.
- Good understanding of planning theory, collaborative planning techniques (critical path analysis, linking, float, re-scheduling, maintaining and tracking baselines, etc) and their application to NEC Contracts.
- Skilled in scheduling tools and systems (specifically Primavera P6), with ability to capture and analyse schedule data at both project and programme levels.
- Proven ability to manage, engage and influence multiple stakeholders towards positive outcomes.
- Ability to train, mentor and coach others to support personal and professional development.
About us:
Here at National Highways, we manage and improve England's motorways and major A roads, helping our customers have safer, smoother and more reliable journeys. Our priorities are safety, customers and delivery, and at the core of this, are our values of passion, integrity, safety, teamwork and ownership.
Operations is at the heart of keeping the strategic road network moving and ensuring our customers get the best possible experience when using our roads. We address over 39,000 customer enquiries every month, plan and deliver all maintenance activities on the network, drive efficiencies and improvements across our systems and roads, and respond to incidents across 4,500 miles of motorways and major A-roads that we manage. All to make sure National Highways customers have safer, smoother, and more reliable journeys.
External candidates will be offered a starting salary at the lower end of the pay scale, while current employees will be appointed in accordance with our established pay policy. We are committed to creating a diverse environment and welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Senior Planner employer: National Highways
Contact Detail:
National Highways Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Planner
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with the specific planning methodologies and tools mentioned in the job description, particularly Primavera P6. Being able to demonstrate your proficiency in these tools during discussions can set you apart from other candidates.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare to discuss your experience with collaborative planning techniques and how you've successfully applied them in previous roles. Highlighting specific examples of critical path analysis or managing stakeholder engagement will showcase your expertise.
✨Tip Number 3
Research National Highways' current projects and initiatives in the Yorkshire and North East Region. Being knowledgeable about their operations and challenges will allow you to tailor your conversation and show genuine interest in contributing to their goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Think about how you can demonstrate your ability to mentor and coach others in project management. Prepare examples of how you've supported team members in their professional development, as this aligns with the role's responsibilities.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Planner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before applying, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Senior Planner position. Tailor your application to highlight how your skills and experiences align with the job description.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV and cover letter, emphasise your experience in project and programme management, particularly in complex operational environments. Mention specific methodologies and tools you've used, such as Primavera P6.
Showcase Your Skills: Demonstrate your understanding of planning theory and collaborative techniques. Provide examples of how you've successfully managed stakeholders and improved planning processes in previous roles.
Craft a Strong Cover Letter: Write a compelling cover letter that not only outlines your qualifications but also reflects your passion for the role and the values of National Highways. Make sure to convey your commitment to safety, teamwork, and customer service.
How to prepare for a job interview at National Highways
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before the interview, make sure you have a solid grasp of the Senior Planner role and its responsibilities. Familiarise yourself with project management methodologies, especially those relevant to National Highways, such as NEC Contracts and collaborative planning techniques.
✨Showcase Your Technical Skills
Be prepared to discuss your experience with scheduling tools, particularly Primavera P6. Highlight specific examples where you've successfully captured and analysed schedule data, and how this has positively impacted project outcomes.
✨Demonstrate Stakeholder Engagement
Since the role involves managing multiple stakeholders, come ready with examples of how you've engaged and influenced others in previous roles. Discuss strategies you've used to ensure positive outcomes and collaboration among teams.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving abilities in real-world scenarios. Think about challenges you've faced in planning and scheduling, and be ready to explain how you approached these issues and what the results were.
