At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead planning for major water projects, optimising processes and driving continuous improvement.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company committed to equality and innovation in the water sector.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, inclusive culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic environment focused on diversity, inclusion, and career advancement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on essential water infrastructure while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in project planning, ideally in water or complex infrastructure, with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 55000 - 65000 £ per year.
The Arcadis Water Optimisation team delivers AMP8 Water projects across our clients’ portfolios within clean and wastewater schemes within infrastructure & non‑infrastructure. This strategic role will develop and implement robust planning governance, processes, and systems; integrate programme schedules; and drive continuous improvement in delivery performance.
Our Programme & Project Management team is seeking an experienced Senior Planning Engineer to join us as a leader who will build and mature our planning capability, while also providing hands‑on planning leadership for major delivery across the Water sector.
In this role, you will provide expert advice to project teams and senior leadership on earned value management, resource requirements, programme risks, performance reporting, and out‑turn cost forecasting. You will collaborate closely with portfolio leads, discipline leads, and business stakeholders to optimise resource forecasting, align plans with delivery capabilities, and strengthen financial and schedule control. Additionally, you will support tendering activities by delivering comprehensive programme inputs, resourcing strategies and cost forecast data to improve bid accuracy and deliverability. Your leadership will be critical in maturing planning capability, enhancing predictability, and enabling the successful delivery of complex resilience infrastructure programmes.
Role accountabilities:
- Leading on planning capabilities that support major water AMP8 programmes, defining roles, standards and capability uplift.
- Design, implement and embed new planning processes, procedures and tools to standardise delivery across tender, project and portfolio levels.
- Own integrated baseline programmes, WBS and schedule hierarchies, ensuring alignment with scope, milestones, regulatory requirements and client expectations.
- Oversee schedule health checks, earned value analysis and variance management; drive recovery, contingency and re‑forecast actions as required.
- Produce and present timely reports on schedule performance, earned value, resource utilisation and out‑turn cost forecasts to inform senior leadership decisions.
- Provide strategic input to tender programmes, including programme assumptions, resource plans, risk assessments and cost forecast data to improve bid deliverability.
- Maintain portfolio‑level resource forecasts and capacity plans to support business unit resourcing strategy and recruitment priorities.
- Embed planning governance, data integrity and configuration control in planning systems; assure compliance with standards and auditable baselines.
- Facilitate integrated planning and risk workshops to identify programme risks, opportunities and mitigation measures, escalating critical issues to leadership.
- Drive continuous improvement and digital adoption in planning and reporting to enhance predictability, efficiency and decision support across the business.
Qualifications & Experience:
Essential:
- Sufficient years’ experience in project planning and scheduling, ideally within the water sector but open to complex infrastructure sector.
- Degree/HNC/HND in Engineering, Project Management or a related subject.
- Strong understanding of UK infrastructure delivery contexts, including governance, regulatory and stakeholder requirements across the environment sector and local authorities.
- Proven ability to lead and develop teams in a fast‑paced environment.
- Proficient in planning software (e.g., Safran, Primavera P6, MS Project).
- Excellent organisational, commercial and communication skills.
- Experience with project controls, cost engineering and financial operations.
- Familiarity with different contracting environments and commercial models.
Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging:
We want you to be able to bring your best self to work every day which is why we take equality and inclusion seriously and hold ourselves to account for our actions. Our ambition is to be an employer of choice and provide a great place to work for all our people. We believe that by working together, diverse people with different experiences develop the most innovative ideas. Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of how we improve quality of life and we work closely with our people across six ED&I Workstreams: Age, Disability, Faith, Gender, LGBT+ and Race. A diverse and skilled workforce is essential to our success.
Senior Planner - AMP8 Water in London employer: Poutrix
Arcadis is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment where innovation and collaboration thrive. As a Senior Planner in the AMP8 Water team, you will benefit from a culture that prioritises equality, diversity, and inclusion, alongside opportunities for professional growth and development within the water sector. With a commitment to continuous improvement and digital adoption, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping the future of infrastructure delivery while enjoying a supportive atmosphere that values your contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Planner - AMP8 Water in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the water sector and let them know you're on the hunt for a Senior Planning Engineer role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Get your hands dirty with some research! Familiarise yourself with the latest trends and challenges in the AMP8 Water projects. This will not only help you in interviews but also show potential employers that you're genuinely interested in the field.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Prepare for common interview questions related to project planning and scheduling. Think about how your experience aligns with the responsibilities outlined in the job description, and be ready to share specific examples.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive and engaged with our company.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Planner - AMP8 Water in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Senior Planning Engineer. Highlight your experience in project planning and scheduling, especially within the water sector or similar infrastructure projects. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this role. Mention specific projects you've worked on that relate to AMP8 Water and how you can contribute to our planning capabilities.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading teams and developing planning capabilities, be sure to highlight any leadership experiences. Share examples of how you've successfully guided teams in fast-paced environments and improved delivery performance.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Poutrix
✨Know Your Planning Processes
Make sure you’re well-versed in the planning processes and tools mentioned in the job description, like earned value management and resource forecasting. Brush up on your knowledge of planning software such as Safran or Primavera P6, as being able to discuss these confidently will show your expertise.
✨Demonstrate Leadership Skills
Since this role requires leading teams and developing planning capabilities, prepare examples from your past experiences where you successfully led a project or improved a process. Highlight how you’ve motivated teams and driven performance improvements in a fast-paced environment.
✨Understand the Water Sector
Familiarise yourself with the current trends and challenges in the water sector, especially regarding AMP8 projects. Being able to discuss relevant issues and how they impact planning will demonstrate your commitment and understanding of the industry.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills and ability to manage risks. Think about potential challenges in project planning and how you would address them, particularly in relation to schedule health checks and variance management.
