Senior Planning Manager

Job Title

Senior Planning Manager

Location

Derby, Manchester, Warrington

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time

Job Function

Management and Manufacturing

Industry

Utilities

About the Role

We are Rolls‑Royce SMR and we\’re doing something that’s never been done before. We’re revolutionising an industry. That’s a once‑in‑a‑career opportunity for those excited by such a challenge. This is more than just a job; this is a legacy.

We are now recruiting for the exciting role of Senior Planning Manager, to be involved in industry‑leading, cutting‑edge design project for a new type of power station.

Reporting to the Head of Planning with the PMO, the Senior Planning Manager leads the development and implementation of comprehensive and credible project plans by the team, that align with the overall business and customer goals and objectives of the project. The role ensures that every aspect of the scope is thoroughly understood, captured, and assigned the necessary sub‑contracts, resources and estimated labour hours and costs for successful delivery. It also involves identifying and planning all dependencies, key milestones and deliverables, and integration with risk management to maintain a credible critical path to ensure the project stays on track and manage Rolls‑Royce SMR’s business risks.

As the planning subject matter expert, the Senior Planning Manager provides guidance on best‑practice planning techniques to develop credible plans that meet all contractual requirements and align with RR SMR planning standards. The position requires collaboration with multiple stakeholders from various disciplines and functions across the business and sub‑contractors to ensure that plans are well‑understood and have stakeholder buy‑in.

Additionally, the role includes managing a planning team to ensure that planners adhere to the standards set by the Programme Management Office (PMO).

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and ensure the development of a schedule which meets all customer contractual and business requirements.
• Ensure sub‑contract packages are fully integrated.
• Ensure schedule integrity by validating dependencies, milestones, and critical paths.
• Support the PMO in maintaining scheduling standards and governance frameworks for the organisation.
• Coordinate with lead planners, project managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to maintain accurate dependencies and critical path data.
• Prepare and present high‑level project status reports to senior management, explaining critical path and float positions.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, procedures, and industry standards.
• Provide training and support to team members on scheduling best practices and tools.
• Collaborate with teams to anticipate and manage future planning resource demands by gaining a thorough understanding of their needs.
• Facilitate the integration of schedule with cost for Earned Value Analysis and other performance metrics.

Key Results

• Support the delivery of an integrated schedule with alignment across all project phases.
• Support the planning teams to meet contractual deadlines.
• Enhanced visibility of programme timelines for senior stakeholders through accurate reporting.

We understand that confidence can sometimes hold you back from applying for a job. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.

Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector‑jump, please get in touch – we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.

Pay and Benefits

We anticipate paying a salary of between £68,000 – £89,000 DOE plus:

• Bonus – Performance‑related target opportunity of 17%
• Benefits Allowance – £5,000 per annum, enabling you to create a bespoke package
• Pension – 12% employer and 6% employee contributions
• Holidays – 28 days holiday (+ public holidays) and the ability to buy or sell up to 4 days
• Private Medical Insurance – BUPA single cover health care
• Life Assurance – 6× pensionable pay
• £250 – One‑off payment for new starters for home office purchases

About the Company

We are Rolls‑Royce SMR – a rare employer that blends the world‑class brand of Rolls‑Royce with an exciting start‑up that has a hugely challenging mission. We’re doing work that contributes to the survival of the planet.

Because of our mission, there’s a pace and energy that is palpable, and our leaders draw you in with their passion, energy, and determination.

We’re one of a handful of employers who can genuinely say we’re a strengths‑based organisation – our people are here because of what makes them great, and our job is to help them make the best contribution of their careers doing work they love.

The start‑up mentality coupled with our strengths‑approach to people means there are opportunities to grow in ways and jobs you probably would be barred from doing in more traditional companies.

Each Rolls‑Royce SMR power station will have the capacity to generate 470 MW of low‑carbon energy, equivalent to more than 150 onshore wind turbines and enough to power a million homes. It will provide consistent baseload generation for at least 60 years, helping to support the roll‑out of renewable generation and overcome intermittency issues.

At Rolls‑Royce SMR, we are committed to ensuring that our teams reflect the communities we serve and that everyone can be themselves at work. We know that diverse teams are more innovative and get better results, and that our people can thrive and be more successful in truly inclusive cultures. Join us and help shape our culture. Find out more about our inclusion pledge.

Application Process

Due to the safety regulations within the nuclear industry, applicants will be required to participate in additional screening:

• Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
• Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check

Why Join Us?

• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.

Equal Opportunities

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.