At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the planning of exciting rail infrastructure projects and ensure their successful delivery.
- Company: Join RTS Infrastructure, part of Arriva Group, a leader in rail services across the UK.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive pay, generous leave, pension contributions, and access to health resources.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and professional development.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of rail while working with diverse teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in project planning within rail or construction sectors is essential.
The predicted salary is between 47250 - 57750 £ per year.
Senior Project Planner Location: Holbeck Depot, Leeds Hours: 40 hours per week Contract: Permanent
Help Shape the Future of Rail Infrastructure
RTS Infrastructure is a trusted provider of rail infrastructure, construction and depot services across the UK.
As part of Arriva Group, we deliver complex rail projects that help keep the nation's rail network moving safely and efficiently.
We’re looking for an experienced Senior Project Planner to join our growing Infrastructure team.
This is an exciting opportunity for a planning professional to play a key role in the successful delivery of rail infrastructure projects, providing programme management, planning expertise and project controls throughout the project lifecycle.
Reporting to the Senior Project Manager, you'll be responsible for developing, managing and maintaining detailed project programmes, ensuring project activities are effectively sequenced, coordinated and delivered safely, efficiently and in line with contractual requirements.
Why Join RTS Infrastructure?
As part of Arriva Group, RTS Infrastructure is entering an exciting period of growth and investment.
You'll have the opportunity to work on complex rail infrastructure projects while influencing project delivery and supporting critical decision-making across the business.
This role offers the chance to work with multidisciplinary project teams, drive programme performance and play a key part in the successful delivery of major infrastructure projects across the UK.
- What You’ll Be Doing
- Develop, manage and maintain detailed integrated project programmes for railway infrastructure projects.
- Produce baseline programmes, target programmes, short-term programmes and regular programme updates.
- Develop programmes that accurately reflect project scope, construction methodology, resource requirements and key milestones.
- Establish and maintain programme logic, dependencies, durations, constraints and interfaces.
- Monitor progress against agreed milestones, contractual requirements and project objectives.
- Ensure programme information remains accurate, up to date and aligned with project delivery requirements.
- Analyse programme performance, critical path activities, float, dependencies and emerging trends.
- Identify programme risks, constraints, delays and opportunities at an early stage.
- Work with project teams to develop mitigation, recovery and acceleration plans where required.
- Provide programme impact assessments relating to changes, delays, variations and compensation events.
- Support project teams in understanding the impact of delivery decisions on overall project completion.
- Work closely with Construction Managers and Site Managers to ensure programmes accurately reflect delivery activities.
- Coordinate programme requirements across civil, M&E and other engineering disciplines.
- Incorporate possession, blockade, isolation, access and operational requirements into project programmes.
- Support look-ahead planning and short-term delivery planning activities.
- Review subcontractor and supplier programmes to ensure alignment with project delivery plans.
- Monitor subcontractor progress against key milestones and agreed deliverables.
- Prepare weekly and monthly programme reports, dashboards and management information.
- Produce programme narratives detailing progress, risks, delays and mitigation measures.
- Support project reviews, client meetings and performance reporting activities.
- Maintain programme records and audit trails relating to project progress and programme changes.
- Support commercial teams with change management, delay analysis and programme-related contractual matters.
- Facilitate programme review meetings and planning workshops with internal and external stakeholders.
- Provide professional planning expertise and advice to support project decision-making.
- Promote a positive safety culture and ensure programmes support the safe delivery of project activities.
- What We’re Looking For
Essential Experience & Qualifications
- Significant experience in project planning within the rail, rail infrastructure, construction or engineering sectors.
- Proven experience developing and managing detailed project programmes through construction and delivery phases.
- Strong understanding of railway infrastructure projects, ideally including depot, station, enhancement or renewal works.
- Advanced working knowledge of Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project.
- Experience producing and analysing critical path programmes.
- Experience identifying programme risks and opportunities and developing recovery plans.
- Strong understanding of project controls, progress measurement and reporting processes.
- Experience reviewing and integrating subcontractor and supply chain programmes.
- Experience assessing programme impacts associated with project changes, delays and variations.
- Ability to interpret engineering drawings, scopes of work and construction methodologies.
- Strong understanding of project sequencing, dependencies and multidisciplinary project delivery.
- Excellent analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills.
- Strong communication skills with the ability to present complex programme information clearly.
- Full UK Driving Licence.
Skills & Attributes
- Highly organised and detail-oriented approach.
- Strong analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Ability to influence and challenge constructively at all levels.
- Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
- Strong commercial awareness and understanding of project delivery objectives.
- Proactive, solution-focused and results-driven mindset.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced project environment.
- Collaborative approach with the ability to work across multidisciplinary teams.
- Commitment to safety, quality and continuous improvement.
Benefits
- Membership of the Arriva Workplace Pension Scheme (3% employer contribution and 5% employee contribution)
- Life Assurance plus access to one of the UK's largest networks of medical professionals
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with opportunities to purchase additional holiday
- Access to our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)
- Access to discounts and cashback through The Village, our online reward gateway
- Eyecare vouchers
- Opportunity to join our Employee Experience Forum, helping shape wellbeing, career development and community initiatives
- Arriva UK Trains Travel Pass
Arriva is a leading provider of passenger transport across Europe, employing around 34,400 people and delivering around 1.6 billion passenger journeys.
With buses, trains, coaches, trams, waterbuses, bike-sharing systems, on-demand transport solutions and a rolling stock leasing company, Arriva proudly connects people and communities safely, reliably and sustainably across 11 countries, delivering these services in a better way, every day.
The activities of Arriva are divided into four business units: UK Bus, UK Trains, The Netherlands and Mainland Europe.
Arriva has passenger transport operations in the Czech Republic, Croatia, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom, and also operates a rolling stock leasing company in Romania.
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Senior Project Planner in Leeds employer: RTS Infrastructure Ltd
RTS Infrastructure, part of the Arriva Group, is an exceptional employer that offers a dynamic work environment in Leeds with hybrid options and travel across the UK. Employees benefit from a strong commitment to professional growth, competitive pension contributions, and a supportive culture that prioritises safety and innovation in rail infrastructure projects. Join a team where your expertise will directly influence the future of rail, while enjoying generous leave, life assurance, and access to a wide range of employee support programmes.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Project Planner in Leeds
✨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 RTS Infrastructure Ltd, 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 Project Planner at RTS Infrastructure Ltd.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Project Planner in Leeds
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 RTS Infrastructure Ltd
✨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!
