Senior Project Planner in Leeds

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. Based in Leeds, we work with major rail industry clients, delivering projects that keep the UK's rail network moving. Following our acquisition by Arriva Group, we're entering an exciting new chapter of growth, investment and opportunity as part of one of Europe's leading passenger transport organisations.

We're looking for an experienced Senior Project Planner to join our growing project delivery team. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced planning professional to play a critical role in the successful delivery of rail infrastructure projects by developing, managing and controlling project programmes from mobilisation through to project close-out.

Reporting to the Senior Project Manager, you'll work closely with project, construction, engineering and commercial teams to provide effective planning support, identify programme risks and opportunities, and ensure accurate reporting throughout the project lifecycle.

Why Join RTS Infrastructure? As part of Arriva Group, you'll be joining a business with ambitious growth plans in the UK rail sector. Our recent acquisition strengthens our position within rail infrastructure, broadens our service offering and creates exciting opportunities for our people and our customers. This is a fantastic opportunity to help shape the delivery of major rail infrastructure projects while developing your career within a growing organisation backed by one of Europe's leading transport groups.

What You'll Be Doing:

• Develop, manage and maintain integrated project programmes for rail infrastructure projects.
• Produce baseline, target and update programmes in line with client and project requirements.
• Develop programmes that accurately reflect project scope, construction methodologies, resources, possessions, testing, commissioning and handback activities.
• Establish and maintain programme logic, key milestones, constraints and critical interfaces.
• Monitor project progress and ensure programmes accurately reflect delivery status.
• Identify programme risks, delays, constraints and opportunities at an early stage.
• Work closely with project teams to develop mitigation, recovery and acceleration plans.
• Undertake critical path analysis and provide programme impact assessments.
• Coordinate programme requirements across engineering disciplines, suppliers and subcontractors.
• Support construction planning, mobilisation, testing, commissioning and handback activities.
• Review subcontractor and supplier programmes to ensure alignment with project objectives.
• Produce programme reports, dashboards, narratives and management information.
• Support project controls, commercial management and change management processes.
• Assist with delay analysis, variations, compensation events and time impact assessments.
• Facilitate planning workshops and programme review meetings with project stakeholders.
• Provide planning expertise and professional advice to support project decision-making.
• Promote safe delivery by ensuring programme development considers access, possessions, isolations, testing and assurance activities.

What We're Looking For:

• Significant experience in project planning within the rail, rail infrastructure, construction or engineering sector.
• Strong experience developing and maintaining detailed project programmes throughout construction and delivery phases.
• Advanced working knowledge of Primavera P6 and/or Microsoft Project.
• Experience producing and analysing critical path programmes.
• Experience identifying programme risks, opportunities and recovery strategies.
• Strong understanding of programme controls, progress measurement and project reporting.
• Experience integrating subcontractor and supply chain programmes.
• Experience providing programme impact assessments relating to delay, change and variations.
• Strong understanding of project sequencing, construction activities and multidisciplinary project interfaces.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, scopes of work and construction methodologies.
• Excellent analytical, organisational and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present programme information to a range of stakeholders.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Desirable:

• Degree, HNC/HND or equivalent qualification in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Planning or a related discipline.
• APM PMQ or equivalent qualification.
• Primavera P6 Professional Certification.
• Membership of APM, ICE, CILT or another relevant professional institution.
• Experience working on Network Rail infrastructure projects.
• Understanding of Network Rail governance, PACE and project delivery processes.
• Knowledge of NEC contracts and programme requirements.
• Experience in project controls, cost reporting and change management.
• Experience mentoring or developing junior planners.

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.

Ready to Make an Impact? If you're an experienced planner looking to influence the successful delivery of major rail infrastructure projects, we'd love to hear from you. Join RTS Infrastructure and play a key role in helping deliver critical rail projects that keep the UK's railway moving.