Construction Planner in Bolton

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Construction Planner to join a well-established civil engineering contractor based in Bolton on a full-time, permanent basis. This is an excellent opportunity to become involved in the delivery of key highways and infrastructure schemes across the North West, supporting a business with a strong pipeline of secured work and continued growth.

The organisation has experienced sustained growth in recent years, with turnover increasing significantly over the past five years through successful delivery across civil engineering, highways, and infrastructure projects supported by multiple teams. This role sits within a key planning function and supports projects from tender stage through pre-construction and into live delivery. Close collaboration is required with operational, commercial, engineering, and site teams to ensure programmes are accurate, achievable, and aligned with construction methodology and contractual requirements.

The position is primarily based in the Bolton office, with regular travel to highways and infrastructure sites across the North West to support alignment between planning outputs and live delivery teams. Hours: 40 hours per week (8:30am – 5:00pm), Salary: £50,000 – £65,000 depending on experience, Car allowance plus mileage reimbursement for business travel. Full UK driving licence is required.

• The Construction Planner will develop and maintain construction programmes across tender, pre-construction, and live delivery stages.
• Programme outputs produced by the Construction Planner must align with NEC3 and NEC4 contractual requirements.
• The Construction Planner will work closely with project managers, engineers, commercial teams, estimators, and site teams to ensure sequencing reflects real construction methodology on highways and infrastructure schemes.
• Translate drawings, specifications, and tender documentation into structured programmes suitable for delivery.
• Track progress against milestones and provide clear reporting and updates to stakeholders.
• Identify critical path activities, risks, constraints, and opportunities to improve delivery performance.
• Produce short term lookahead programmes to support site teams and live operations.
• Support delay analysis, programme impact assessments, and Extension of Time (EOT) submissions where required.
• Attend internal and client meetings providing planning input and programme updates.
• Ensure programmes remain live, accurate, and reflective of site progress.
• Undertake regular site visits across the North West to ensure alignment between planning and delivery activity.

• Minimum 4 years’ experience in planning or project controls within civil engineering, highways, or infrastructure environments.
• A relevant qualification in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Project Management, Quantity Surveying, or equivalent discipline is required.
• Advanced Microsoft Project capability with experience managing detailed construction programmes.
• Competence in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, for reporting and tracking.
• Solid understanding of construction sequencing, logic links, dependencies, programme structure, and time risk allowances.
• Experience working on live highways or infrastructure schemes, including phased or constrained environments.
• Ability to interpret technical drawings, specifications, and tender documentation and convert them into programme outputs.
• Proven analytical capability when assessing critical path activity, risk exposure, and programme impact.
• Experience producing programme updates, reporting, and short-term planning outputs.
• Working knowledge of NEC3 and NEC4 contracts, particularly programme requirements and obligations.
• Understanding of delay analysis and NEC Extension of Time (EOT) processes is advantageous.
• Experience managing multiple live programmes simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Confident communication skills with the ability to coordinate across operational, commercial, engineering, and site teams.
• Full UK driving licence with flexibility to travel across North West sites.

• 35 days annual leave including Bank Holidays plus Christmas shutdown.
• Company pension contribution of 3%.
• Life assurance following successful probation.
• Structured training and career development opportunities.
• Car allowance with mileage reimbursement for business travel.
• Discretionary annual performance bonus.

This Construction Planner position is being advertised by S&D Trade Recruitment, operating as an employment business and acting as an employment agency. Please apply with your current CV and ask for Shelley in the office.