Senior Planner in England

Opportunity for a Senior Planner to join our Life Science team in Macclesfield. John Sisk & Son have been building excellence as a family-owned international construction company by offering trust, certainty and value to our clients whilst being at the heart of change. The Senior Planner leads the planning and project controls function across the business, setting standards and ensuring consistency in pre-construction and construction phases. This role supports delivery excellence through accurate programme development, progress monitoring, risk management, and reporting to senior management and the Board. The Senior Planner is responsible to develop the baseline contract programme which includes design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover with each element appropriately validated to ensure a robust and deliverable programme submission.

Responsibilities

• Programme Development & Control

• Lead the preparation of NEC Cl 31 compliant Contract Programmes for acceptance.
• Carry regular 4 weekly programme NEC Cl 32 programme updates.
• Make clear provisions for Time Risk Allowance (TRA) and Terminal Float.
• Ensure all programmes are prepared and follow a consistent layout provided by Sisk.
• All programmes to be fully logic linked which generate a robust critical path and subsequent float paths and be able to analyse these.
• Be able to plan from first principles (Developing own logic, assessing quantum of work, calculating periods and resource loading).
• Be able to prepare sequence sketches and ‘mark ups’ for logistics including planning workbooks to support the ‘bases’ of the programme.
• Engage with the Sisk Team, Supply chain to develop / validate the project programme with regards to design, lead-in’s, construction periods, plant & labour requirements.
• Be aware of risk from H&S risk, commercial risk, quality, and time risk. Documenting Programme risk.
• Include appropriate hold points for inspections and quality sign offs.
• Identify Opportunities and create conditions to capitalise on these.
• Maintain electronic files and administration of planning and programme documents to facilitate retrieval as required.
• Contract and tender programmes files produced to a high standard and be able to pass a (CIOB or DCMA quality check).

• Reporting, Progress & As-Built Information

• Develop and manage tracking schedules to monitor subcontractor programmes.
• Maintain and update as-built programmes, highlighting variances from baseline.
• Input into change requests, advising on programme impacts to facilitate approvals.
• Validate and track progress using output rates and provide feedback to inform future tenders.
• Undertake peer reviews of planners’ programmes to ensure consistency and quality.
• Use 4D/2D planning tools to represent current progress visually.

• Management & Leadership

• Provide regular updates to Regional Planners and report programme positions at monthly contract reviews.
• Lead programme reporting weekly and monthly in coordination with project management teams.
• Manage, mentor, and support assistant and graduate planners, conducting performance and development reviews.
• Ensure the quality and accuracy of planning outputs produced by project and site teams.
• Benchmark programme periods using subcontractor input, historic data, and project consultation.
• Lead planning and programme management duties during both pre-construction and site phases.
• Contribute to assessment of programme entitlements under contract conditions (e.g., NEC, JCT).

Experience

• Essential

• Successful record of working with clients, contractors and other stakeholders on live construction projects in a laboratory / pharma framework environment is desirable.
• Experience of working within a team.
• Extensive knowledge of UK and EU legal framework, in particular contract management.
• Experience managing & developing junior planner.
• Experience in Laboratory Constructions and high-tech manufacturing facilities desirable.
• Effective communication and people skills required, engaging positively and professionally with others.
• Excellent IT skills.
• Experience in Asta Power Project & Primavera P6.

• Desirable

• Advanced contract awareness – Understanding JCT and NEC forms of contract.
• Basic BIM training and understanding of the common data environment.

Qualifications

• Essential

• Degree or diploma in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Project Management, or a related discipline. Equivalent professional experience will also be considered.
• Certification or training in planning and programme software (e.g., ASTA Powerproject).

• Desirable

• Membership (or working towards membership) of a relevant professional body (e.g., CIOB, ICE, APM).
• Advanced training in ASTA Powerproject (e.g., progress analysis, S-curve reporting, resource management).
• Training in contract management (NEC, JCT).
• Training in Synchro, BIM, and collaborative data environments.
• Training in people management and presentation techniques.

Additional Information

• Competitive salary
• 26 days annual leave plus additional company days
• Pension and benefits
• Unlimited learning and development opportunities
• Much more

At Sisk Group our people are at the heart of our success. We offer the chance to work with purpose, build a career with no limits and be part of a great team. We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or any other protected characteristic. Reasonable adjustments are available during the recruitment process. We know the confidence gap and imposter phenomenon can stop talented candidates applying. You do not need to meet every criterion – your skills and potential matter. Don’t hold back we want to hear from you.