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- Tasks: Lead and modernise the planning function across multiple locations for efficient operations.
- Company: Established technical services organisation with a focus on growth and innovation.
- Benefits: Hybrid work model, competitive salary, and opportunities for professional development.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact on operational efficiency and revenue generation in a leadership role.
- Qualifications: Senior experience in planning or service coordination, strong leadership skills, and financial awareness.
- Other info: High-visibility role with opportunities for career advancement and influence across the organisation.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Location: Leicester (Hybrid with occasional UK travel)
Reporting to: Managing Director / Operations Director
About the Company
We are working with a well-established, privately backed technical services organisation operating across multiple locations in the UK. The business provides specialist testing, inspection, and compliance services to clients across infrastructure, construction, utilities, and regulated industries. With continued growth and operational expansion, the company is now looking to appoint a Head of Planning to lead and modernise the national planning and service coordination function.
The Role
This is a senior leadership role responsible for overseeing the end-to-end planning lifecycle from order handover through to work completion and handover to finance for billing. The role is focused on operational flow, planning discipline, utilisation, and billing readiness rather than technical delivery. You will lead the planning function nationally, ensuring work is scheduled efficiently, delivered predictably, and handed over cleanly for invoicing and cash collection. You will also play a key role in implementing and embedding a central planning system across multiple operational sites.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and develop the Planning function across multiple locations
- Own the planning lifecycle from order handover to work completion
- Improve utilisation, workflow, and operational efficiency through planning
- Ensure completed work is handed to Finance fully ready for billing
- Implement and embed a central planning and scheduling system
- Monitor KPIs such as backlog, utilisation, and unbilled work
- Act as the key interface between Planning, Operations, Sales, and Finance
- Support operational performance, revenue flow, and cash collection through planning discipline
About You
- Senior experience leading planning, scheduling, or service coordination teams
- Experience in multi-site service, engineering, construction, testing, or infrastructure environments
- Strong commercial and financial awareness
- Comfortable using data, KPIs, and dashboards to drive decisions
- Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills
- Experience implementing planning or scheduling systems would be advantageous
Why This Role
This role is critical to ensuring the business delivers work efficiently, improves utilisation, and converts completed work into revenue and cash more effectively. It is a high-impact leadership position with significant visibility across operations, finance, and senior leadership.
Head of Planning in Leicester employer: Solutions Driven
Contact Detail:
Solutions Driven Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Planning in Leicester
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the lookout for opportunities. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a role that’s perfect for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their needs, especially in planning and operational efficiency. We want to see you shine!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your answers and boost your confidence. Focus on showcasing your leadership skills and how you can drive operational flow.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Planning in Leicester
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Head of Planning. Highlight your experience in leading planning functions and any relevant achievements in operational efficiency. We want to see how you can bring value to our team!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this senior leadership role. Share specific examples of how you've improved workflows or implemented planning systems in the past. We love a good story!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: Since this is a leadership position, make sure to emphasise your experience in managing teams and stakeholders. We’re looking for someone who can inspire and drive change, so don’t hold back on sharing your successes in this area.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Solutions Driven
✨Know Your Planning Lifecycle
Make sure you understand the end-to-end planning lifecycle, from order handover to billing. Be ready to discuss how you've improved operational flow and efficiency in your previous roles, as this will show your expertise in managing complex processes.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a senior role, they’ll be looking for strong leadership qualities. Prepare examples of how you've led teams, managed stakeholders, and driven performance improvements. Highlight any experience you have in multi-site environments, as this is crucial for the position.
✨Be Data-Driven
Familiarise yourself with key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to planning and scheduling. Be prepared to discuss how you've used data and dashboards to make informed decisions in the past. This will demonstrate your commercial awareness and ability to drive results.
✨Understand the Company’s Needs
Research the company and its operations thoroughly. Understand their current challenges and how the planning function can address them. Tailor your responses to show how your skills and experiences align with their goals, especially in improving utilisation and revenue flow.