Lead Project Planner

Location: Preferred in Glasgow but open to hybrid (UK) with periodic travel to Glasgow (~monthly). Occasional UK project travel.

Overview

SUMITOMO ELECTRIC U.K. POWER CABLES LTD. is seeking a Lead Project Planner to support the implementation and delivery of the Sea Link HVDC Interconnector project by leading the development and management of the project’s integrated schedule. Reporting to the Project Controls Director, the Lead Project Planner will act as owner of the project Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), ensuring alignment across engineering, procurement, manufacturing, offshore installation, construction and commissioning activities. The role will play a key part in supporting effective project implementation by providing clear schedule visibility, identifying potential delays and coordinating mitigation strategies across the project organisation. The successful candidate will work closely with the Project Director, project leadership team, subcontractors and client programme controls teams to ensure schedule integrity and accurate project forecasting.

Key Responsibilities

• Integrated Schedule Management
  • Own and maintain the project Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) using Primavera P6.
  • Ensure full integration of schedules across engineering, procurement, manufacturing, offshore installation, construction and commissioning activities.
  • Establish and maintain schedule baselines aligned with contractual milestones and project delivery requirements.
  • Coordinate schedule inputs from internal teams and major subcontractors and ensure their integration into the project master schedule.
  • Maintain schedule integrity and ensure consistent planning assumptions across project workstreams.
• Project Implementation Support
  • Support the successful implementation of the project through robust planning, scheduling and progress monitoring processes.
  • Ensure alignment between project milestones and delivery activities across the project lifecycle.
  • Identify schedule conflicts, bottlenecks and delays and support development of mitigation or recovery plans.
  • Provide schedule insight to support project leadership decision-making.
• Progress Monitoring & Forecasting
  • Lead the periodic schedule update process.
  • Monitor progress against the baseline schedule and identify impacts on the critical path.
  • Provide schedule forecasts and variance analysis to support project management.
  • Ensure accurate and timely schedule reporting within the project controls framework.
• Risk, Change and Impact Analysis
  • Support schedule risk identification and mitigation planning.
  • Perform schedule impact analysis related to scope changes, variations or design development.
  • Support change management and commercial teams in evaluating schedule impacts.
  • Assist in the development of recovery plans where schedule deviations occur.
• Stakeholder Coordination
  • Act as the central coordination point for planning activities across the project organisation.
  • Work closely with engineering, procurement, construction and commercial teams to ensure schedule alignment.
  • Coordinate programme interfaces with major subcontractors, suppliers and installation contractors.
  • Support reporting and coordination with TSO programme controls teams.
• Project Controls Integration
  • Work closely with the wider project controls team including cost control, risk management, change management and document control.
  • Support the development of project performance indicators and reporting dashboards.
  • Ensure alignment between schedule data and project reporting requirements.
  • Contribute to the overall effectiveness of the project controls framework.
• Team Leadership
  • Provide leadership and guidance to project planners within the project controls team.
  • Coordinate planning activities across the planning team to ensure consistency and alignment with the Integrated Master Schedule.
  • Ensure planning standards, processes and best practices are applied consistently across the project.

Key Interfaces

• Project Controls Director
• Project Director and senior project leadership team
• Engineering, procurement and construction delivery teams
• Commercial and contract management teams
• Major subcontractors and installation contractors
• Client programme controls and relevant stakeholders

Preferred Knowledge / Skills / Experiences

• Minimum 10 years of experience in project planning or project controls within large-scale infrastructure, energy or EPC projects.
• Strong experience developing and managing integrated project schedules using Primavera P6.
• Experience coordinating schedules across multiple subcontractors and delivery partners.
• Background in sectors such as subsea cable, offshore energy, oil & gas, power transmission or major infrastructure projects.
• Experience performing critical path analysis, schedule forecasting and schedule impact assessments.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Professional certification such as APM, PMI-SP or equivalent is advantageous.