Planning Manager in Port Talbot

We believe that our strength is not just in our steel but the diversity of our workforce. Our people make the difference.

Do you want to shape the delivery of one of the most ambitious industrial programmes in Europe? Project Invictus is moving from vision to reality, and opportunities like this do not come along often. This is a once-in-a-generation transformation. A £1.25bn portfolio of capital projects that will fundamentally reshape Tata Steel UK and support the transition to a greener, lower-carbon future. At the heart of this programme is planning – not as a reporting function, but as a strategic driver of safe, predictable delivery.

As Planning Manager, you will play a pivotal role in setting the planning standards, governance and direction for a complex, multi-year programme that includes the construction of the largest electric arc furnace in the world. Your work will directly influence decision-making at programme and executive level, helping teams understand what is achievable, where risks lie, and how we recover when challenges arise. This is not a desk-based scheduling role. It is a leadership position with real influence, where your expertise will help turn strategy into reality.

What you will do: This role is for someone who already knows what it’s like to plan big, complicated programmes, not just individual projects. You will have experience working on major capital programmes with long timescales, multiple contractors and a lot of moving parts. You’ll be used to dealing with uncertainty, change and pressure, and to explaining what a plan really means to senior people who need clear answers. This isn’t a role for someone early in their planning career or for a purely technical scheduler. We need someone who can set direction, challenge assumptions and influence decisions, based on a solid understanding of how large programmes are actually delivered.

As Planning Manager, you will set the approach to planning across a complex, multi-year programme, including the build of a new electric arc furnace. Your plans will be used at programme and executive level to understand progress, risk and recovery options when things do not go to plan. This is not a desk-based scheduling role. It is a senior role with real influence, working closely with delivery teams, contractors and leadership to turn plans into outcomes.

What you will need: You will bring substantial experience of planning large, complex capital projects, ideally in heavy industry, energy, infrastructure or similarly demanding environments. You will be comfortable operating at programme level, with the credibility to influence senior leaders and challenge delivery teams constructively. Strong expertise in Primavera P6 and schedule analytics is essential, alongside a solid understanding of critical path method, earned value management and schedule risk. Experience working with NEC contracts and supporting schedule impact assessments will be highly valuable.

Just as important as technical skill is how you work. You will be a clear communicator, confident leader and practical problem-solver, able to balance governance with delivery and optimism with realism. You understand that good planning is not about producing perfect schedules, but about enabling better decisions. Qualifications in engineering, project management or planning are desirable, as is membership of a relevant professional body. Where gaps exist, we are committed to supporting development.

What we can offer you: Tata Steel UK offers their employees significant benefits packages. For this role, you will benefit from:

• A market competitive salary
• 35 days holidays per annum
• Annual Pay Review
• Bonus Scheme – subject to business performance
• Ongoing Tata Steel training, which has built a reputation as one of the best within the industry
• Private Healthcare Scheme (Individual cover)
• One of the UK’s leading defined contribution pension schemes (10% employer contribution / 6% employee contribution)
• We also have an extensive list of lifestyle benefits including free onsite parking at all of our sites, an employee assistance programme as well as Employee discount scheme for companies including Vodafone, Jaguar Land Rover and also various local services.

Why us? Tata Steel is one of the world’s top 10 steel producers. The combined group has an annual aggregate crude steel capacity of more than 33 million tonnes with approximately 80,000 employees across four continents. We’re part of the Tata Group, one of the largest, most diverse conglomerates in the world with businesses in the UK including Tata Steel, Jaguar Land Rover and Tetley Tea. Sustainability is at the very heart of what we do and we are dedicated to managing our operations responsibly and to continuously improving our performance. Innovating for tomorrow, making a positive impact today. Tata Steel in the UK is committed to our ambition of reducing energy consumption and to becoming a carbon neutral steelmaker by 2045.