At a Glance
- Tasks: Create and maintain project plans, ensuring smooth operations in rail overhaul activities.
- Company: Join a leading engineering firm with a focus on innovation and teamwork.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and a collaborative work environment.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for career growth and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on multi-million-pound projects while honing your planning skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in project planning and proficiency in ERP systems and Excel.
We are seeking a structured and proactive Project Planner to join our team. In this critical role, you will be the analytical engine room supporting our Senior Project Manager, ensuring that our project plans, ERP systems, and overhaul schedules are flawlessly maintained.
If you are a naturally organized professional who loves diving into data sets, optimizing workflows, and ensuring that shop floor reality perfectly mirrors master schedules, this is your next career step.
Your Key Responsibilities:
- Create, update, and maintain detailed project plans.
- Directly support the scheduling of bogies, rail vehicles, and heavy overhaul activities to optimize workshop throughput.
- Own the data entry and maintenance of work orders within our ERP system, ensuring absolute data integrity, tracking progress, and flagging any delivery deviations early.
- Collate performance metrics from multiple sources to prepare project review packs, maintain tracking KPIs, and provide critical inputs for Estimate at Completion (EAC) forecasting.
- Work hand-in-hand with workshop production leads, field services, engineering, and procurement to ensure planning reflects real operational constraints and resource capacity.
- Maintain strict version control over all planning data, ensuring everything follows agreed corporate processes, standards, and safety systems of work.
Essential Skills Required:
- Proven track record in project planning, scheduling, or project coordination within an engineering, manufacturing, or rail environment.
- Hands-on experience using ERP systems and advanced planning tools to manage high-volume work orders and track actual vs. planned progress.
- Highly proficient in Microsoft Excel, comfortable manipulating and interpreting large datasets to build clear reports.
- Exceptionally numerate and data-driven with a razor-sharp attention to detail.
- Able to translate data confidently and collaborate effectively with diverse teams, from shop-floor technicians to senior stakeholders.
How Success is Measured in This Role:
- Planning accuracy (plan vs. actual performance).
- Schedule adherence supporting On-Time Delivery (OTD).
- ERP data integrity and work order tracking completeness.
- Timeliness and reliability of EAC financial forecasting inputs.
You will step into an agile environment where your reports and insights will directly drive multi-million-pound asset decisions. We offer a structured path for continuous professional improvement and a collaborative team culture.
For more information, either apply directly or call Lindsay on (phone number removed) quoting Reference 81037.
Project Planner employer: Tatton Recruitment
Join our dynamic team in Derby as a Project Planner, where you will play a pivotal role in optimising project workflows and ensuring data integrity within a collaborative and supportive environment. We pride ourselves on fostering a culture of continuous professional development, offering structured growth opportunities that empower you to make impactful decisions in a thriving rail industry. With a focus on teamwork and innovation, we provide an engaging workplace that values your contributions and encourages excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Project Planner
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in the rail and engineering sectors on LinkedIn. Join relevant groups, engage in discussions, and don’t be shy about asking for informational interviews. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising common project planning questions. Think about your past experiences with ERP systems and how you’ve optimised workflows. We recommend using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.
✨Tip Number 3
Show off your data skills! Bring examples of reports or dashboards you've created in Excel to your interviews. Being able to demonstrate your analytical prowess will set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re ready to dive into the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to our projects.
We think you need these skills to ace Project Planner
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experience mentioned in the job description. Highlight your project planning experience, especially in engineering or rail environments, to show us you’re the right fit for the role.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Use your cover letter to tell us why you’re passionate about project planning and how your background aligns with our needs. Be specific about your experience with ERP systems and data management, as these are key for us.
Showcase Your Data Skills:Since we love data-driven decision-making, make sure to mention your proficiency in Microsoft Excel and any experience you have with large datasets. Give examples of how you've used data to improve project outcomes in the past.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates during the process.
How to prepare for a job interview at Tatton Recruitment
✨Know Your Project Planning Basics
Before the interview, brush up on your project planning fundamentals. Be ready to discuss your experience with creating and maintaining project plans, especially in a rail or engineering context. Highlight specific tools you've used, like ERP systems, and how they helped you manage work orders effectively.
✨Showcase Your Data Skills
Since this role requires a strong focus on data integrity and analysis, prepare to demonstrate your proficiency in Microsoft Excel. Bring examples of how you've manipulated large datasets to create reports or track performance metrics. This will show that you're not just familiar with data but can also use it to drive decisions.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Familiarise yourself with the collaborative nature of the role. Be prepared to discuss how you've worked with diverse teams, from shop-floor technicians to senior stakeholders. Share examples of how you’ve ensured that planning reflects operational constraints and resource capacity, as this will resonate well with the interviewers.
✨Prepare for Scenario Questions
Expect scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving skills. Think about times when you had to flag delivery deviations or maintain strict version control over planning data. Prepare concise stories that illustrate your analytical thinking and attention to detail, which are crucial for success in this role.
