At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead planning for complex airport projects and ensure successful delivery.
- Company: Join a leading company in the aviation sector with a focus on innovation.
- Benefits: Enjoy 28 days leave, medical cover, and a supportive work environment.
- Other info: Diverse workplace committed to inclusion and continuous improvement.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in the aviation industry while advancing your career.
- Qualifications: 7+ years in planning, with strong leadership and project management skills.
The predicted salary is between 56430 - 68970 £ per year.
Reports to: Head of Planning
Location: London - Heathrow Airport (All Terminals)
Contract Type: Permanent
Introduction to role
As a Planning Lead, reporting to the UK & Ireland Head of Planning, you will lead planning activities across complex airport and automated material handling projects throughout the full project lifecycle. You will be responsible for developing, maintaining and assuring integrated project programmes, providing clear visibility of project performance, key milestones, risks, opportunities and delivery strategy. Working closely with Project Managers, Engineers, Customers, Suppliers and Subcontractors, you will act as the planning lead on your projects, driving programme performance and supporting successful project delivery.
Role Responsibilities
- Support the UK & Ireland Head of Planning in the management and development of the planning function across the business.
- Support planning governance, resource management, capability development, recruitment, continuous improvement initiatives and deputise for the Head of Planning when required.
- Collaborate with project teams, customers and stakeholders across multiple locations. Travel may therefore be required as part of the role.
- Involved throughout the full project lifecycle, including bid support, design, engineering, procurement, manufacturing, installation, testing, commissioning and handover.
- Develop and maintain integrated project programmes from project initiation through to completion, including building schedules from first principles and establishing robust and achievable delivery strategies.
- Identify critical path activities, programme risks, constraints and opportunities, and provide proactive schedule analysis to support effective mitigation, acceleration and recovery strategies.
- Review, challenge and assure subcontractor and supplier programmes to ensure alignment with project objectives, delivery strategy and contractual requirements.
- Coordinate project schedules across internal and external stakeholders, managing complex interfaces across engineering, procurement, manufacturing, installation, commissioning and customer teams.
- Act as the primary planning interface between project teams, customers, suppliers and subcontractors, providing planning leadership, challenge and strategic advice to Project Managers and senior stakeholders.
- Lead planning activities across one or more complex projects simultaneously, ensuring programmes remain integrated, accurate, achievable and aligned with project delivery objectives.
- Develop programme reporting, schedule updates, performance metrics and management information to provide clear visibility of project performance, key milestones, risks and opportunities.
- Support programme governance, schedule assurance and planning standards across the Airports business.
- Mentor, coach and support the development of planners and wider project teams, promoting consistent planning standards and best practice.
- Support the continuous improvement of planning processes, templates, governance, reporting and tools across the business.
- Support the UK & Ireland Head of Planning in the management and development of the planning function, including resource planning, recruitment, capability development and workload management.
- Deputise for the UK & Ireland Head of Planning during periods of absence, acting as the senior planning point of contact for project teams, functional stakeholders and senior management.
- Promote planning best practice across the Airports business and contribute to the continued development of the wider Planning function.
Role Qualification and Skills
- Minimum 7 years' planning experience within a project delivery environment.
- Minimum 3 years operating as a Senior Planner, Lead Planner, Planning Lead, Planning Manager or equivalent within a complex project environment.
- Significant experience working for a Tier 1 contractor, major consultant, systems integrator or project delivery organisation.
- Experience delivering complex infrastructure, aviation, logistics, automated systems, rail or major construction projects.
- Expert Primavera P6 knowledge and strong understanding of programme management principles and NEC contracts.
- Demonstrable experience developing integrated project programmes from first principles and managing programmes through the full project lifecycle.
- Strong programme assurance and schedule management capability, including critical path analysis, programme risk, delay mitigation and recovery planning.
- Proven ability to review, challenge and assure contractor, supplier and subcontractor programmes.
- Experience leading planning activities across multiple concurrent projects, complex multidisciplinary interfaces and competing stakeholder priorities.
- Strong stakeholder management, communication and influencing skills, with the ability to engage effectively at all levels of an organisation.
- Proven planning leadership experience, including team leadership, workload management, coaching, mentoring and professional development.
- Demonstrable experience supporting planning governance, standards, reporting and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Experience supporting senior planning leadership, with the ability to deputise for the UK & Ireland Head of Planning during periods of absence.
Desirable
- Aviation, airport, baggage handling or intralogistics project experience.
- Experience working within live operational environments.
- Resource-loaded and cost-loaded planning experience.
- Project Controls and performance reporting experience.
- Power BI or other data visualisation tools.
- Experience supporting resource and capacity planning across a multi-project planning function.
- Delivery integration and programme assurance experience within major programmes.
- Experience working within a matrix or multi-project environment.
- Understanding of, or experience in, Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA).
What we offer
- 28 days annual leave (excluding public holidays)
- Bupa Medical Cover
- YuLife – Wellbeing membership with fast access to GP appointments, promotion of health and wellbeing along with daily quests to gain Yucoins that can be swapped for shopping vouchers
- A challenging work environment with lots of opportunities of career progression.
- Cycle to work scheme
- Yellow Nest is a salary exchange scheme that reduces childcare costs for parents and employers
- Pension with Aviva
- Access to Achievers an award-winning recognition platform that inspires to recognise your coworkers where points are awarded that can be exchanged for a range of goods and discounts.
Diversity & Inclusion
Vanderlande is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regards to race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age marital status or disability status. If you feel there is a barrier that potentially prevents you from applying, we are always happy to discuss or explore, any reasonable adjustments can be made to support your application.
Planning Lead - Airports in London employer: Vanderlande Industries
Vanderlande is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment in London - Heathrow, where you can lead complex engineering projects that have a real-world impact. With a strong commitment to employee growth, diversity, and well-being, the company provides extensive benefits including 28 days of annual leave, Bupa Medical Cover, and opportunities for career progression, making it an ideal place for professionals looking to thrive in their engineering careers.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Planning Lead - Airports in London
✨Join Construction Networks
Get yourself involved in local construction networks or industry events. They often have job boards, and networking can lead to unadvertised positions. Plus, it’s a great way to meet potential future colleagues!
✨Show Off Your Skills on Site
If you’ve done any hands-on work, whether it's through internships or personal projects, make sure you can showcase it. Consider volunteering for local construction projects or getting involved in community build days; it’s a solid way to demonstrate your skills and build connections.
✨Utilise Construction Job Sites
Don't just rely on the big job boards. Look at niche construction job sites—many companies prioritise these for full-time roles. Apply through these sites, but don’t forget to reach out directly to companies you admire, like Vanderlande Industries, to express your interest!
✨Tailor Your Application for Full-Time Roles
Make your application stand out by tailoring it specifically for full-time positions. Highlight how your previous projects align with the company's work. At StudySmarter, we encourage you to demonstrate your commitment and long-term interest in the industry when applying for roles like Planning Lead - Airports at Vanderlande Industries.
We think you need these skills to ace Planning Lead - Airports in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Relevant Experience:In the construction industry, it's essential to highlight any hands-on experience you have. Whether it’s past projects you've worked on or specific roles you've held, make sure your CV emphasises your practical skills and contributions to construction sites.
Include Certifications and Qualifications:Don’t forget to list any certifications relevant to construction, like CSCS cards or other safety qualifications. These can really set you apart from other candidates and show that you’re serious about health and safety on-site.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to Construction:When writing your cover letter for a construction role, focus on your problem-solving capabilities and teamwork. Construction relies heavily on collaboration, so mention how you’ve worked successfully with others to complete projects on time and within budget.
Adapt Your CV Format to the Field:Ensure your CV is clear and easy to read, with sections dedicated to skills such as project management, technical abilities, and site supervision. Construction roles often require a blend of technical know-how and soft skills, so make sure both are highlighted effectively.
How to prepare for a job interview at Vanderlande Industries
✨Brush Up on Technical Knowledge
For a construction role, it's crucial we have a solid grasp of industry standards, safety protocols, and specific tools used on-site. Make sure you're familiar with relevant regulations and can talk confidently about them, as these often come up in interviews.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Since this is a full-time position, be ready to discuss any previous construction projects you've worked on. Bring a portfolio or have detailed descriptions that highlight your role, the challenges you faced, and how you overcame them—this’ll show you’re not just book-smart but also practically savvy.
✨Understand the Team Dynamics
Construction is all about teamwork, so prepare to discuss how you interact with different stakeholders like architects, engineers, and contractors. Maybe think of examples from past experiences to illustrate your ability to communicate and collaborate effectively.
✨Prepare for On-the-Spot Problem Solving
Be ready for some practical questions or scenarios where you'll need to demonstrate your problem-solving skills. Interviewers might present you with a hypothetical construction issue to solve, so practice articulating your thought process clearly and logically—this could really set you apart!
