Job Description:

Planner / Senior Planner

Location: Durham with UK-wide site visits

The Role

Responsible for producing and managing construction programmes from tender stage through to project completion, ensuring coordination between design, fabrication, and site erection. The role supports project performance through effective planning, progress monitoring, risk identification, and programme management.

Key Responsibilities

Preconstruction Planning

Develop tender and preconstruction programmes aligned with client requirements

Establish construction strategies covering design release, procurement, fabrication, and erection

Assess sequencing and methodologies to determine the most efficient and buildable approach

Review outline programmes to identify risks, constraints, and unrealistic assumptions

Support bid submissions with programme input, phasing, and narratives

Identify key constraints, risks, and opportunities at an early stage

Construction Planning (Post-Award)

Develop and manage detailed contract programmes following award

Produce and maintain dropline / flowline programmes for fabrication output and erection sequencing

Coordinate subcontract trades within construction programmes

Review project programmes and propose practical, buildable solutions

Establish design release schedules, fabrication priorities, and erection phasing

Maintain short-term lookahead programmes and update progress regularly

Progress Monitoring & Reporting

Monitor progress against programme and key milestones

Track fabrication and erection performance against planned outputs

Identify and manage the critical path

Produce programme reports and updates for internal and external stakeholders

Delay, Risk & Recovery

Analyse delays and programme risks and assess impacts

Develop mitigation measures and recovery strategies

Support Extension of Time submissions and programme-based entitlement

Maintain auditable programme records

Coordination & Communication

Work with design, fabrication, and site teams to manage interfaces and resolve issues

Engage with clients, contractors, and project teams during progress meetings

Promote a proactive, solutions-focused approach to programme management

Requirements

Experience in a planning role within structural steelwork, heavy construction, or main contracting

Strong understanding of tender-stage and construction-phase planning

Experience using dropline or production-based planning methods

Experience integrating subcontract trades within programmes

Familiarity with JCT and NEC contracts, including programme obligations and entitlement

Proficiency in Microsoft Project

Ability to work with or transition to Asta Powerproject

Ability to use Primavera P6 where required

Strong Excel capability

Experience with 4D planning or modelling tools advantageous

Strong analytical, organisational, and communication skills

Understanding of programme impact on cost, risk, and commercial outcomes

What You’ll Bring

Ability to develop realistic and buildable programmes

Confidence to challenge assumptions and improve programme logic

Proactive approach to identifying issues and driving solutions

Strong commercial awareness and ability to support project outcomes

What’s Offered

Opportunity to work on major, complex projects across the UK

Involvement in both tender strategy and live project execution

Strong pipeline of work and experienced delivery team