Senior Planner – Rail & Highways Infrastructure

Location: Manchester / Birmingham / London / Bristol

Salary: Up to £60 per hour, depending on experience - Umbrella

Contract Type: Contract

The Opportunity

CETO Talent is working with a leading infrastructure consultancy to recruit an experienced Senior Planner to support the delivery of major transportation infrastructure projects across the UK.

This is an opportunity to join an established project controls team working on complex, multi-million-pound rail and highways programmes. You will play a key role in developing and maintaining robust project programmes, providing accurate performance information and helping project teams deliver against agreed time and cost objectives.

Working closely with Project Managers, Project Controls Managers and clients, you will take ownership of planning activities, identify potential delays and programme risks, and provide clear, practical advice to support informed decision-making.

The role requires a strong technical understanding of transportation infrastructure and the ability to work independently, with particular emphasis on Primavera P6, multidisciplinary engineering programmes and project controls.

Flexible location options are available across Manchester, Birmingham, London and Bristol.

Key Responsibilities

- Take responsibility for project programmes and associated project controls activities across major transportation infrastructure projects.

- Develop, maintain and update detailed project and tender programmes using Primavera P6.

- Coordinate planning activities across design, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning.

- Monitor progress against agreed programme and cost targets, identifying delays, slippages, risks and emerging issues.

- Produce regular programme updates, project performance data and reports for project teams, clients and senior management.

- Deliver periodic programme updates, clearly identifying changes, delays and their impact on project delivery.

- Represent project controls at client progress meetings, providing planning advice and helping drive effective programme management.

- Ensure programme issues are clearly communicated and understood by senior stakeholders, recommending appropriate actions where necessary.

- Support budget and spend management, change control, trend analysis and Earned Value Management (EVM).

- Undertake schedule risk and cost analysis to support forecasting and project decision-making.

- Prepare resource histograms and support work package management.

- Contribute to claims-related planning activities and the assessment of programme impacts.

- Work collaboratively with Project Managers, engineering teams, commercial colleagues and other project controls specialists.

- Provide guidance, supervision and constructive feedback to junior planners where required.

- Promote consistent planning standards, data quality and effective project controls practices.

Essential Skills & Experience

To be considered, you will need:

- Significant experience in planning major rail, highways or transportation infrastructure projects.

- Expert-level proficiency in Primavera P6.

- A strong understanding of the full project lifecycle, including design, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning.

- Experience programming multidisciplinary engineering design and understanding how engineering activities are planned and scheduled.

- Knowledge of transportation infrastructure disciplines, including rail signalling, permanent way, structures, tunnels, bridges, earthworks, electrification and plant, and telecommunications.

- Experience developing and managing detailed project programmes with limited supervision.

- Strong understanding of project controls, including budget and spend management, change control, trend analysis and work package management.

- Experience producing programme updates, progress reports and project performance information.

- Ability to identify programme deviations and delays, assess their impact and recommend appropriate corrective action.

- Understanding of commercial and financial aspects of project management.

- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to explain complex planning matters clearly.

- A proactive, analytical and structured approach, with excellent attention to detail and data quality.

Desirable Experience

The following would be advantageous:

- Experience working on large infrastructure projects valued up to £50 million.

- Experience managing or mentoring junior planners.

- Knowledge of NEC and other forms of contract.

- Experience in schedule risk analysis, cost analysis and claims.

- Practical experience implementing and using Earned Value Management.

- Experience with enterprise project management systems.

- A degree or equivalent qualification in Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering or a related discipline.

- Membership of the Association for Project Management (APM).

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to contribute to major UK transportation infrastructure projects within an established project controls environment.

You will have responsibility for programme development, performance reporting and planning advice, working alongside experienced professionals to support successful project delivery.

If you are an experienced Senior Planner with strong Primavera P6 skills and a background in rail, highways or complex infrastructure, we would like to hear from you.

Rate: Up to £60 per hour, depending on experience

Locations: Manchester, Birmingham, London or Bristol

Apply now through CETO Talent to discuss the opportunity in confidence.