Principal/ Planning Manager 

Location: Chesterfield / High Marnham, United Kingdon

We're looking for a Principal / Planning Manager to play a pivotal role in the delivery of the Chesterfield and High Marnham Substation New Build, supporting the development of major electricity transmission infrastructure as part of the UK's transition to a more resilient and lower-carbon energy system.

This is a senior planning opportunity to lead the planning function across a complex, multidisciplinary power infrastructure project. You'll work across civil engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning, helping to establish and maintain the programmes that will drive successful project delivery.

The role will suit an experienced planner who combines strong technical planning capability with commercial awareness, strategic thinking and the ability to lead and influence project teams and supply chain partners.

What you'll do

As a Principal / Regional Planner, you'll provide strategic planning leadership across the project, ensuring robust programmes, effective project controls and clear delivery strategies. You will:

• Lead the development, implementation and maintenance of the Contract Programme and Programme to Build throughout the project lifecycle.
• Provide planning leadership across the Chesterfield and High Marnham project locations, coordinating programme interfaces between design, procurement, construction and commissioning.
• Develop robust and integrated programmes covering civil works, procurement, logistics, testing, commissioning and handover.
• Establish and maintain the project baseline, critical path, key milestones and programme logic.
• Provide expert planning input into construction methodology and delivery strategies, optimising time, cost, risk and resources.
• Analyse project performance, identify trends and emerging risks, and provide clear advice to the project leadership team.
• Identify potential delays and constraints at the earliest opportunity and develop effective mitigation and recovery strategies.
• Coordinate time-related information across the Client, project teams, designers, subcontractors and supply chain.
• Integrate procurement and long-lead activities into the project programme, ensuring critical equipment and materials are aligned with construction requirements.
• Provide accurate and meaningful programme information to support commercial and operational decision-making.
• Maintain a clear and auditable record of programme events, changes, risks and impacts.
• Provide planning input into contractual matters, including programme impacts, delay events and extensions of time where required.
• Lead planning reviews and collaborative planning sessions with project teams and supply chain partners.
• Mentor, coach and develop planners and wider project team members, promoting planning best practice.
• Identify and implement improvements to planning processes, project controls and programme management.
• Represent the project planning function with Clients, stakeholders and internal leadership teams.

What we're looking for

We want a planner who thrives in a complex project environment, brings strong technical planning capability and can combine strategic thinking with practical delivery experience. You'll need:

• Proven planning experience on major power, energy, infrastructure or complex construction projects.
• Experience leading the planning and project controls function on a major project or programme.
• Strong experience developing and maintaining Contract Programmes and detailed construction programmes.
• A strong understanding of construction methodology, sequencing, productivity and resource requirements.
• Experience integrating design, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning activities.
• Strong understanding of programme risk, opportunity, critical path and mitigation planning.
• Experience working with Clients, designers, subcontractors and supply chain partners.
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of contractual planning requirements.
• Experience identifying and assessing programme impacts, delays and changes.
• Proficiency in Primavera P6 and/or Asta Powerproject.
• Ability to produce clear, accurate and high-quality programme information and reports.
• Excellent communication skills, with the confidence to present complex programme information to senior stakeholders and Clients.
• A collaborative leadership style and the ability to mentor and develop others.
• A proactive approach to identifying opportunities for programme, process and project controls improvement.
• A degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering or a similar discipline is preferred.
• Chartered or working towards membership of CIOB, APM, RICS or an equivalent professional body is desirable.

About us:

We are an international engineering and construction company delivering state-of-the-art infrastructure and buildings projects for clients in the UK, Middle East and Australia.

Certainty, reliability, quality – this is what our clients want. And at Laing O'Rourke, we have more than 150 years of experience delivering it. Laing O'Rourke's story is one of energy, passion, ambition, people and teamwork. We harness the power of our experience, stretching back over a century and a half to deliver certainty for our clients.

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term health conditions and disabilities through the ‘Offer an interview scheme'. This supports applicants that meet the essential criteria by offering an interview for the advertised position. Please let us know prior to interview what adjustments are required as well as discussing how we can support you in the workplace.

We want to ensure our recruitment process is accessible to all. If you need the application form in an alternative format or you would like to know more about our recruitment process, please email resourcingteam@laingorourke.com

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