Principal Planner

Job Description

Title: Principal Planner

Location: Ellison Project | Oxford
Employment Type: Permanent
Job Family: Planning
Reference: Principal Planner (6042)

Principal Planner – Live Delivery & Client Change | Ellison Project

Laing O'Rourke is seeking an experienced Principal Planner to strengthen the planning capability on the Ellison Project, a major multi-phase Life Sciences campus development.

This role has been created in response to growth in scope, complexity, and client-driven change, and will play a critical part in maintaining programme certainty through the project's most challenging delivery phases.

The successful candidate will inherit a live programme, working closely with construction and the supply chain to manage sequencing, logistics, and delivery risk across high-end, technically complex environments. This will include working within the change management team, assessing and advising on the time impact of both design and client instructed change.

Following the completion of the work on the current buildings, it is anticipated that the successful candidate will transition onto further phases of the wider campus development taking responsibility for full planning of a project from pre award stage.

Project Context

What you'll do

As a Principal Planner on the Ellison Project, you will be embedded within the site team, acting as a hands-on delivery planner with a strong focus on client change and live programme management. You will:

• Inherit and manage a live construction programme, ensuring it remains accurate, realistic, and aligned with site progress.
• For one of the two buildings currently under construction, lead detailed sequencing for cladding, internal fit-out, and specialist laboratory environments
• Work closely with construction teams and the supply chain, providing daily on-site monitoring, updates, and adjustments.
• Maintain and develop programmes through the use of Asta Powerproject as the primary planning tool, with Primavera P6 supporting later phases.
• Support short-term look-ahead planning, phasing strategies, and interface management across multiple work packages.
• Provide clear, confident programme reporting to project leadership and the client.
• As part of the change management team, assess the impact of change, develop mitigation strategies and maintain programme integrity.
• Collaborate with the wider planning team (initially c. 6–10 planners), contributing to consistency, best practice, and knowledge sharing.
• Support the successful delivery of the Ellison phase, with the opportunity to transition onto ownership of a future project within the campus.

What we're looking for

Experience & Technical Skills

• Strong Senior/Lead Planner with proven experience on live construction projects.
• Demonstrable experience running projects, not just producing programmes.
• Proven capability in change planning, ideally within fast-moving or evolving project environments.
• Experience working on live sites, embedded with delivery teams.
• Sector experience in Life Sciences and/or high-end internal finishes is strongly preferred.
• Proficient in Asta Powerproject (essential); Primavera P6 experience desirable for later project phases.
• Ability to balance theoretical planning excellence with practical, build-led decision making.

Qualifications

• Degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related discipline (preferred).
• Chartered status or working towards CIOB (or equivalent).

What we're looking for

We want a planner who thrives on challenge, brings deep sector knowledge, and can think both strategically and practically. You'll need:

• Proven planning experience on major power sector projects (HVDC desirable).
• A degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering or similar discipline (preferred).
• Chartered or working towards membership of CIOB.
• Proficiency in Asta and/or Primavera P6 (ideally both) with 4D modelling experience.
• Strong understanding of pre-contract planning and work-winning processes.
• Ability to develop and maintain contract and build programmes.
• Commercially astute, with knowledge of different forms of contract and forensic programme analysis.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to produce high-quality programme material for client-facing submissions.
• A collaborative leader, capable of mentoring others and building effective relationships.

About Us

Laing O'Rourke is at the forefront of delivering transformative infrastructure. Joining us means being part of a team that is driving the UK's transition to a low-carbon energy future. You'll be empowered to lead, innovate and leave a lasting mark on projects of national significance.

We offer a competitive remuneration package (base salary + car/travel allowance) with access to Private Medical Insurance; enhanced pension and parental leave schemes; Life/Dental/Critical illness insurance and income protection; 33 days holiday inc. bank holidays + 1 paid day for volunteering; professional development opportunities and more!       

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term 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 if you would like to opt in to this scheme and let us know if you require any adjustments for the interview process.

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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