Senior Project Planner

Location: Explore Manufacturing – Centre of Excellence for Modern Construction (CEMC), Worksop, Nottinghamshire

Explore Manufacturing, part of Laing O'Rourke, is transforming how the UK builds — leading the charge in off-site manufacturing and Design for Manufacture and Assembly (DfMA). Our state-of-the-art facility in Nottingham, CEMC, is Europe's largest pre-assembly concrete manufacturing centre, supporting major projects across the UK and a range of sectors.

We're looking for a Senior Planner to help us bridge the gap between traditional construction and advanced manufacturing. This is a rare opportunity to step beyond site-based planning and gain full lifecycle exposure — from early design to factory floor — with true influence over how we build.

Why this role is unique

• True integration: You'll take high-level construction programmes and work backwards to shape design and manufacturing schedules — factoring in design timelines, factory output rates, and sequencing across multiple projects.
• Broader exposure: Support a diverse pipeline across building and infrastructure sectors — becoming a key contributor to some of the UK's most complex projects.
• Factory-first future: Get ahead of the curve by learning off-site methods, DfMA strategies, and digital integration with construction.

Your Role:

You'll be part of a close-knit planning unit at CEMC — working with a Planning Manager, another Senior Planner, Planner, and Graduate Planner. Working closely with the Contracts Managers, Commercial, Production and Estimating teams, you'll lead and support project planning across multiple concurrent schemes (typically 6–12 months each).

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading contract and tender planning, scheduling, and forecasting.
• Supporting pre-contract planning and work-winning bids.
• Produce manufacture programmes for all components from varying sectors across the construction industry from healthcare through to major civil projects.
• Accurately assess change and compensation events on live projects, ensuring all contractual obligations are met and value is recovered for CEMC and the wider laing O'Rourke Group.
• Developing and maintaining all programme types through design, procurement manufacture and delivery.
• Supporting and mentoring junior planners to develop planning capability.
• Interfacing across stakeholders — commercial, design, production, client.
• Monitoring progress, identifying risks, and driving efficiency improvements.

What we're looking for

We're not expecting a concrete DfMA expert (though that's a bonus). We're looking for someone with a construction planning background who brings the curiosity, confidence, and coordination skills to thrive in a manufacturing environment.

Essential:

• Strong knowledge of planning software – ASTA preferred, P6 also valued.
• Background in construction planning or project delivery.
• Confidence managing stakeholders both upwards and downwards.
• Experience supporting multiple projects and juggling priorities.
• Broad mindset and interest in manufacturing and production process.
• Excellent communicator, organised and analytical.

Desirable:

• Understanding or experience of DfMA, lean construction, or preassembly.
• Previous experience administering the planning requirements on the NEC form of Contract.
• Degree in Construction Management, Engineering or similar.
• Experience in pre-contract planning or bid development.
• Experience managing planning teams or mentoring junior staff.

If you're a construction-savvy planner ready to expand your capabilities into the future of how we build, we want to hear from you.

About Us:

Laing O'Rourke is dedicated to being a recognised leader in innovation and excellence in the construction industry. We focus on delivering projects that leave a lasting positive environmental legacy, driven by technical excellence in design, manufacturing, and construction. 

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

CVs only tell us so much and so do job adverts. We'd welcome an informal chat via Gabbie Bristow (Resourcing Advisor) – gbristow@laingorourke.com. We are committed to making our recruitment process accessible to everyone. If you need the application form in an alternative format or have any questions about our process, please contact our resourcing team at resourcingteam@laingorourke.com. 

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