Project Planner

Directorate: Project Management Office
Location: Derby, Manchester, Warrington with Hybrid Working
Reports to: Lead Planner
 

Why this role matters

We need you to join us as a Project Planner and play a key role in creating and maintaining the schedules that keep our programmes moving. You’ll be our specialist in planning and scheduling—building robust work package schedules that reflect 100% of the scope and directly support confident, informed decision‑making across complex engineering and nuclear‑adjacent environments.
 

Your work will have real impact: enabling On‑Time Delivery, supporting programme governance, and contributing to a system that underpins the safe and timely delivery of one of the UK’s most complex engineering programmes.

What you’ll be doing

We need you to:

• Develop, baseline and maintain work package schedules in line with SMR planning processes and guidance.
• Apply deep knowledge of Primavera P6, including WBS architecture, coding, resource structures and user‑defined fields.
• Capture and analyse schedule performance, comparing progress vs baseline to support effective decision making.
• Work within an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) environment, collaborating with engineering, supply chain, operations, procurement and programme management teams.
• Support Earned Value Management (EVM) processes, focusing on the theory and application rather than specific toolsets.
• Manage change control and baseline updates, ensuring accurate reflection of approved programme shifts.
• Provide mentoring and coaching to junior or apprentice planners as needed, supporting their development as our planning capability grows.

What you’ll bring

There’s no such thing as a perfect candidate. If you meet ~75% of what we’re looking for, we’d love to hear from you.
 

You’ll bring experience in:

Core Technical Skills

• Strong Primavera P6 practitioner‑level capability (front‑end scheduling + architecture).
   
• Working within an IMS / MIP structure, including horizontal & vertical logic.
   
• Knowledge of EVM principles and value management concepts.
   
• Change management and baseline control.
   

Programme Experience

• Experience supporting complex programmes—from engineering to construction to large‑scale technical delivery. Nuclear background is useful but not essential; complexity is more important.
   

Stakeholder Collaboration

• Skilled at working with multidisciplinary teams including engineering, programme management, operations, supply chain and procurement.
   

Nice to have

• Understanding of NEC‑style contractual requirements for schedules (advantageous, not essential).
   

Qualifications & Training

• Primavera P6 Practitioner – mandatory.
• APM PMQ (or working towards) – mandatory/flexible.
• APM PPC Practitioner (or equivalent) – desirable/willing to work towards.

• Experience within a project controls / PMO environment on complex programmes.

• Who you’ll work with

You’ll be part of a high‑performing planning team, collaborating daily with:

• Lead Planners
• Programme managers
• Engineers
• Supply chain and procurement teams
• Operations & manufacturing functions
   

You’ll also contribute to the coaching and development of junior planners and apprentices as our capability grows.

About you

We’re looking for someone who:

• Thinks in systems and structure
• Enjoys solving complex problems
• Communicates clearly and confidently with varied stakeholders
• Likes working in a collaborative, growing planning community
• Is excited by engineering and programme complexity—regardless of the sector you come from

What we offer

• £50,650 - £66,500 salary
• £2,200 benefits allowance
• 12.5% bonus opportunity
• 6x pensionable life assurance
• 50% income protection
• 28 days holiday + bank holidays
• £250 new joiner payment
• Flexible & part‑time working options available

Ready to apply?

If you’re excited by complex engineering challenges and want to help shape the future of our planning capability, we’d love to hear from you.