Planning Engineer

Roles and Responsibilities: 

The Planning Engineer creates, maintains, and enhances project programmes across major transmission and infrastructure projects. They are an expert in project planning, capable of producing programmes from first principles. The role ensures senior leadership has clear visibility of programme performance, progress, risks, KPIs, and contingency plans. The Planning Engineer is proactive, analytical, and focused on identifying opportunities to improve programme performance.

Key Accountabilities

1. SHE

• Demonstrate and promote safe behaviours in line with organisational safety values.

2. Technical Expertise

• Develop and maintain detailed, construction‑focused project schedules in Primavera P6 across the full project lifecycle.

• Proficient use of Microsoft Office applications including Word, Excel, Project, and PowerPoint.

• Issue and maintain logic‑driven schedules that meet time, cost, and quality requirements.

• Support scenario‑planning requests from senior management.

• Understand wider schedule interfaces at package, project, and portfolio level.

• Review third‑party and supply‑chain schedules for integrity and contractual compliance.

• Identify and analyse critical paths, delays, and risks, and support mitigation strategy development.

• Work closely with engineering, procurement, and construction teams to build realistic, logic‑driven programmes reflecting actual site conditions.

• Develop, implement, and monitor earned value management systems to measure progress and performance, providing timely reporting and insights.

• Conduct Quantitative Schedule Risk Analysis with support from the project risk team.

• Apply full Baseline Change Management to maintain a clear audit trail of programme changes.

3. Data Analysis

• Generate and gather data from primary and secondary sources.

• Perform quality checks to ensure accuracy and resolve data integrity issues.

• Interrogate and challenge data sources where required.

• Interpret programmes to identify business‑critical issues and recommend improvements.

4. Presentation

• Present trend analysis and programme insights clearly and concisely at all organisational levels.

• Provide information that supports informed decision‑making.

5. Stakeholder Engagement

• Engage constructively with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective communication and understanding.

• Manage cross‑discipline relationships within project controls.

• Support junior members of the project services or planning team.

6. Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with all internal teams and the wider supply chain to build strong, trusted working relationships.

Business Knowledge

• Awareness and understanding of the organisation’s business areas and project lifecycle framework.

• Extensive experience in similar roles with strong knowledge of planning best practices and processes.

• Confident in challenging information constructively during progress meetings.

• Understanding of organisational priorities and strategic goals.

Essential Functional / Technical Skills

• Proven experience as a Planning Engineer using Primavera P6 on large‑scale construction or infrastructure projects.

• Strong understanding of construction methodologies, sequencing, and site execution.

• Practical experience working under NEC3/NEC4 or FIDIC contracts, including delay analysis, change events, and contractor claims.

• Demonstrated ability to build and manage complex, logic‑linked construction programmes.

• Excellent relationship‑building skills with internal and external stakeholders.

• Clear track record of delivering within complex project environments.

• Proactive attitude and strong proficiency with Microsoft 365.

Personal Attributes / Competencies

• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to influence stakeholders.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills across all organisational levels.

• Ability to work independently and take responsibility for delivering objectives.

• Effective workload prioritisation to meet expectations.

• Collaborative approach with engineering, procurement, and construction teams.

• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with internal teams and external partners.

• Skilled in conducting delay analysis and evaluating time impacts of change events.

• Ability to challenge information constructively to ensure accurate reporting.

• Systematic, disciplined, and analytical approach to all tasks.

• Self‑motivated with strong problem‑solving skills.

• Effective team player with the ability to work independently when required.

• Positive attitude, supportive of colleagues, and able to motivate junior staff.

• Strong organisational and time‑management skills.

• Ability to debate objectively and reach appropriate outcomes.

• High standards of work quality and professional behaviour.