Planning Manager
An experienced Planning Manager is required to lead planning and project controls activities for an established infrastructure consultancy in Newcastle. The successful candidate will oversee complex programmes, provide strategic NEC contract advice, manage planning teams and establish consistent governance, reporting and programme assurance standards.
Project Details
The Planning Manager will oversee planning and project controls services across major construction and infrastructure commissions in Newcastle and throughout the North East of England.
The successful candidate will be accountable for programme delivery across individual projects or portfolios, including baseline development, progress monitoring, delay analysis, risk management, tender planning and NEC contractual compliance.
Responsibilities and Duties
The Planning Manager will provide senior planning leadership and ensure that robust programme systems, governance procedures and reporting standards are applied consistently.
Key duties will include:
- Leading and coordinating planning activities across multiple projects and teams
- Taking accountability for the development and delivery of complex construction programmes
- Establishing consistent planning standards, systems and governance procedures
- Overseeing the preparation and assurance of baseline and master programmes
- Providing expert guidance on Primavera P6 and advanced planning techniques
- Integrating programme data with risk, cost, information management and reporting systems
- Leading comprehensive progress monitoring, trend analysis and mitigation planning
- Ensuring consistent, high-quality programme reporting across projects and portfolios
- Establishing project-level delay-analysis methodologies and governance procedures
- Overseeing prospective and retrospective delay assessments
- Reviewing and communicating complex programme and delay-analysis findings
- Developing organisational best practice for delay analysis and programme risk profiling
- Designing schedule risk governance and early warning mechanisms
- Advising clients and senior stakeholders on programme risks, opportunities and mitigation strategies
- Reporting complex or contentious programme matters at senior leadership level
- Establishing planning engagement frameworks with clients and internal teams
- Defining planning procedures aligned with NEC contractual governance
- Overseeing programme compliance, early warnings, compensation events and claims support
- Leading pre-construction and tender planning for complex, multi-phase projects
- Advising on construction methodology, sequencing, buildability and delivery strategy
- Managing challenging client, contractor and stakeholder relationships
- Leading, mentoring and developing Planners and Senior Planners
- Taking responsibility for planning competence, performance and resource development
- Challenging poor practice and driving continuous improvement across the planning function
- Supporting business development, proposals and the growth of planning and project controls services
Desired Skills and Experience
The successful Planning Manager will have extensive construction planning and project controls experience, combined with strong leadership and client advisory capabilities.
Candidates should demonstrate:
- Extensive experience as a Planning Manager, Lead Planner or Senior Planner
- Expert practical knowledge of Primavera P6 and advanced planning techniques
- Experience leading planning activities across major projects or portfolios
- Strong knowledge of schedule development, resource loading, earned value management and risk analysis
- Advanced NEC contract knowledge and programme governance experience
- Experience managing contractual programme submissions, early warnings and compensation events
- Strong knowledge of prospective and retrospective delay-analysis methodologies
- Experience establishing planning governance, reporting and assurance procedures
- The ability to interpret and communicate complex programme information clearly
- Experience integrating planning with cost, risk, information management and project controls systems
- Strong client management, negotiation and presentation skills
- Experience leading pre-construction planning and tender programmes
- The ability to advise senior stakeholders on programme strategy and commercial risk
- Proven leadership, mentoring and performance-management experience
- Experience improving planning standards, systems and team capability
- A confident, accountable and solutions-focused leadership style
- Consultancy experience and exposure to major infrastructure programmes are highly desirable
Qualifications/Educational Requirements
- A degree in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, Project Management or another relevant discipline is expected
- Expert Primavera P6 knowledge and practical experience are required
- Advanced NEC contract knowledge and experience are required
- Membership of APM, CIOB, ICE or another relevant professional body is strongly preferred
- Additional qualifications in project controls, delay analysis, construction law or dispute resolution would be advantageous
Employing Company Overview and Profile
Maxim Recruitment is working with an established infrastructure consultancy seeking a Planning Manager for its Newcastle team. The business provides planning, programming, project controls and contract advisory services to clients delivering complex construction and infrastructure projects.
The consultancy supports clients with programme development, schedule assurance, progress monitoring, risk integration, delay analysis, NEC compliance and tender planning. The Planning Manager will hold a senior client-facing position, lead planning teams and help maintain high standards of programme governance and technical delivery.
A full client overview will be given to shortlisted candidates.
Additional Benefits Package and Incentives
Additional Benefits, Package Info, Bonuses etc.
- Hybrid working
- 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
- Flexible working hours
- Generous annual pay rises
