Planning Manager
CV-LibraryMiddlesbrough, North YorkshirepermanentPosted: 4 November 2026
Apply NowThe Planning Manager is a hands-on role, leading planning and project controls across all bids and live projects. You will build and own the programmes yourself, get out on site to check progress at the workface, and make sure our projects are productive, on programme and on budget.
Working alongside project, construction and commercial teams, you will track planned against actual progress and man-hours, spot productivity issues early and put recovery plans in place. You will also lead and develop our planners, setting the standard for planning across the business.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
■ Build, own and maintain detailed baseline programmes in Primavera P6 for bids and live projects, including logic, durations, resources and key client milestones.
■ Produce 3-week look-ahead and short-term programmes with site teams, so supervisors know exactly what needs doing and what they need to do it.
■ Update programmes weekly against real site progress, with clear narratives showing what has moved and why.
■ Make sure planning standards, templates and procedures are applied consistently on every project.
■ Get out on site regularly, walk the job with supervisors and verify progress at the workface.
■ Set up and run progress measurement on every project – installed quantities, earned hours and percentage complete against plan.
■ Track planned against actual man-hours and productivity by discipline and area (containment, cable pulling, terminations, testing and commissioning), and flag early where we are falling behind.
■ Work with Project Managers and supervisors to find the root cause of lost productivity – access, materials, design information, resource – and get it fixed.
■ Build labour histograms and resource forecasts so we have the right people in the right place at the right time.
■ Lead recovery planning when projects fall behind, with realistic, costed options.
■ Link programme and cost with the Commercial team, giving accurate progress, earned value and forecast data for monthly cost and commercial reviews.
■ Manage change control: capture early warnings, variations and scope changes, and programme their time and cost impact.
■ Keep risk and opportunity registers live and reflected in the programme.
■ Produce short, accurate weekly and monthly reports for project teams, leadership and clients, focused on what needs action.
■ Record delays and their causes as they happen, with the evidence to back them up.
■ Prepare extension of time submissions and time impact analysis under NEC, JCT, FIDIC and bespoke contracts.
■ Support the Commercial team on claims and disputes where programme evidence is needed.
■ Produce tender programmes, durations and resource histograms that are realistic and competitive, built on real productivity data from our own projects.
■ Write the planning and project controls sections of technical submissions and Project Execution Plans.
■ Attend client interviews to explain our programme and planning approach.
■ Lead, mentor and develop our planners and project controls staff, working alongside them rather than from a distance.
■ Manage planning resource, recruitment and succession across the business.
■ Work as One Team with Project Managers, Operations, Commercial and Estimating.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
■ Degree or HNC/HND in engineering, construction management or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
■ Professional membership (APM, CIOB, AACE or PMI) is desirable.
■ SSSTS/SMSTS or equivalent health and safety qualification is desirable.
■ Proven experience leading planning or project controls within engineering, construction, energy or infrastructure.
■ Hands-on, site-based planning experience on electrical, E&I or MEP projects in power, renewables, oil & gas, data centres or similar.
■ Experience setting up progress measurement and productivity tracking (earned hours, planned vs actual man-hours).
■ Experience managing, developing and mentoring planners across multiple projects at the same time.
■ Expert user of Primavera P6
Working alongside project, construction and commercial teams, you will track planned against actual progress and man-hours, spot productivity issues early and put recovery plans in place. You will also lead and develop our planners, setting the standard for planning across the business.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
■ Build, own and maintain detailed baseline programmes in Primavera P6 for bids and live projects, including logic, durations, resources and key client milestones.
■ Produce 3-week look-ahead and short-term programmes with site teams, so supervisors know exactly what needs doing and what they need to do it.
■ Update programmes weekly against real site progress, with clear narratives showing what has moved and why.
■ Make sure planning standards, templates and procedures are applied consistently on every project.
■ Get out on site regularly, walk the job with supervisors and verify progress at the workface.
■ Set up and run progress measurement on every project – installed quantities, earned hours and percentage complete against plan.
■ Track planned against actual man-hours and productivity by discipline and area (containment, cable pulling, terminations, testing and commissioning), and flag early where we are falling behind.
■ Work with Project Managers and supervisors to find the root cause of lost productivity – access, materials, design information, resource – and get it fixed.
■ Build labour histograms and resource forecasts so we have the right people in the right place at the right time.
■ Lead recovery planning when projects fall behind, with realistic, costed options.
■ Link programme and cost with the Commercial team, giving accurate progress, earned value and forecast data for monthly cost and commercial reviews.
■ Manage change control: capture early warnings, variations and scope changes, and programme their time and cost impact.
■ Keep risk and opportunity registers live and reflected in the programme.
■ Produce short, accurate weekly and monthly reports for project teams, leadership and clients, focused on what needs action.
■ Record delays and their causes as they happen, with the evidence to back them up.
■ Prepare extension of time submissions and time impact analysis under NEC, JCT, FIDIC and bespoke contracts.
■ Support the Commercial team on claims and disputes where programme evidence is needed.
■ Produce tender programmes, durations and resource histograms that are realistic and competitive, built on real productivity data from our own projects.
■ Write the planning and project controls sections of technical submissions and Project Execution Plans.
■ Attend client interviews to explain our programme and planning approach.
■ Lead, mentor and develop our planners and project controls staff, working alongside them rather than from a distance.
■ Manage planning resource, recruitment and succession across the business.
■ Work as One Team with Project Managers, Operations, Commercial and Estimating.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
■ Degree or HNC/HND in engineering, construction management or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience.
■ Professional membership (APM, CIOB, AACE or PMI) is desirable.
■ SSSTS/SMSTS or equivalent health and safety qualification is desirable.
■ Proven experience leading planning or project controls within engineering, construction, energy or infrastructure.
■ Hands-on, site-based planning experience on electrical, E&I or MEP projects in power, renewables, oil & gas, data centres or similar.
■ Experience setting up progress measurement and productivity tracking (earned hours, planned vs actual man-hours).
■ Experience managing, developing and mentoring planners across multiple projects at the same time.
■ Expert user of Primavera P6