Principal Planner

Principal Planner

Sector: Rail & Civil Engineering

Location: Swanley, Kent (or Pontyclun or Highbridge)

Region: South Region (Southern, Wales & Western)

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Principal Planner to lead and develop the regional planning function across the South, supporting the successful delivery of complex rail and civil engineering projects.

This is a senior, influential role within the business, suited to an experienced planning professional with strong leadership capability and a proven background in P6‑led project planning, project controls and stakeholder engagement.

What We Offer

• Competitive annual salary negotiable dependant on experience
• Company Car or Car Allowance
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (increasing with service)
• Company contributory Pension scheme
• Life Insurance
• Medicash Health Cash Plan & Rewards
• Support and employee infrastructure embedded in the business as a platform for personal and professional development creating pathways for unrivalled career development and progression opportunities internally.
• Consistent learning opportunities
• Internal development programmes dedicated to supporting the development of our colleagues and future business leaders including Purposeful Leadership, Women in leadership and much more.
• A safe place to work
• Employee forum’s that provide a platform for having your voice heard

Business & Regional Overview

Our South region delivers a diverse portfolio of rail, civil engineering and infrastructure projects, operating within live, regulated and safety‑critical environments.

Projects and frameworks typically include:

• Bridges, structures and footbridges
• Stations, platforms and Access for All schemes
• Tunnels and complex civils
• Earthworks, embankments and drainage
• Multi‑disciplinary rail renewals and enhancements

Works are delivered across long‑term national frameworks as well as standalone design & build and negotiated projects for key public‑sector clients.

The Role

As Principal Planner, you will report to the Planning Manager, working closely with Operations Directors and Project Delivery teams.

You will be responsible for leading, mentoring and developing the regional planning team, while ensuring the production and management of integrated, well‑controlled project programmes that support effective design, procurement and construction delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the regional planning team, championing best practice and consistency
• Develop, manage and integrate project programmes covering design, procurement and site works
• Provide high‑quality planning outputs to internal and external stakeholders
• Advise on programme impacts relating to change, risk and progress
• Support procurement planning, including subcontract enquiry and procurement schedules
• Ensure delivery teams fully understand programme logic, milestones and critical paths
• Monitor and validate site progress, agreeing updates and mitigation actions with project teams
• Produce regular progress reports including variance analysis, SPI, CPI and Earned Value data
• Maintain look‑ahead and as‑built programmes, clearly articulating project performance history
• Support programme risk assessment and schedule risk analysis
• Advise on resource constraints and programme recovery strategies
• Manage and maintain the P6 Cloud environment for the South region
• Coach and mentor planners, supporting capability development and succession planning

What You’ll Bring

• Proven experience at Senior Planner or Principal Planner level within rail and civil engineering
• Strong Primavera P6 expertise and project controls capability
• In‑depth understanding of construction methodology, sequencing and delivery risks
• Previous site‑based experience, providing practical appreciation of construction activities
• Knowledge of earned value management and schedule risk analysis
• Ability to clearly communicate complex planning strategies to a wide stakeholder audience
• Confident leadership style with experience mentoring and developing others
• Collaborative approach, able to influence at all levels of the business

About AmcoGiffen

AmcoGiffen is a well‑established engineering contractor operating nationally across rail, civil engineering and infrastructure markets. Renowned for delivering complex works on live assets, we provide long‑term maintenance frameworks and major project delivery for public and private sector clients across the UK.

Diversity, Inclusion, Health & Wellbeing

At AmcoGiffen, we value individuality and believe that diverse teams create stronger outcomes, better decisions and more inclusive workplaces. We are committed to building an environment where everyone feels supported, respected and able to succeed, regardless of gender, background or life stage.

We actively encourage applications from women and under‑represented groups, and we are focused on increasing female representation across all areas of our business through inclusive recruitment, development opportunities and supportive working practices.

Health, safety, wellbeing and inclusion are fundamental to our culture and are embedded through our SPIRIT values:
 

Safety · Professionalism · Innovation · Respect · Integrity · Teamwork

If you are a senior planning professional looking to step into a regional leadership role within a growing and respected infrastructure business, we’d love to hear from you. Apply today.