Senior Planner

Senior Planner (P6)

Rail & Civil Engineering

Location: Pontyclun, South Wales (supporting projects across the South Region)
Regions: South East, Wales & Western

Help Shape the Delivery of Critical Infrastructure Projects

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Planner to join our growing South Region team, supporting the successful delivery of complex rail and civil engineering projects across Southern, Wales and Western routes.

This is a key regional role for an experienced planning professional who enjoys working closely with operational teams, commercial functions and clients to develop robust programmes, drive project performance and support successful outcomes across a diverse portfolio of infrastructure projects.

Working within a collaborative and established planning function, you'll play an important role in strengthening planning capability, promoting best practice and providing critical project controls support from tender stage through to project completion.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary, negotiable depending on experience
• Company car or car allowance
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service)
• Up to 3 paid volunteer days per year
• Company contributory pension scheme
• Life insurance
• Medicash Health Cash Plan & Rewards
• Ongoing learning and development opportunities
• Structured career progression pathways
• Leadership and development programmes
• Supportive and collaborative working environment
• Employee forums that provide a platform for your voice to be heard
• A culture built around safety, wellbeing, inclusion and professional growth

About the Region

Our South Region delivers a broad range of rail and civil engineering projects within live, regulated and safety-critical environments.

Projects typically include:

• Bridges, structures and footbridges
• Stations, platforms and Access for All schemes
• Earthworks, embankments and drainage works
• Tunnel and structural renewals
• Rail maintenance, enhancement and renewal projects
• Multidisciplinary civil engineering and infrastructure schemes
• Long-term framework contracts and standalone project delivery

Working across a varied programme of work, you'll be involved in projects that directly improve and maintain critical transport infrastructure throughout the region.

The Role

As Senior Planner, you will be responsible for developing, maintaining and managing integrated project programmes which support effective planning, project controls and delivery across multiple projects.

You'll work closely with Project Managers, Engineers, Commercial teams and clients to ensure programmes remain accurate, achievable and aligned with project objectives while providing valuable insight into performance, risk and opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and manage detailed integrated project programmes using Primavera P6.
• Monitor project progress, identify trends and analyse programme performance.
• Apply proactive mitigation measures to manage programme risk and protect delivery objectives.
• Support project controls activities including:
  • Earned Value Analysis (EVA)
  • Risk and opportunity management
  • Resource planning
  • Procurement planning
  • Change management and programme impact assessments
• Produce regular progress reports and programme updates for project teams and clients.
• Monitor critical paths, key milestones and programme constraints.
• Support tender planning and programme development activities.
• Collaborate with operational and commercial teams to ensure planning assumptions remain aligned with delivery requirements.
• Validate site progress and maintain accurate programme updates.
• Contribute to programme recovery strategies where required.
• Ensure compliance with planning standards, client requirements and business processes.
• Support and mentor junior planning team members, helping to share best practice and develop planning capability across the region.

About You

You'll be an experienced and proactive planning professional with a strong background in rail, civil engineering or major infrastructure projects.

Essential Requirements

• Proven experience in a Senior Planner role within rail, civil engineering or infrastructure projects.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6.
• Strong understanding of project controls, planning methodologies and reporting.
• Experience developing and managing complex, multidisciplinary project programmes.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to translate data into actionable insights.
• Experience collaborating effectively with operational, commercial and project delivery teams.
• Knowledge of construction sequencing, project delivery and programme management principles.

Desirable

• Rail infrastructure experience.
• Knowledge of NEC contracts.
• Previous site-based construction experience.
• Experience working within regulated or safety-critical environments.
• Understanding of Earned Value Management and schedule risk analysis.

Why Join Us?

This is an opportunity to join a respected infrastructure business delivering some of the region's most important rail and civil engineering projects. You'll have the chance to influence project performance, enhance planning excellence and further develop your career within a supportive and growing organisation.