Lead Planner – Project Planning & Controls - Manchester
We’re seeking an experienced Lead Planner to join our growing Planning & Controls team, supporting the successful delivery of complex capital projects and programmes across a range of sectors throughout North West and East Cheshire.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a senior planning professional who enjoys combining technical planning expertise with strategic client engagement, portfolio oversight and team leadership.
The opportunity
You’ll play a key role in shaping programme strategy across major projects — developing integrated schedules, supporting project controls, and helping clients make informed decisions on time, risk and delivery.
Working closely with project managers, cost teams and contractors, you’ll lead planning activities from early-stage strategy through to delivery, while helping grow and develop our wider planning capability.
You’ll be responsible for
- Leading planning services across a portfolio of major projects
- Developing and managing project programmes from concept to delivery
- Reviewing and challenging contractor programmes
- Producing schedule analysis, reporting and programme assurance
- Supporting portfolio planning and cashflow forecasting
- Facilitating planning workshops with clients and delivery teams
- Supporting change management, delay analysis and programme recovery
- Driving best practice across planning governance and digital reporting
- Mentoring and developing junior planners
Why join?
This is a chance to join a growing team with genuine opportunity to influence service development, work directly with key clients, and shape how planning and project controls are delivered across major programmes.
Ideal for someone looking to step into a visible leadership role and help drive the next stage of growth in a dynamic consultancy environment