Senior Planner

Around the world, SYSTRA’s specialists plan, design, integrate, test, commission, project manage and deliver mass transit and mobility solutions that are relied on by more than 50 million people every day.

For more than 60 years, the Group has been committed to helping cities and regions contribute to their development by creating, improving and modernising their transport infrastructure with sustainability, accessibility and innovation at the heart of our designs. With over 10,300 colleagues globally and around 1000 in the UK & Ireland we are growing significantly and seeking out the very best talent to join the SYSTRA signature team and be part of leading the way in infrastructure design.

Context

SYSTRA Ltd is looking for a Senior Planner to join its UK/IRE project controls team based in the Birmingham, providing technical planning expertise on bids and live projects to ensure accurate programmes and robust project control materials are in place.

This role is well suited to an ambitious and committed planning professional with strong leadership and interpersonal skills, commercial awareness and the ability to thrive in a dynamic, performance-driven team. With a focus on UK/IRE infrastructure projects, the successful candidate will contribute to a diverse portfolio of work for a wide range of clients.

Missions/Main Duties

• Provide primary systems experience in UK Rail and the wider infrastructure industry.
• Lead and mentor early career professionals and other members of the planning team.
• Build relationships with internal and external clients and maintain regular client contact.
• Represent Project Controls and attend client and progress meetings.
• Produce compliant programmes that are logically robust, cost and resource loaded and cover the full project scope across all stages of the project lifecycle.
• Provide project performance data, project schedules and reports in a concise and timely manner.
• Ensure all planning processes and procedures are fully implemented on the project.
• Identify project risks, deviations and slippages, reporting and communicating issues to senior members of the Project Controls and Project Management teams.
• Understand the workload, priorities and allocation of team members.
• Identify and manage key input and output milestones.
• Identify key internal interfaces and third-party interfaces.
• Check programme achievements and provide constructive feedback, leadership and management.
• Analyse current and future workloads to ensure planning commitments can be achieved.
• Conduct risk workshops and undertake schedule risk analysis, presenting results and trends clearly.
• Ensure earned value management processes are followed and data analysis is carried out effectively.
• Provide regular supervision to junior members of the team as required.
• Experience and provide trend record of successfully fulfilling planning roles on complex multidisciplinary contracts.
• Demonstrate a proactive and flexible approach, seeking support when required.
• Travel to client sites and other SYSTRA offices as required.
• Produce comprehensive and professional programmes and project controls materials for bids and projects in line with required timescales.
• Ensure baseline programmes are in place and accepted by the client to support change management and demonstrate cause and effect.
• Analyse project performance and planning and project control material, advising the project team on likely impact and recommended improvements or mitigation.
• Ensure the project team is aware of and understands the programme, project drivers, key deliverables, critical path and sub-critical paths.
• Implement and maintain the requirements outlined on projects and bids.
• Undertake any other related responsibilities as directed by the Project Controls Director.
• Represent the function and business with stakeholders, including clients, suppliers and internal business functions.
• Coach and mentor junior team members within the planning function.

Profile/Skills

• Strong experience in planning within the UK Rail and infrastructure sectors.
• Competent user of Primavera P6.
• Membership of the Association for Project Management (APM) is desirable.
• HNC or degree in a relevant industry subject.
• Flexibility to work long hours where required to meet the demands of the role.
• Willingness to travel to client sites and other SYSTRA offices as required.
• Strong leadership and mentoring capability, with the ability to support and develop junior professionals.
• Good commercial awareness and the ability to work effectively in a client-facing environment.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience producing cost-loaded and resource-loaded programmes across the full project lifecycle.
• Good understanding of project controls, earned value management, schedule risk analysis and programme performance reporting.
• Ability to work effectively in a dynamic, high-performance team environment.

Why SYSTRA?

Our three core values: Excellence, Connected Teams and Bold Leadership are kept at the heart of everything we do. We strive for the highest levels of technical excellence, achieving the best results through teamwork, both locally and internationally, and reward innovative thinking through encouraging all colleagues to think as leaders. We offer clear and well supported pathways for career development and qualification attainment, a competitive remuneration package including a bonus and private healthcare, an electric car scheme and a broad suite of flexible benefits to suit your lifestyle.

Flexibility

Because we value who you are as much as what you do, we want you to feel supported at work. We offer hybrid working, balancing the benefits of working from home with time in our modern, well-equipped offices for that crucial in-person contact, team development and collaborative working. We also recognise that life doesn’t always run to the same schedule for everyone, so we have a dedicated flexible working policy to support you in tailoring your work life to reach your full potential, for more details on this, please get in

touch.

Diversity & Inclusion

We provide a warm welcome and encourage applications from a diverse range of people who can enrich our company and offer perspectives which will drive better solutions in a truly inclusive environment. Our employee led working groups and clearly defined strategy help us to keep at the leading edge of important issues and keep us accountable. We want our colleagues to feel comfortable to bring their whole selves to work and continually seek new ideas and contributions to ensure we continue to grow and develop in this space.

Wellbeing

It’s no surprise that people do their best work when they feel physically and mentally supported. Our SYSTRA Wellness Programme offers a wide range of support; from Wellness champions, to free health checks, healthy eating workshops and regular seminars, alongside access to a wide range of external support. We offer two paid days for charity work and an ever-growing social calendar.

Apply and find out more about how Systra can support you in your career journey.

If you require any adjustments or financial assistance to support you in your application or interview process please email:

reasonableadjustments@systra.com where your request will be treated confidentially and with respect.

We pledge to offer an interview to any candidates with a disability who apply for a role and meet the minimum criteria.

As we are always looking to expand our team, we would still be interested in hearing from you if you fulfil most, but not all, of the relevant criteria for the role – you could still be just what we are looking for.

Workplace Type

Hybrid