Senior Planner

The Senior Planner is responsible for developing, maintaining, and assuring fully integrated project schedules for complex defence programmes. The role supports effective decision-making by providing accurate planning data, schedule analysis, and risk-informed forecasts aligned with defence governance and assurance requirements. Working closely with Project Managers, Engineering, Commercial, and Risk teams, the Senior Planner ensures that programme schedules reflect scope, cost, risk, and resource constraints, and comply with contractual and regulatory standards.

Responsibilities

Develop and maintain integrated, resource- and cost-loaded schedules across the full project lifecycle (design, manufacture, test, acceptance, and in-service support); Establish planning structures aligned to WBS, CBS, and contract deliverables; Ensure schedules comply with defence and organisational planning standards and best practice; Provide schedule performance analysis including critical path, float, dependencies, and milestones; Support Earned Value Management (EVM) and schedule health assessments; Produce clear, accurate planning reports for internal governance, senior stakeholders, and external customers; Integrate risk, opportunity, and mitigation actions into project schedules; Support schedule risk analysis (e.g. Monte Carlo) where required; Assess schedule impacts of change requests and support change control processes; Work closely with Project Managers to support delivery planning and decision-making; Liaise with engineering, supply chain, commercial, and delivery teams to ensure schedule realism; Provide planning input to bids, proposals, and contract negotiations as required; Support internal and external assurance reviews, audits, and readiness assessments; Mentor junior planners and promote planning best practice; Contribute to the continuous improvement of planning processes, tools, and standards

Requirements

Significant experience in project planning within defence, aerospace, engineering, or complex regulated environments; Strong proficiency in planning tools such as Primavera P6 (essential); British National; Experience producing and maintaining integrated master schedules; Solid understanding of critical path analysis, schedule logic, and performance measurement; Ability to communicate complex planning information clearly to non-planning stakeholders

Nice to have

Experience working with MOD or equivalent defence customers; Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM); Experience supporting bids or major programme re-baselining; Familiarity with risk and schedule risk analysis techniques; Professional accreditation (e.g. APM, PMI) or working towards it; Analytical and detail-oriented with a proactive mindset; Confident working in complex, high-assurance environments; Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills; Able to work independently while supporting wider programme objectives; Committed to integrity, confidentiality, and compliance

Benefits

Pension scheme (8% company contribution / 4% personal contribution); 25 days' paid annual leave + bank holidays + option to buy or sell days; Professional fees reimbursed; Flexible working; Employee referral scheme