Planning Manager

Location: Manchester
Permanent - Hybrid
Competitive + Flexible Benefits

Summary

We're looking for an experienced and driven Planning Manager to join our regional leadership team in Manchester. This is a key leadership role responsible for managing and developing an effective planning function that supports project delivery, operational performance and long-term business objectives.

Working closely with Operations, Commercial and Project Delivery teams, you'll provide strategic planning leadership across a portfolio of complex engineering and construction projects. You'll ensure robust planning processes are in place from bid stage through to project completion, enabling successful project delivery, effective resource allocation and informed decision-making.

This role offers the opportunity to influence regional performance, lead a team of skilled planners and work collaboratively with senior stakeholders to drive continuous improvement across planning and project controls activities.

Some of the key deliverables in this role will include: Health & Safety

• Demonstrate visible leadership in health and safety, promoting a culture where Safety First and Foremost remains central to all planning activities.
• Ensure planning processes support safe project delivery and compliance with company health, safety and environmental standards.
• Actively contribute to the identification and management of project risks that could impact safety performance.

Planning Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, manage and develop the regional planning team to provide effective planning support across all projects.
• Mentor, coach and support the development of planners to enhance capability and performance.
• Foster collaboration across project teams and encourage best practice sharing throughout the business.
• Ensure integrated planning meetings are established and maintained with key project stakeholders.

Bid & Pre-Construction Support

• Lead planning input into tender and bid submissions, supporting successful work winning activities.
• Work collaboratively with commercial and operational teams to develop robust tender programmes.
• Ensure planning activities align with Focus Win processes and business objectives.
• Provide programme risk and opportunity assessments during bid development.

Planning & Programming

• Ensure planning resources are effectively allocated to support project and business requirements.
• Develop, review and agree contract baseline programmes with project stakeholders.
• Analyse current and future workloads to ensure capability and capacity meet contractual obligations.
• Lead regional resource planning activities, providing forward-looking resource forecasts to the Regional Senior Leadership Team.
• Support wider engineering resource planning initiatives across the business.
• Conduct periodic reviews of short-term production control planning and ensure compliance with planning standards.

Contract Change Management

• Ensure contract and target baseline programmes are established, maintained and controlled throughout project lifecycles.
• Lead regular change management reviews across project portfolios.
• Ensure programme impacts arising from scope, cost or schedule changes are accurately assessed and incorporated.
• Maintain compliance with contractual requirements and internal change management processes.

Progress Reporting & Performance Management

• Lead planning teams in monitoring and reporting progress against project baselines.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting in line with contractual and business reporting requirements.
• Provide planning expertise and representation at project and contract review meetings.
• Work closely with Operational and Commercial teams to identify performance issues and implement corrective actions where required.
• Monitor project productivity and performance trends to support successful project outcomes.

Risk Management

• Ensure programme-based risk assessments and schedule risk analysis activities are undertaken throughout the project lifecycle.
• Identify programme risks, opportunities and constraints and develop appropriate mitigation strategies.
• Support project teams in managing programme uncertainty and improving forecast accuracy.

Compliance & Governance

• Ensure all planning activities are carried out in accordance with contractual obligations, company procedures and relevant legislation.
• Promote consistency and best practice across all planning processes and project controls activities.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives within the planning function.

What we're looking for: Essential

• Significant experience in a leadership role within project planning, project controls or programme management.
• Extensive experience using Primavera P6 and/or Asta Powerproject.
• Proven experience of planning within major construction, engineering or infrastructure projects.
• Strong knowledge of NEC contracts and other standard forms of contract.
• Experience working within sectors such as Rail, Nuclear, Power, Utilities or Water.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Strong leadership capability with experience managing and developing teams.
• Ability to analyse complex project data and drive informed decision-making.
• Project Management qualification (APM, PMI, PRINCE2 or equivalent).
• Level 5 Leadership / Management qualification or equivalent experience.

Desirable

• Degree or higher qualification in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Experience leading planning functions across multiple projects or a regional portfolio.
• Experience of schedule risk analysis and advanced project controls methodologies.
• Professional membership of a relevant industry body.
• Completed craft apprenticeship or equivalent technical qualification.

Why Join Us?

At NG Bailey, we're committed to delivering innovative engineering solutions while creating an environment where our people can thrive. As a Planning Manager, you'll play a critical role in shaping project success, developing high-performing teams and influencing business performance across the region.

Benefits

We're always evolving our benefits to ensure we're attracting and retaining great people. Some of what you can expect includes:

• Pension with a leading provider and up to 8% employer contribution
• 25 days holiday, plus bank holidays
• Personal Wellbeing and Volunteer Days
• Private Medical Insurance
• Free 24/7/365 Employee Assistance Programme, including counselling and legal advice
• Flexible benefits including Dental Insurance, Gym Memberships, Give As You Earn, Travel Insurance and Cycle to Work schemes
• Personal development and training opportunities
• Hybrid and flexible working arrangements where role requirements permit
• Career progression opportunities within a leading engineering and infrastructure organisation

At NG Bailey, we're committed to creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and are dedicated to supporting diversity, equity and inclusion across our business.

Next Steps: 

 

As a business, we’re on a journey to build on our culture where everyone is included, treated fairly and with respect. This starts with recruitment and how we bring people into the organisation.  

 

We’ll do our best to outline the recruitment process to you ahead of time with plenty of notice. If you require any accommodations to participate in the application or interview process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met. 

 

About Us: 

 

We are one of the leading independent engineering and services businesses in the UK. Founded in 1921, with a turnover of £500m and 3000 employees, we are proud of our history of developing great people through our investment in training. 

 

Working across a variety of sectors within the building and infrastructure industry, our innovative, responsible and forward-thinking approach allows us to work on fantastic ground-breaking projects, providing solutions using the latest tools and technologies. 

 

Progression is something we value, and we will make sure that when you join us you have a clearly defined development path, supported by regular reviews, training and ongoing support to enable you to be the best you can be. 

 

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