Job Description:

Head of Planning - Construction Consultancy - Major Infrastructure and Utilities Projects

An established, national Construction Consultancy seeks a Head of Planning to join its successful and growing team, delivering major construction and infrastructure projects across the UK.

Based in Manchester - with hybrid working - this is a senior opportunity to take ownership of the planning function, working across major construction and infrastructure projects while helping shape how the service develops and grows.

The Head of Planning role

As well as supporting the successful delivery of projects, the successful Head of Planning will develop the planning team, build strong relationships with clients, and play an active role in identifying and securing new opportunities.

The successful Head of Planning will:

• Lead the planning function, providing technical leadership and direction across projects.
• Oversee the development, review and maintenance of robust project programmes.
• Provide senior planning input on complex projects, supporting project teams and clients with clear, practical advice.
• Review programme performance, including critical path, float, progress, constraints, risks and emerging delays.
• Work collaboratively with project, commercial, design, procurement and construction teams to ensure programmes reflect project delivery.
• Provide planning input into programme change and delay matters where required.
• Develop consistent planning standards, processes and ways of working across the business.
• Lead, mentor and develop planners, helping build capability and create progression opportunities within the team.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients.

The Head of Planning

The successful Head of Planning will combine technical planning expertise with leadership, client engagement and commercial awareness, and will have:

• Significant experience in planning or project controls within construction, infrastructure or major projects.
• Strong technical understanding of project planning, including programme development, baselines, critical path, float, progress measurement, forecasting and recovery planning.
• Experience of contributing to business development, including building client relationships, identifying new opportunities and supporting the growth of planning services.
• Experience providing senior planning advice to project teams and clients.
• The ability to interrogate complex programmes and communicate the key issues clearly to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Strong stakeholder management skills and the confidence to constructively challenge and influence at senior level.
• Experience leading, mentoring or developing other planning professionals.
• A commercial mindset and the ability to build credible, long-term client relationships.
• An interest in helping develop and grow a planning service, alongside delivering high-quality technical work.

In Return?

• £95,000 - £115,000 package
• Achievable annual bonus scheme
• Hybrid working
• Private Health
• Generous and flexible annual leave
• Excellent working environment

If you are a senior Planning professional considering your career opportunities, please apply now or contact Tom Harrison at Foster & May for more information.

Ref: TH1151HOP

Head of Planning / Consultancy / Infrastructure / Construction / Utilities / Energy / Manchester