Lead Planner – London & South East (L9)

Overview

As Lead Project Planner for Arcadis Mobility Programme Management & Commercial Management, you will steer planning and scheduling for a major rail/highways/aviation programme in London and the South. You will drive robust project controls, baseline planning, and performance reporting to enable timely delivery and informed decision-making. You’ll lead a planning team, collaborate with clients and multidisciplinary teams, and champion continuous improvement through digital tools. This is a shaping role at scale, with impact across lifecycle planning, commercial interfaces, and risk management.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and scheduling on complex projects with strong project controls
• Develop and maintain baseline plans, WBS, and schedules aligned with delivery objectives
• Monitor progress, identify variances, and implement recovery and contingency plans
• Provide expert input into bids, estimates, and resource planning to support growth
• Report earned value, progress, and performance to inform financial forecasting
• Analyse project data to identify trends, risks, and anomalies
• Ensure compliance with planning standards and lifecycle frameworks
• Audit contractor plans and monitor adherence to Network Rail procedures
• Mentor and develop planners, fostering knowledge sharing
• Collaborate with clients and multidisciplinary teams to deliver value and build relationships
• Drive continuous improvement in planning processes and adopt emerging digital tools

Key requirements

• 10+ years in project planning and scheduling, ideally in major rail or infrastructure programmes
• Degree/HNC/HND in Engineering, Project Management, or related subject
• Strong understanding of UK mobility sector and project delivery requirements
• Proven ability to lead and develop teams in a fast-paced environment
• Proficient in Primavera P6 and MS Project
• Excellent organisational, commercial, and communication skills
• Experience with project controls, cost engineering, and financial operations
• Familiarity with different contracting environments and commercial models

• Leadership and people development
• Strong communication and stakeholder management
• Collaborative and cross-functional teamwork
• Primavera P6
• MS Project
• Project controls and earned value reporting

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