Principal Planner; Design

Senior / Principal Planner – Design Planning Specialist

Does an opportunity to elevate design‑planning capability, drive alignment across functions, and gain exposure to senior leadership appeal to you?

Location: Sale or Dartford (national travel as required – flexible base)
Reporting to: Technical Director (operational) and Planning Leader (functional)

We are looking for a Senior or Principal Planner with the confidence, curiosity, and collaborative mindset to help shape how design planning is delivered across Laing O'Rourke. This unique role sits at the intersection of Planning, Technical, and Design Management – focusing on delivering better project outcomes through consistent standards, integrated design programmes, and early‑stage assurance.

This is a rare opportunity to focus on a critical part of the project lifecycle – one that often receives too little attention. It offers the chance to develop a genuine specialism in design planning or to broaden your capability before returning to mainstream planning roles.

You will play a key role in defining, implementing, and continuously improving our approach to design planning across the pre‑construction and construction phases. Beginning in PCSA and progressing into live works, you will ensure the planning and design elements of our projects are fully aligned with Laing O'Rourke's standards, guidance, and technical governance.

Working with project teams, planners, technical leaders, design consultants, subcontractors, and approving bodies, you will help produce integrated and assured design programmes that reduce inefficiencies and improve “right‑first‑time” outcomes.

You’ll also be a core part of our geographically distributed planning community – supporting consistent delivery across all projects and sectors while enabling client‑specific flexibility. A key aspect of this role involves guiding teams through change and championing the value of enhanced design planning practices.

• Implement and adapt the Laing O'Rourke Preconstruction Programme Template across bids, PCSAs and projects.
• Peer review tender, PCSA, contract and project programmes to Builds (PtBs) to ensure full integration of design consultant and supply chain inputs.
• Act as the interface between Technical/Design Management and Planning to ensure design and assurance requirements are accurately reflected in the programme.

• Support the creation of Master Information Delivery Plans (MIDPs) and Task Information Delivery Plans (TIDPs).
• Communicate and track design release timelines to align with project needs.
• Support integration of programme data into the Design Performance Measurement System.

• Develop and refine design planning guidance, processes and training materials.
• Contribute to enhancement of the Preconstruction Template and share updates across planning and design functions.
• Collect benchmarking data and support audits to drive consistency and compliance.

• Assist with programme impact assessments, mitigation strategies, and delay analysis for design‑related change.
• Review consultant and supplier design programmes for scope accuracy and contractual compliance.
• Support identification of design resource needs and track performance against KPIs.

• Deliver training, workshops, and guidance for planners, design managers, technical leaders and consultants.
• Support resource development, mentoring and retention across the planning community.

• Strong proficiency in P6 and/or ASTA (both build and infrastructure experience valued).
• Experience with pre‑contract planning
  , design programme development, and maintaining construction programmes.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills across multidisciplinary teams.
• Experience implementing strategic planning / programme management systems.
• Ability to engage both senior leadership and end‑users, tailoring communication appropriately.

• Experience leading a planning and on a project.
• Experience driving…