Senior Planner - Construction

Senior Planner
Derby - £75,000 - £85,000 - Permanent
 
Carrington West are working with an established civil engineering contractor to appoint an experienced Planning Manager / Senior Planner to join their team based in Derby.
This is an excellent opportunity to take ownership of tender planning and live project programme management across a diverse portfolio of civil engineering and mechanical infrastructure projects.
Projects typically include concrete works, excavations, pipelines, drainage, and groundworks, providing plenty of variety and technical complexity.
The role is primarily pre-construction focused, producing high-quality tender programmes, while also supporting project teams by maintaining and updating programmes for live projects.

The Role
 
As Planning Manager, you will play a key role supporting both pre-construction and delivery teams, ensuring programmes are robust, compliant, and reflective of real construction methodology.
You will develop tender programmes, advise on construction sequencing and methodology, and ensure live project programmes are regularly updated and aligned with project progress.
 
What's on offer:
·£75,000 - £85,000 salary depending on experience

· Permanent opportunity with long-term project pipeline

· Joining a growing consultancy with great career progression opportunities

· Flexible working hours and some flexibility on work from home. This will be mostly office based.
Your job will involve:
This role would particularly suit someone with a strong construction background who moved into planning after gaining significant site experience.
Tender Planning

· Produce compliant tender programmes for civil engineering and infrastructure projects.

· Support the pre-construction team with planning, programming, and construction methodology advice.

· Identify opportunities for value engineering and alternative buildability solutions.

· Develop programme outputs and collaborate with bid teams to finalise tender submissions.

· Prepare supporting information such as phasing plans, traffic management strategies, and methodologies where required.

· Ensure all programmes comply with industry standards, project requirements, and company procedures.

· Mentor junior planners or team members where appropriate.
Contract Programme Management

· Update and maintain programmes for successful tenders and live projects.

· Carry out regular programme reviews to ensure accuracy and capture change.

· Review site records, project notices, and programme-related communications.

· Monitor risk registers, change registers, and programme impacts.

· Support site teams in protecting programme entitlement and facilitating Extension of Time (EOT) claims where required.

· Liaise with project teams and clients to support programme acceptance and contractual compliance.
Your experience:

· Experience working as a Planner, Senior Planner, or Planning Manager in civil engineering or infrastructure.

· Strong construction background (ideally previously an Engineer or Site Agent).

· Typically 10+ years of site experience before moving into planning.

· Experience producing tender programmes and managing live project programmes.

· Knowledge of projects involving groundworks, pipelines, drainage, excavations, and concrete works.

· Planning software experience (similar to MS Project or equivalent).

· Strong communication skills and ability to work closely with site and commercial teams