Assistant Planner

About the role

At Balfour Beatty, we’re delivering vital infrastructure to support the UK’s transition to a low‑carbon economy — and our Bramford to Twinstead (BTNO) project, spanning Suffolk and Essex, is at the heart of strengthening the electricity network for generations to come.

We are looking for an Assistant Planner to join our team, playing a crucial role in supporting the development and maintenance of project schedules on this major energy scheme. You’ll help drive project efficiency by coordinating activities, managing timelines, and supporting the planning function to ensure works are delivered in a structured and effective way.

Working alongside experienced professionals, you’ll contribute to the successful delivery of a nationally significant project, ensuring robust planning processes are in place and executed smoothly — while building the foundations of a career in project planning within a leading infrastructure business.

Working within a planning team, you will:

• Ensure programme content is compliant with planning procedures and guidance.
• Tender stage:
  Support the development of logical sequencing and methodology, collaborating with the wider team to achieve the most efficient design, procurement, and construction strategy, under the guidance of the Lead Planner.
• Produce and document planning deliverables, including programmes, planning philosophy, presentations, and reports, as well as tender programmes and supporting information in line with tender requirements.
• Contract stage:
  Assist in the production, management, and maintenance of the contract programme in accordance with established planning procedures.
• Support the Lead Planner in implementing and maintaining project controls processes for scheduling, including the preparation of monthly reports through informed analysis and insight.
• Provide support to BIM Coordinators, as required, to meet project and tender deliverable requirements.
• Contribute to data analysis activities, supporting the development of project data and KPIs to track progress, identify deviations, and enable data‑driven decision making.

Skills

• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities
• Good understanding of data management and process control
• Effective communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strong time management and organisational skills

Knowledge

• Familiarity with project management and planning tools (e.g., Excel, MS Project, Primavera P6, ASTA)
• Basic understanding of project planning principles, including scheduling and progress monitoring
• Awareness of tender and contract documentation, including specifications
• General understanding of project management methodologies

Experience

• Exposure to project planning through internships, coursework, or entry‑level roles
• Practical experience using planning software (e.g., P6 or ASTA), even at a basic level
• Experience working within collaborative team environments
• Background in construction or other sectors with transferable skills relevant to project delivery

Day in, day out, our teams deliver some of the UK’s most ambitious, exciting and meaningful projects; developing, building and maintaining the vital infrastructure that supports national economies and strengthens communities.

As if contributing to and supporting work that makes life better for millions wasn’t rewarding enough, we offer a full range of benefits too. You’ll have the freedom to shape the package that’s right for you and your life. Here are some of our key benefits:

• Smart working, giving you more flexibility such as staggered start and finish times, with up to 40% remote working, where roles allow.
• 25 days paid annual leave (pro rata)
• Family friendly policies which include 28 weeks full pay for maternity/adoption leave and four weeks full pay for paternity/partners leave
• Pension, share incentive plan, volunteering leave, recognition schemes and much more

At Balfour Beatty we believe that diversity and inclusion are essential components of any successful, happy workplace. Through our Value Everyone Diversity and Inclusion Strategy and Action Plan, we are growing our diverse workforce…