Lead Planner

## Lead Planner Apply locations:
Derby, UK:
Manchester:
Warringtontime type:
Full time posted on:
Posted Todaytime left to apply:
End Date:
August 2, 2026 (12 days left to apply) job requisition :
JR101223
** Lead Project Planner
***
* Location:

Manchester, Warrington or Derby with Hybrid Working
** At Rolls-Royce SMR, we're building something world-changing, and strong, credible planning is critical to our success.

We're looking for a Lead Project Planner to join our Project Management Office, where you'll provide leadership, direction and expertise across our planning function. You'll oversee a team of planners, ensuring schedules are realistic, integrated and aligned to programme objectives, while providing strategic planning insight to support effective decision-making across complex engineering programmes.

You'll play a key role in developing planning capability, driving best practice, and ensuring planning standards are consistently applied across the business.
** We need you to:
*** Lead and develop a team of planners, providing direction, support, coaching and mentoring
* Oversee the development, maintenance and management of detailed integrated project schedules using Primavera P6
* Ensure schedules are realistic, achievable and aligned with programme objectives and business priorities
* Lead planning meetings and schedule reviews with cross-functional stakeholders
* Monitor project progress, identify schedule risks and delays, and implement effective mitigation strategies
* Provide strategic planning insight and schedule analysis to support programme delivery and executive decision-making
* Produce and present dashboards, reports and forecasts that highlight key milestones, schedule performance and variance analysis
* Support resource planning and allocation to optimise efficiency and productivity across programmes
* Ensure planning standards, governance processes and best practice methodologies are consistently applied
* Act as a Rolls-Royce SMR Subject Matter Expert within planning and project controls disciplines
* Drive continuous improvement across planning processes, tools and reporting capability
* Work closely with Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Programme Management and Manufacturing stakeholders to ensure integrated delivery planning.
** What you'll bring
** We're not looking for a "perfect" candidate. If you feel you meet around 75% of the below, we'd really like to hear from you.
** You'll bring:
*** Significant experience working within a planning or project controls environment
* Experience leading planning teams and supporting team objectives and day-to-day delivery
* Experience coaching, mentoring and developing planners and junior project controls professionals
* Strong knowledge of integrated programme planning, including Master Integrated Plans (MIP/IMS) and integrated milestone management
* Experience working across large, complex programmes with multiple stakeholder groups
* Strong stakeholder management skills with experience engaging Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement, Programme Management, Operations and Manufacturing teams
* Advanced Primavera P6 expertise, including schedule development, WBS structures, coding structures, resource dictionaries and schedule architecture
* Strong understanding of Earned Value Management (EVM), baseline management and change control processes
* Experience integrating schedule, cost and risk management frameworks
* Experience identifying, monitoring and mitigating schedule risks through proactive planning
* Experience with in complex engineering, nuclear, regulated or highly technical programme environments
* Knowledge of engineering design maturity and programme delivery life cycles would be advantageous.
** Essential training & qualifications
**** We need you to have:
*** Strong knowledge of Primavera P6 (Practitioner level or equivalent experience)
* APM PMQ or equivalent qualification
* Significant experience working within a Project Controls or PMO environment on complex programmes
* Strong knowledge of project controls disciplines including Earned Value Management, reporting, change control and baseline management.
** Ideally, you'll also bring:
*** APM PPC…