Job Description
Job Title:
Rail Design/Construction/Testing & Commissioning Planner – Birmingham Meto Extensions (MMA Alliance, Design Joint Venture - DJV)
DJV Planner is responsible for the development, maintenance, and technical integrity of the DJV Design, Construction Support and Testing & Commissioning Programs for covering the six major metro extension projects at varying degrees of completion.
Operating within an Alliance delivery model (Owner-DJV-Contractor), the Planner integrates multi-discipline design schedules from the Design Joint Venture (DJV) design partners into six single, logic-driven, cost-loaded Alliance Design, Construction Support and Testing & Commissioning Schedules, fully aligned with the Constructor’s and Owner’s Integrated Alliance Program.
The role focuses on schedule realism, transparency, and collaborative planning, supporting “best-for-project” outcomes rather than adversarial controls.
Key Responsibilities:
* Alliance Design Program Development:
* Develop and maintain the Alliance Design Program in accordance with the Alliance Agreement, Target Outturn Cost (TOC), and Key Result Areas (KRAs)
* Update the fully logic-linked, resource- and cost-loaded design schedule structured around the approved Scope
* Define design milestones aligned with Alliance gateways, constructability requirements, procurement lead times, and commissioning needs
* Multi-Discipline Schedule Integration:
* Consolidate detailed discipline schedules from JV partners (civil, track, structures, Tram stops/stations, systems, power, signalling, utilities, and interfaces) into a single integrated Alliance Design Schedule per Target Cost
* Manage inter-discipline and design–construction interfaces, ensuring schedule logic supports early design activities, Change Approvals, staged approvals, and progressive package release.
* Validate schedule integrity through critical path analysis, float ownership review, and logic verification
* Integration with Alliance Integrated Program:
* Integrate the Alliance Design Schedule into the Integrated Alliance Program, ensuring alignment with construction, testing & commissioning, and third-party interface activities
* Maintain schedule consistency across design, Construction procurement, construction, and systems integration workstreams
* Support collaborative planning workshops (pull planning, phase planning, last planner–style sessions where applicable)
* Cost Loading & Performance Measurement:
* Develop and maintain a cost-loaded design schedule consistent with the Alliance Target Outturn Cost, align with Cost Management budgets, and reduce overspends
* Support earned value or performance measurement methodologies adopted by the Alliance (e.g., physical progress, weighted milestones)
* Analyse schedule and cost performance, including critical path movement, productivity trends, and forecast completion metrics
* Progress Updating & Reporting
* Coordinate and validate monthly progress updates from all JV discipline leads, ensuring consistent progress measurement rules are applied
* Update schedule logic, durations, and remaining work based on actual performance and collaborative forecasting on a monthly and rolling quarterly forecast reporting cycle.
* Prepare technically robust schedule reports, including:
* Critical path and near-critical path analysis (when required)
* Design package readiness and construction release status
* Schedule risk and opportunity assessment
* Change, Risk & Opportunity Management:
* Assess schedule and cost impacts of design development, scope changes, and emerging Alliance risks and opportunities
* Support time-impact analyses and scenario modelling to inform Alliance leadership decisions.
* Maintain baseline control of Scope
* Alliance Behaviours & Ways of Working:
* Operate in a no-blame, collaborative environment, promoting schedule transparency and shared ownership of outcomes.
* Act as a trusted technical advisor to Design Managers, Construction Planners, and Alliance Project Controls
* Facilitate planning discussions focused on optimisation, buildability, and whole-of-life outcomes
Qualifications & Experience:
* Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical discipline.
* 8+ years planning and scheduling experience on major infrastructure or rail projects.
* Demonstrated experience working within Alliance or collaborative delivery models (preferred).
* Strong understanding of multidisciplinary rail design development, staging, and integration with construction and systems delivery
* Technical Expertise:
* Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 (including cost loading, multiple calendars, and complex logic)
* Experience developing integrated design–construction schedules for rail infrastructure
Strong knowledge of:
* WBS / CBS integration
* Critical path and float analysis
* Schedule risk management and forecasting techniques