Job Description - Senior Planner Location: Dover, Kent on-site role Inside IR35 Purpose of the Role The Senior Planner will support the client in the delivery of its portfolio of projects under the Planning Framework (Apply online only)). Working within the NEC4 Framework environment, the role is responsible for the development, management, and assurance of project and programme schedules, ensuring alignment with the client's governance, controls, and reporting processes. The postholder will provide hands-on support to project teams and help embed consistent planning standards, tools, and methodologies across the portfolio, ensuring compliance with NEC4 requirements and best practice planning principles. Key Responsibilities - Schedule Development & Management o Develop, manage, and maintain detailed project schedules within Primavera P6 or equivalent tools. o Ensure logical sequencing, accurate durations, and critical path visibility across all work packages. o Maintain baseline schedules and manage updates in alignment with NEC4 clause requirements. - Framework Planning Governance o Support implementation of planning standards, templates, and coding structures (WBS/CBS alignment). o Ensure that schedule data supports the Client reporting, cost, and risk management systems. o Assist in the establishment and continuous improvement of schedule assurance processes. - Progress Measurement & Reporting o Track and report progress against baselines, highlighting variances and providing recovery recommendations. o Develop and maintain performance dashboards and earned value analysis (EVA) reports. o Support monthly programme reviews and reporting to the Framework Management Team. - Stakeholder Engagement o Work collaboratively with Client project managers, contractors, and consultants. o Provide schedule input to NEC4 early warnings, risk management sessions, and compensation events. o Present schedule data and forecasts to both technical and non-technical audiences. - Continuous Improvement o Support development of planning procedures, training material, and lessons learned. o Contribute to the wider implementation of Oracle Primavera Cloud (OPC) tools and digital reporting dashboards. o Champion best practice in project controls and planning across the Client programme. Required Skills & Experience - Minimum 7 years' experience in project planning and controls within infrastructure, ports, or transport sectors. - Strong understanding of NEC4 contracts (PSC/Framework) and their planning requirements. - Advanced user of Primavera P6 and/or Oracle Primavera Cloud (OPC) knowledge of MS Project beneficial. - Demonstrable experience in developing, managing, and assuring complex multi-project schedules. - Understanding of integration between planning, cost, risk, and performance reporting systems. - Experience working in collaborative frameworks or public-sector programmes. - Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights. Desirable - Knowledge of digital project controls implementation or schedule automation tools (e.g., Power BI, OPC analytics). - Experience in developing WBS/CBS standards and planning assurance frameworks. - Membership or affiliation with APM or equivalent professional body. - Degree-qualified in Engineering, Project Management, or a related field. Reporting Line Reports to: Framework Planning Lead / Framework Manager Interfaces with: Project Managers, Cost Managers, Risk Managers, and Framework Delivery Partners