Job Description
🚨 Lead Planner – Rail Automation
We’re looking for an experienced Lead Planner to join our Rail Automation team, supporting the planning and control of major rail infrastructure projects. You’ll play a key role in project delivery — developing, maintaining, and analysing schedules that keep complex programmes on track.
đź’Ľ Role: Lead Planner
đź“Ť Location: UK (Hybrid working)
đź“… Type: Full-time, Permanent
As part of the planning function, you’ll either take ownership of the planning and control for a major project or oversee several smaller ones. You’ll work closely with project managers, engineers, and commercial teams to make sure schedules are robust, resource-loaded, and aligned with business goals.
This is also a great opportunity to share your knowledge — mentoring junior planners and helping improve planning standards and practices across the business.
What you’ll be doing:
1. Acting as the technical planning expert for your project team, ensuring consistent standards and processes are applied
2. Developing and maintaining project schedules in line with project management and planning procedures
3. Working with project, commercial, and finance teams to ensure plans are cost and resource loaded
4. Coordinating with site and possession planners to maintain an integrated schedule
5. Supporting the Bids & Tendering team in turning tender plans into live contract schedules
6. Building strong relationships with client representatives and working collaboratively to find efficient planning solutions
7. Running critical path analyses and advising on potential risks or mitigation actions
8. Producing reports for internal and client use, including KPIs, earned value, schedule delay and variance analysis
9. Running scenario modelling to assess potential changes, risks, and impacts on cost and resources
10. Promoting continuous improvement and best practice in planning and controls
What we’re looking for:
11. Degree, HND, or HNC in a relevant field — or equivalent experience
12. Strong background in planning large infrastructure projects, ideally within rail
13. Confident working across project and programme management environments
14. Expert user of Primavera (P6), with working knowledge of MS Project
15. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
16. Proactive communicator with a collaborative approach
17. (Desirable) Engineering, Technical or Business background, ideally with rail signalling experience
18. (Desirable) Familiarity with project management methodologies such as Prince2
If you’re an experienced planner who enjoys working on complex, multi-disciplinary projects and mentoring others, this role offers the chance to make a real impact in a growing, forward-thinking team.
👉 Apply now to join as a Lead Planner and help deliver some of the most important rail projects in the UK.
ASHRA
Luke Coleman
luke.coleman@coyles.co.uk