Rubicon Consulting is currently recruiting for a Project Planner on a 6 month rolling Contract, based in Rugby
This role falls INSIDE IR35
Role Summary
We are seeking an experienced SC Cleared Project Planner with strong expertise in New Product Introduction (NPI) and production planning to join our Defence/Aerospace programme team.
The successful candidate will be responsible for creating and maintaining project schedules across the full lifecycle, ensuring the smooth transition from design and development into production.
This is a 6-month rollIng contract inside IR35, supporting mission-critical programmes within a secure environment.
Key Responsibilities
· Develop, maintain, and manage integrated project schedules for NPI and production programmes.
· Support NPI activities including prototype builds, first article inspections, and transition to volume production.
· Align project and production plans with engineering, manufacturing, and supply chain teams to ensure readiness.
· Use planning tools (Primavera P6 / MS Project) to produce and maintain accurate project data.
· Conduct schedule analysis, critical path reviews, and “what-if” scenarios to support decision-making.
· Support Earned Value Management (EVM) and provide accurate schedule forecasts and variance analysis.
· Monitor production schedules to ensure material availability, capacity planning, and on-time delivery.
· Identify risks, issues, and opportunities, proposing mitigations where appropriate.
· Prepare and present schedule reports and updates to internal and external stakeholders.
· Ensure compliance with security, governance, and MOD/Defence standards.
Essential Skills & Experience
· Active SC Clearance (or ability to obtain).
· Demonstrable experience as a Project Planner in defence, aerospace, or engineering/manufacturing.
· Strong background in NPI (New Product Introduction) planning and transitioning products into production.
· Experience in production planning and capacity/resource management.
· Proficiency with Primavera P6 and/or MS Project.
· Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems (e.g., SAP, Oracle, IFS).
· Strong understanding of WBS, dependencies, and critical path methodology.
· Experience in EVM, project controls, and schedule performance reporting.
· Excellent communication skills and stakeholder engagement experience.
Desirable Skills & Experience
· Defence, aerospace, or naval industry background.
· Experience in low-volume, high-complexity manufacturing environments.
· Professional planning certification (APM PPQ, PMI-SP, Primavera certifications).
· Familiarity with Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement principles.
· Risk and resource management experience.
Personal Attributes
· Security-conscious with attention to detail.
· Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
· Collaborative and able to bridge engineering, production, and programme management.
· Resilient and adaptable with a proactive mindset.
· Results-driven with focus on delivery against tight deadlines.
Our Company
Rubicon Consulting is a Talent management consultancy which helps you to optimise business performance and competitive advantage by choosing the right people first time