Senior planner

Job Description

Senior Planner (MEP)

Location: London Gatwick Airport

Salary: Circa £78,000 + 5% Welcome Bonus

Benefits: £4,750pa Travel Allowance + Up to 20% Performance Bonus + Up to 10% Pension contribution + Private Healthcare

Working format: Hybrid Working 3 days in the office, 2 days working from home

Drive Major Sustainability and Infrastructure Projects at London Gatwick

London Gatwick is investing significantly in its future infrastructure and sustainability agenda, with ambitious targets to reduce carbon emissions by 2030 and deliver a more environmentally sustainable airport operation.

The Senior Planner role will be heavily focused on MEP infrastructure and will play a key role in planning and coordinating projects that directly contribute to Gatwick's long-term sustainability goals.

The Opportunity:

This is a fantastic opportunity to join a high-performing team delivering projects that have a direct impact on Gatwick's environmental objectives and future infrastructure strategy.

As Senior Planner, you will provide a full planning and scheduling service across projects typically valued up to £50 million. You will work closely with project managers, engineers, consultants and contractors to ensure programmes are robust, achievable and aligned with overall business objectives.

Operating within a live airport environment, you will be responsible for managing schedules from project development through to delivery, ensuring risks, interfaces and constraints are effectively managed throughout the project lifecycle.

About You:

You will be an experienced Planner or Senior Planner with a strong background delivering complex MEP projects within construction, infrastructure, aviation, rail, utilities, healthcare, data centres or other technically challenging environments.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain integrated project schedules with clear milestones and critical path analysis.
• Coordinate work activities across multiple MEP disciplines and stakeholder groups.
• Monitor programme performance and identify schedule risks, delays and opportunities.
• Develop recovery plans and mitigation strategies where required.
• Review and assess contractor programmes against London Gatwick baseline schedules.
• Undertake delay analysis and assess compensation events under NEC contracts.
• Produce programme updates, performance reports and planning metrics.
• Support project controls activities including resource loading, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and Cost Breakdown Structures (CBS).
• Analyse quantities, installation rates, staffing requirements and productivity trends.
• Ensure project delivery schedules align with wider airport operational and capital investment programmes.

Essential Requirements

• Degree qualified or equivalent in Construction Management, Engineering, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Significant experience planning major MEP projects, ideally valued above £10 million.
• Strong understanding of Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing systems and associated construction activities.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 and Microsoft Excel.
• Experience reviewing contractor programmes and performing schedule analysis.
• Understanding of engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning processes.
• Working knowledge of NEC contracts and compensation event assessments.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent analytical and reporting capabilities.

Desirable Experience

• Infrastructure or major project planning within a live operational environment.
• Airport, rail, utilities, healthcare or critical infrastructure project experience.
• Quantity take-offs and statistical analysis.
• Knowledge of sustainability-focused construction and infrastructure projects.

This is an opportunity to contribute to some of the most important sustainability and infrastructure projects currently being delivered within the UK aviation sector.

You'll be joining a business that is investing heavily in its future, where planners play a critical role in shaping project success and supporting the airport's journey towards a lower-carbon future.