Senior planner

Senior Project Planner – Data Centre Construction

Location: East London

The Opportunity

A leading international contractor is seeking an experienced Senior Planner to join the team on the delivery of a £250m new build hyperscale data centre in East London.

This is a key position within the project leadership team, responsible for developing, managing and driving the programme from pre-construction through to commissioning and handover. Working closely with the Project Director and senior operational team, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring the successful delivery of one of the UK's flagship data centre developments.

This opportunity would suit a planner with experience on major construction projects, ideally within the data centre, mission-critical, pharmaceutical or large-scale commercial sectors.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop, maintain and manage the integrated master programme for the project using Primavera P6.
• Produce detailed construction programmes covering design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover activities.
• Work closely with the Project Director, Construction Managers and package leads to ensure programmes accurately reflect project strategy and delivery methodology.
• Monitor progress against programme milestones and identify risks, delays and opportunities.
• Lead programme reviews with both internal teams and client stakeholders.
• Produce weekly and monthly progress reports highlighting critical path activities, float analysis and programme performance.
• Carry out forensic programme analysis where required and provide mitigation strategies to recover delays.
• Coordinate planning activities across all disciplines, including CSA, Mechanical, Electrical and Commissioning.
• Develop and maintain short-term look-ahead programmes to support site delivery teams.
• Review subcontractor programmes and ensure alignment with the overall master programme.
• Work alongside commercial and project teams to assess programme implications of change events and variations.
• Support tender planning and sequencing exercises where required.
• Participate in collaborative planning workshops with clients, consultants and supply chain partners.
• Drive continuous improvement in planning processes and programme management.

Candidate Requirements

• Proven experience as a Senior Planner or Planning Manager on large-scale construction projects.
• Previous experience delivering data centres is highly desirable.
• Experience on mission-critical, pharmaceutical, industrial or major commercial projects will also be considered.
• Strong working knowledge of Primavera P6.
• Experience producing and managing Level 3–5 programmes.
• Excellent understanding of construction sequencing and methodology across CSA and MEP disciplines.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to identify programme risks and propose practical solutions.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to challenge constructively and influence project teams.
• Experience presenting programme updates to senior leadership and clients.
• Degree or equivalent qualification in Construction Management, Engineering or a related discipline is advantageous.

About the Project

The project is a £250m hyperscale data centre development in East London, comprising:

• New build mission-critical facility
• Complex civil, structural and architectural works
• Large-scale mechanical and electrical infrastructure
• High-value critical systems
• Extensive commissioning and integrated systems testing
• Fast-paced delivery programme
• Collaborative environment with a highly experienced project team

Why Apply?

This is an opportunity to play a leading role on one of the UK's most significant data centre developments while working for an internationally recognised contractor with an exceptional reputation for delivering mission-critical infrastructure.

If you're an experienced planner looking to take ownership of a landmark project and contribute to the delivery of critical digital infrastructure, we'd love to hear from you.