About The Role As a Senior Substation Planning Engineer, you will lead the planning and scheduling for complex high‑voltage substation projects within Balfour Beatty’s Power Transmission & Distribution portfolio. You will develop, manage and optimise fully integrated construction programmes, supporting safe, efficient and on‑time delivery across civils, electrical, mechanical, protection & control, cabling and commissioning workstreams.
This role is pivotal in ensuring our teams, clients and supply chain partners remain aligned to project strategy, milestones and regulatory obligations. Location is flexible – you can be based in Derby or Leeds, with travel to project site as required.
What you'll be doing
* Lead creation and management of detailed construction schedules using Primavera P6 or similar tools.
* Ensure programme content is fully compliant with company planning procedures and guidance.
* Prepare tender, contract and delivery‑stage programmes including methodologies, sequencing and planning philosophies.
* Maintain logically linked, fully resourced programmes (labour, plant, materials) throughout the project lifecycle.
* Coordinate with network operators to align critical milestones and fixed outage windows.
* Reflect risk mitigation strategies and regulatory constraints (e.g., RIIO, OFGEM deadlines) within the programme.
* Produce regular progress updates and communicate status to clients and project teams.
* Manage baselines, assess change impacts and support compensation event processes.
* Provide critical path analysis, performance metrics and scenario modelling.
* Interface with delivery teams through structured coordination meetings and planning reviews.
* Mentor junior planners and support professional development across the planning team.
* Review and approve programmes submitted by junior or project planners.
* Act as primary planning contact for client planning teams, resolving programme queries or disputes.
Who we're looking for
* Strong background in planning substation, utilities or heavy M&E projects (e.g., 400 kV / 132 kV substations).
* Expertise in Primavera P6 with ability to build, maintain and interrogate complex programmes.
* Experience with NEC contract planning processes, early warnings and compensation events.
* Strong stakeholder coordination skills across clients, designers, project managers and delivery teams.
* Ability to communicate complex programme scenarios clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences.
* Proactive problem‑solver with strong risk awareness and mitigation capability.
* Demonstrable experience in planning large, multi‑discipline substation or utilities projects.
* Ability to take ownership of planning strategy and guide project delivery teams.
* A structured, analytical approach with attention to detail and a collaborative mindset.
Why work for us
* Competitive salary and bonus opportunities
* 25 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays
* Company car or car allowance
* Up to 7 % employer pension contribution
* Professional fees paid and clear pathways to chartership
* Smart working with up to 40 % remote flexibility
* Life assurance, EAP, and family‑friendly policies
* Opportunities to volunteer and make a real difference
* Training & development with access to industry‑leading tools and qualifications
About Us
Balfour Beatty is a global leader in infrastructure delivery, known for solving complex challenges through innovation, collaboration and technical excellence. In our Power T&D business, we’re proud to be shaping a more sustainable, connected, and secure energy future.
We work across the entire energy grid – from overhead lines and substations to underground cabling and renewables – supporting the delivery of some of the UK’s most ambitious energy programmes.
We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels included, respected, and empowered to thrive. We actively encourage applications from diverse backgrounds and are proud to be recognised for our work in equality and inclusion.
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