Planning Lead

Our client, a large Defence supplier, is looking for an experienced Planning Lead to join their team. The role will operate within a project team at a large secure government department in Cheltenham.

The client requires a minimum of 2 days/week working on site but are open to hybrid working at other times. You will be asked to specify your requirements during the application process.

Initial contract will be scheduled to run for 220 days (circa 1 year). Rate is determined by SFIA bands and candidates will therefore be considered for rates depending on their experience:

• SFIA band 3 experience, the maximum rate is up to £470/day.
• SFIA band 4 experience, the maximum rate is up to £650/day.
• SFIA band 5 experience, the maximum rate is up to £780/day.

IR35 STATUS: Inside IR35. Our client has indicated that they intend to operate the engagement as Inside IR35. Candidates would be required to operate through an FCSA registered umbrella company on this engagement. The rates above represent rate payable to the umbrella co.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS: 29/01/2024 at 12:00

This role requires candidates to hold current Enhanced DV clearance or DV clearance. As these are for requirements for contract resource, for early start, and due to the timescales to gain new clearances, candidates without current clearance cannot be considered on this occasion.

Role Description

As a Planner you will have the opportunity to make a tangible, sustainable and a hugely beneficial impact, supporting projects across their entire lifecycle and providing key control and governance expertise. Your primary focus would include the facilitation of planning workshops, schedule analysis, and maintenance on behalf of the schedule owner. At Programme level, the Planner will provide quality assurance across the delivery environment in line with the chosen methodology as well as the approved planning processes and procedures.

Main Responsibilities

• Advise and support on planning best practice.
• Create, review, analyse, assure, and maintain Portfolio/Programme/Project schedules.
• Identify and maintain dependencies across the delivery environment.
• Input to and review of management products.
• Co-ordinate the schedule update process.
• Lead and facilitate planning workshops and relevant training sessions.
• Proactively identify and progress opportunities to add value to strategic and tactical decision making.
• Demonstrate an understanding of traditional and agile methodologies to advise on most appropriate planning practices.
• Where necessary, support resource planning and utilisation analysis.
• Knowledge of NEC4 forms of contract management would be advantageous.
• Ability to create/update project plans, schedules & costs using Primavera P6.
• Ability to utilise earned value analysis to determine project performance.
• Manage stakeholders and relationships.
• Generate reports on project performance and circulate to stakeholders.
• Ability to incorporate supplier plans or programmes to the master schedule and apply the planning governance or rules within the master schedule.

Skills and Experience

A working knowledge and demonstrable experience in all or some of the following areas:

• Project planning, scheduling, and monitoring experience using Primavera P6 at advanced level (formal and/or comparable experience).
• Teamwork – ability to work cooperatively with others and provide coaching where needed.
• Excellent communication skills – develop strong and efficient communication channels with stakeholders and project teams.
• Ability to adapt approach to individual situations and remain calm under pressure.
• Customer Service – deliver a high level of customer service to external and internal customers.
• Flexibility – Understand the needs and constraints of projects and be willing to flex around these to ensure success.
• A motivated individual who looks to exceed expectations and overcome challenges.
• Demonstrate the ability to analyse information, breakdown large pieces of work into key tasks and activities to drive the planning process.

As an Individual

The right candidate will also:

• Collaborative team player who operates to high behavioural and ethical standards
• Be self-motivated and confident, with strong people skills.
• Be able to gain client trust and identify opportunities for adding further value to the client relationship.
• Encourage collaboration.
• Lead by example.

Candidate Eligibility

Candidates must be eligible to work in the UK, this role will not offer Visa sponsorship. Tier 2 – General visas cannot be accepted.

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