Planning Lead

About Dalkia UK

At Dalkia, we're driven by a shared purpose: tackling climate change and building a better, more sustainable future. We bring together talented people who share knowledge, challenge each other and grow together.

Backed by EDF, Britain's biggest generator of low carbon electricity, we're a people-first culture. With 5,000+ employees and £600m+ turnover, we combine the strength of a major group with a great culture, innovative mindset and inclusive values making Dalkia a great place to work and grow your career.

At Dalkia UK, we're delivering some of the most exciting and technically challenging projects across healthcare, defence, commercial and critical infrastructure sectors.

As our project portfolio continues to grow, we're looking for an experienced Planning Lead to provide strategic programme leadership across major MEP projects. This is a senior role that will see you partnering with Project Directors, Commercial teams and senior clients to drive successful project delivery from bid stage through to completion.

You'll take ownership of planning strategy, project controls, programme assurance, risk management and recovery planning across large-scale, high-value projects, while leading and developing a team of planners. If you're passionate about programme excellence and thrive in a complex engineering and construction environment, we'd love to hear from you.

What You'll Do

• Lead the regional planning and project controls strategy on major M&E projects
• Develop and maintain integrated programmes covering design, procurement, construction, commissioning, testing and handover
• Provide assurance on programme logic, critical path analysis, milestones, interfaces, constraints and forecasting
• Challenge programme assumptions and performance reporting to ensure accurate and reliable project information
• Lead project controls, governance, reporting standards and planning assurance activities across projects and portfolios
• Identify programme risks and opportunities, driving mitigation strategies and recovery plans where required
• Lead delay analysis, extension of time (EOT) assessments and planning support for claims and contractual submissions
• Work closely with Commercial and Legal teams on compensation events, disputes, adjudications and commercial negotiations
• Act as a trusted advisor to Project Directors, clients and senior stakeholders, providing clear programme intelligence and strategic guidance
• Present programme performance, risk and contractual matters at senior leadership and governance reviews
• Manage, mentor and develop Planning teams, creating a high-performance culture focused on collaboration and continuous improvement
• Drive the use of digital project controls tools, including Primavera P6, Asta, Power BI, BIM/4D planning, earned value management and risk analysis software
• Support major bids and tenders by developing robust programmes, assessing project risks and contributing to client presentations

What You'll Bring

• Significant experience in a Senior Planner or Planning Lead position within the M&E or Building Services sector
• Proven track record delivering planning and project controls leadership on large, complex construction projects
• Strong understanding of MEP installation, commissioning, testing and handover processes
• Advanced knowledge of critical path methodology, project controls, programme assurance and risk management
• Experience preparing and assessing Extension of Time (EOT) claims, delay analysis and contractual programme obligations
• Strong working knowledge of NEC, JCT and other standard forms of contract
• Experience leading programme recovery initiatives and resolving complex project challenges
• The ability to influence, challenge and engage senior stakeholders, clients and project teams
• Previous experience managing, mentoring and developing planning teams
• Strong commercial awareness and an understanding of how planning integrates with project delivery and financial performance
• Proficiency with Primavera P6 and other planning and reporting software

Qualifications Essential

• Degree qualified in Construction Management, Project Management, Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent industry experience
• Relevant planning, programme management or project controls qualifications
• Commitment to continued professional development within planning, contracts, claims and leadership

Desirable

• Professional membership with a relevant industry body
• Advanced training in delay analysis, claims management and project controls
• Experience delivering projects within healthcare, defence or other highly regulated environments

Our Values

People First – It starts with health, safety and wellbeing

Better Together – A collaborative team

Trusted Partners – Dedicated to our clients' success

Taking Responsibility – Making a positive difference

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

We're committed to an inclusive and fair recruitment process. If you need any adjustments please let us know, in confidence, our team is here to support you.