Senior Planner OCU Services · Manchester - Opals Group

Description

About OCU Group

Established in 1994, OCU Group is one of the fastest growing utility engineering contractors in the UK, with a long successful track record in delivering engineering solutions.

We work directly with many leading blue-chip power, water, telecoms, and rail clients, looking for talented individuals to join our team.

We empower our employees, offering opportunities for personal development and career progression in a supportive environment.

We believe being successful is a choice. We choose to be successful.

We are OCU, 'One Company United', committed to innovation and delivering sustainability.

Senior Planner Role Overview

The Project Planner plays a key role in ensuring the successful delivery of projects by developing, monitoring, and maintaining comprehensive project schedules and plans.

Working closely with project teams, stakeholders, and subcontractors, the Project Planner ensures timelines, resources, and costs are effectively managed to meet project objectives.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Project Planning and Scheduling

  • Develop detailed project schedules, incorporating all phases of the project lifecycle, from initiation to completion.
  • Identify and sequence project activities, milestones, and deliverables to ensure realistic timelines.
  • Allocate resources and define critical paths to optimise project performance.
  • Regularly update project plans to reflect progress, changes, and risks.

• Monitoring and Progress Reporting

  • Track and monitor project progress, ensuring adherence to schedules and timelines.
  • Prepare and deliver regular progress reports, including Gantt charts and performance updates, to stakeholders.
  • Identify deviations from the project plan and recommend corrective actions to address delays or risks.

• Risk and Change Management

  • Conduct risk analysis to identify potential project challenges and impacts on schedules.
  • Collaborate with the project team to develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
  • Assess and incorporate approved change requests into the project schedule, ensuring alignment with overall goals.

• Stakeholder Coordination

  • Collaborate with project managers, engineers, and other stakeholders to ensure accurate planning and coordination.
  • Act as the point of contact for all scheduling-related queries and updates.
  • Maintain clear communication with subcontractors and suppliers regarding timelines and deliverables.

• Resource and Cost Management

  • Assist in the allocation and optimisation of resources, including labour, materials, and equipment.
  • Support cost control by aligning schedules with project budgets and forecasts.
  • Provide data-driven insights to assist in resource levelling and workload distribution.

• Planning Tools and Systems

  • Ensure all planning data is accurately recorded and maintained in line with company procedures.
  • Develop and implement standardised planning processes and templates to enhance efficiency and consistency.

• Continuous Improvement

  • Identify opportunities to improve planning practices and project delivery performance.
  • Share lessons learned and contribute to the development of planning best practices within the organisation.

Skills and Experience

• Education

  • Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or a related field. Equivalent qualifications or experience may be considered.

• Experience

  • Proven experience as a Project Planner in the construction, infrastructure, or renewable energy sectors.
  • Strong expertise in project planning tools such as Primavera P6, MS Project, or similar software.
  • Demonstrated ability to manage complex project schedules and deliver results.

• Skills

  • Excellent organisational and time-management abilities.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.
  • Proficiency in project management methodologies and tools.
  • Attention to detail and ability to work under pressure.

Key Competencies

• Technical Expertise

  • Deep understanding of civil and electrical engineering requirements for ICP and BESS projects.

• Health & Safety Leadership

  • Strong commitment to maintaining a safe and compliant site environment.

• Operational Efficiency

  • Skilled in managing site activities and resources to achieve project objectives.

• Problem Solving

  • Proactive in addressing challenges and implementing effective solutions.

• Client Focus

  • Dedicated to building and maintaining strong client relationships.

Our Values

We value our commitment to each other, summed up in our five values, which we all sign up to:

• We care about safety.
• We lead with integrity.
• We strive to be better every day.
• We make a positive impact.
• We deliver to grow.

We are one company united, working together to innovate and deliver sustainability.