Education Scheme Development | Main Contractor | North London
About the Project
A significant £60M education facility development in North London featuring new teaching buildings, sports facilities, and supporting infrastructure. The project is phased to accommodate ongoing school operations and includes complex logistics around staff and student access. The Main Contractor is responsible for delivery under a Design & Build contract across a 24-month programme with strict sectional completion requirements.
The Role
You will be the planning lead on-site, accountable for:
Developing and maintaining the contract programme and critical path
Resource planning and workload management across multiple work streams
Tracking progress, identifying risks, and reporting status to Project Manager and client
Managing programme changes, recovery actions, and sectional completion milestones
Coordinating with site teams to ensure planned sequences are delivered on ground
Weekly and monthly programme reporting with narrative and risk commentary
Logistics planning for phased occupation and student access management
Interface with client programme team and design consultants on programme dependencies
Essential Requirements
7+ years as a Planner with experience on construction projects of £20M+
3+ years at Senior Planner level managing complex multi-phase programmes
Proficiency in planning software (Primavera, Microsoft Project, or equivalent)
Strong understanding of construction sequencing, resource loading, and critical path analysis
Experience managing sectional completion and phased handover requirements
Proven ability to track and report progress under pressure
Site-based experience in a Main Contractor or similar environment
Desirable
* Experience on education, healthcare, or similar occupied-facility projects
* Familiarity with logistics planning and temporary access management
* Knowledge of Design & Build contract requirements and programme risk management
* Experience with earned value or integrated cost/schedule analysis
* Previous work in London's complex urban construction environment
What We're Looking For
* Strategic thinking — able to see dependencies and bottlenecks before they become problems
* Attention to detail in building and updating programmes that reflect site reality
* Strong communication with site teams, client, and stakeholders at all levels
* Proactive risk management — flagging issues early and proposing recovery options
* Pragmatism balanced with accuracy — meeting delivery demands without losing credibility
* Collaborative approach to solving scheduling conflicts and programme challenges
The Offer
* Salary: £85,000–£100,000 per annum (depending on experience)
* Contract: Permanent for project duration (24 months) with potential extension
* Location: North London, full-time on-site
* Reporting to: Project Manager
* Start date: ASAP
Salary description
£85000.00 - £100000.00 per year