M&E Planner

The Opportunity
Our client, a specialist M&E engineering contractor based in Wigan, is looking for a M&E Planner to take ownership of project programmes across the full delivery cycle, from tender and pre-construction through to construction, commissioning and handover. It is a genuinely central role: good planning is what keeps projects on track, protects delivery dates and gives the management team early sight of where the risks are.
The client is happy to consider planners from either a mechanical or electrical bias, and at any level of experience, from those already established in a planning role to people with the right aptitude looking to develop. What matters is a practical understanding of how projects are sequenced and delivered, and the ability to produce realistic, logic-linked programmes that reflect what actually happens on site.
The role is based at the client’s head office in Wigan, with travel to various project sites as required. Salary is £60,000 - £70,000 based on experience, plus a full benefits package.
About the Business
Our client is a well-established M&E engineering specialist with national reach and a strong North-West base. Their capability spans mechanical services, electrical engineering, HVAC, in-house design and planned and reactive maintenance, delivered across industrial, food and drink, pharmaceutical and commercial environments for some of the UK’s most recognisable end clients.
This is a developing planning role within the business, with support, direction and oversight from senior management. The person who comes in will build a strong understanding of the company’s processes, client requirements and delivery standards, with genuine scope to grow their planning capability and commercial awareness over time.
Accreditations include ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. The business has a serious approach to programme control and sees this role as central to improving visibility, protecting delivery and supporting commercial performance across its projects.
What You'll Be Doing
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Preparing tender programmes to support bids and client submissions, with clear sequencing, milestones and critical path analysis
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Developing and maintaining baseline and live construction programmes using Microsoft Project and, where required, Primavera P6
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Producing commissioning programmes covering pre-commissioning, functional and integrated testing, client witnessing and handover
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Preparing short-term look-ahead programmes to give site teams clear, practical direction week to week
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Updating live programmes weekly, tracking actual progress against plan and reporting movement against key milestones
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Issuing clear, commercially useful programme reports to Directors, Commercial Managers and project stakeholders
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Identifying and escalating programme risks early, and advising on mitigation, resequencing or recovery options
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Supporting the commercial team with programme information for variations, change and NEC3 / NEC4 compensation events
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Working closely with project, site, design, commercial and commissioning teams to keep programmes accurate and achievable
What We're Looking For
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A practical understanding of how M&E or construction projects are sequenced and delivered on site
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Planning experience is welcomed at any level, from established planners to those developing into the role with the right aptitude
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Mechanical or electrical bias both considered; the client is open on discipline
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Proficiency in Microsoft Project, and ideally Primavera P6, or a genuine willingness to develop it
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An understanding of critical path, programme risk and realistic site sequencing
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Awareness of NEC contract forms and programme-related commercial impacts is advantageous
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Clear, confident communication with project teams, management and stakeholders
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Willingness to travel to project sites as required, with a full UK driving licence
What's on Offer
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£60,000 - £70,000 depending on experience
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Full company benefits package
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A central, high-visibility role with genuine ownership of programme control
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Real scope to develop planning capability and commercial awareness with senior support
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A varied project portfolio across specialist sectors with well-known end clients