Senior Planner – Thames Region

Driving Performance. Controlling Risk. Delivering Infrastructure.

Role: Senior Planner

Position Type: Staff / Permanent

Locations: Thames Region – Hampton (preferred), Maple Lodge, Coppermills

Salary: Attractive + Package

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Senior Planner to join our Thames Region team, supporting the successful delivery of major infrastructure projects across Hampton, Maple Lodge and Coppermills.

As a Senior Planner, you will take full ownership of project programmes, ensuring plans are robust, achievable and aligned with delivery objectives. The Senior Planner will drive the project team to deliver to programme, proactively challenging delays and deviations while maintaining focus on key milestones and the critical path.

This is an excellent opportunity for a Senior Planner who thrives in a fast-paced environment and enjoys being a key part of an integrated delivery team. The Senior Planner will also mentor and guide junior planning professionals, building capability and driving planning excellence across the region.

Key Responsibilities

As Senior Planner, you will:

• Develop and maintain detailed, fully resourced project programmes covering the full lifecycle

• Ensure programmes reflect complete scope, logic and resource allocation

• Lead collaborative planning and programme review workshops

• Monitor critical path activities and key milestones

• Identify risks and opportunities within programmes and propose mitigation strategies

• Review, challenge and integrate supply chain programmes into the master schedule

• Manage and track programme baselines

• Implement project and activity coding structures

• Prepare detailed programme narratives for client submission

• Conduct regular quality and integrity checks on schedules

• Develop claims programmes and incorporate contractual changes

• Support regional planning performance reviews and reporting

• Interrogate drawings and technical documentation to optimise sequencing

• Mentor and coach Planners and Graduate Planning Engineers

The Senior Planner will act as a trusted planning lead, ensuring compliance with internal procedures and maintaining high standards of programme governance.

About the Candidate

The ideal Senior Planner will bring strong infrastructure experience, particularly within civil and/or M&E construction environments. You will be confident, solutions-focused and comfortable working to tight deadlines while maintaining programme integrity.

Essential Criteria

• Expert user of Primavera P6

• Proven experience planning civil and/or M&E construction projects

• Strong Microsoft Office capability

• Solid understanding of Health, Safety & Environmental practices

• Excellent communication and stakeholder engagement skills

• Ability to identify risks and opportunities within complex programmes

• Comfortable working in fast-paced delivery environments

• Strong organisational skills and ability to manage own workload

• Proactive, problem-solving mindset

Desirable Criteria

• Water industry experience

• NEC3/4 contract experience

• Construction or engineering background

• Professional qualification

• Water Hygiene card

• Familiarity with contract management principles

This opportunity would suit a driven Senior Planner looking to play a key role in delivering essential infrastructure within the Thames region, contributing to programme excellence and high-performing project delivery.

Company information

At First Recruitment Group we understand just how important it is to secure the right people. That is why our Recruitment Consultants always take the time to understand requirements in detail and offer sound advice to both clients and candidates.  We actively recruit at all levels and this is a superb opportunity for a Senior Planner looking for new employment.

As part of putting people first, we strive to be an equal opportunities employer and we are always looking to increase the diversity of our workforce, working closely with our clients to ensure everyone is included.