Senior Planner

Assystem GmbH; Greater London; On-site; GBP 50,000 - GBP 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading engineering consultancy in Greater London is seeking a Senior Planner for defence projects. The role involves developing and maintaining project schedules, providing schedule performance analysis, and integrating risk into planning. The ideal candidate has significant experience in project planning, particularly within defence or complex environments, and strong skills in tools like Primavera P6. Benefits include a generous pension scheme, paid annual leave, and flexible working options.

Benefits

Pension scheme (8% company contribution / 4% personal contribution)

25 days’ paid annual leave + bank holidays

Professional fees reimbursed

Flexible working

Employee referral scheme

Qualifications

• Significant experience in project planning within defence, aerospace, or complex regulated environments.
• Strong proficiency in planning tools such as Primavera P6.
• Solid understanding of critical path analysis and performance measurement.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain integrated, resource- and cost-loaded schedules.
• Provide schedule performance analysis including critical path and milestones.
• Integrate risk and opportunity into project schedules.

Skills

Project planning

Stakeholder management

Primavera P6

Critical path analysis

Education

Professional accreditation (e.g. APM, PMI)

Tools

Primavera P6

Job description

Our Vacancy# Senior Planner* Defence* Permanent / Project Management* London* United Kingdom* 19/01/26* On site* 50,000 - 60,000 £/yr* Share## Job DescriptionThe Senior Planner is responsible for developing, maintaining, and assuring fully integrated project schedules for complex defence programmes. The role supports effective decision-making by providing accurate planning data, schedule analysis, and risk-informed forecasts aligned with defence governance and assurance requirements.Working closely with Project Managers, Engineering, Commercial, and Risk teams, the Senior Planner ensures that programme schedules reflect scope, cost, risk, and resource constraints, and comply with contractual and regulatory standards.Key ResponsibilitiesPlanning & Scheduling* Develop and maintain integrated, resource- and cost-loaded schedules across the full project lifecycle (design, manufacture, test, acceptance, and in-service support).* Establish planning structures aligned to WBS, CBS, and contract deliverables.* Ensure schedules comply with defence and organisational planning standards and best practice.Programme Control & Reporting* Provide schedule performance analysis including critical path, float, dependencies, and milestones.* Support Earned Value Management (EVM) and schedule health assessments.* Produce clear, accurate planning reports for internal governance, senior stakeholders, and external customers.Risk & Change Management* Integrate risk, opportunity, and mitigation actions into project schedules.* Support schedule risk analysis (e.g. Monte Carlo) where required.* Assess schedule impacts of change requests and support change control processes.Stakeholder Collaboration* Work closely with Project Managers to support delivery planning and decision-making.* Liaise with engineering, supply chain, commercial, and delivery teams to ensure schedule realism.* Provide planning input to bids, proposals, and contract negotiations as required.Assurance & Continuous Improvement* Support internal and external assurance reviews, audits, and readiness assessments.* Mentor junior planners and promote planning best practice.* Contribute to the continuous improvement of planning processes, tools, and standards.Skills & ExperienceEssential* Significant experience in project planning within defence, aerospace, engineering, or complex regulated environments.* Strong proficiency in planning tools such as **Primavera P6** (essential)* British National* Experience producing and maintaining integrated master schedules.* Solid understanding of critical path analysis, schedule logic, and performance measurement.* Ability to communicate complex planning information clearly to non-planning stakeholders.Desirable* Experience working with MOD or equivalent defence customers.* Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM).* Experience supporting bids or major programme re-baselining.* Familiarity with risk and schedule risk analysis techniques.* Professional accreditation (e.g. APM, PMI) or working towards it.Behaviours & Attributes* Analytical and detail-oriented with a proactive mindset.* Confident working in complex, high-assurance environments.* Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills.* Able to work independently while supporting wider programme objectives.* Committed to integrity, confidentiality, and compliance.**Benefits include:*** Pension scheme (8% company contribution / 4% personal contribution)* 25 days’ paid annual leave + bank holidays + option to buy or sell days* Professional fees reimbursed* Flexible working* Employee referral schemeWe are committed to equal treatment of candidates and promote, as well as foster all forms of diversity within our company. We believe that bringing together people with different backgrounds and perspectives is essential for creating innovative and impactful solutions. Skills, talent, and our people’s ability to dare are the only things that matter !. Bring your unique contributions and help us shape the future.