McDermott Building and Civil Engineering Ltd
Planner
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We are seeking an experienced Planner to join our dynamic civil engineering team, specialising in groundworks and infrastructure projects. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in planning within the construction sector, with proven experience working under NEC and JCT contracts.
Job type: Contract, Full time
Working hours: 07:30 – 17:00 (Monday to Friday)
Site location: Coleshill, B46
About the role
The ideal candidate will be a Senior Planner / Scheduling Engineer with a strong civil engineering background, who understands how work is actually constructed and can convert that understanding into a robust P6 programme.
They should be equally comfortable sitting with a Site Agent discussing tomorrow's drainage works, interrogating P6 logic, producing a Clause 32 update for BBV, analysing a delayed access date, or building a resource forecast for multiple drainage gangs.
This is therefore not a purely administrative planning position. The successful candidate must be able to actively contribute to construction strategy, programme recovery, resource planning, and contractual programme management.
Key responsibilities
Planning & Scheduling
- Develop, maintain, and update detailed Primavera P6 programmes from contract-level through to detailed construction activity level.
- Develop detailed programmes for individual drainage assets, work fronts, drain runs, and construction gangs.
- Establish robust activity logic, including predecessors, successors, constraints, interfaces, calendars, and appropriate float.
- Develop detailed construction sequences that reflect actual site methodology and available working fronts.
- Incorporate BBV-prescribed access dates and earthworks readiness dates into the programme.
- Maintain a clear distinction between:
- Pre-construction
- Design / approvals
- Procurement
- Mobilisation
- Construction
- Testing / completion
- Demobilisation
- Develop and maintain short-term / look-ahead programmes to support site delivery.
- Programmes must demonstrate the required level of detail, including individual catchpits, pipe runs, headwalls, UTX crossings, ditch runs, and drainage sections.
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Progress & Programme Updates
- Own the preparation of periodic NEC Clause 32 programme updates.
- Accurately record actual progress, remaining durations, and forecast dates.
- Undertake regular data-date / status-date updates using information from site teams.
- Review progress against accepted programmes and identify:
- Slippage
- Critical path movement
- Float erosion
- Out-of-sequence working
- Access constraints
- Productivity issues
- Emerging programme risks
- Produce clear programme narratives explaining changes to sequence, logic, and forecast completion.
- Support the Project Manager with programme evidence for Early Warnings, Compensation Events, and programme risk discussions.
The current programme identifies access uncertainty, fragmented possession windows, late information release, procurement impacts, and resource stacking as key programme risks.
Essential qualifications & experience
- Minimum 7–10 years' planning / scheduling experience within civil engineering or major infrastructure.
- Strong practical experience using Primavera P6.
- Proven experience working on complex construction programmes with multiple work fronts and interfaces.
- Experience of detailed construction planning and methodology development.
- Experience of working with Tier 1 and Tier 2 contractors.
- Strong understanding of construction sequencing, productivity, and resource requirements.
- Experience of progress updating and programme reporting.
- Experience working within an NEC contractual environment.
- Ability to interrogate and analyse programme logic rather than simply update activities.
- Experience of working directly with Site Managers, Engineers, and Project Managers.
- Strong Excel skills, including the ability to manipulate programme and progress data.
Desirable Experience
- Civil Engineering / Construction / Project Controls qualification.
- Previous experience on HS2, major rail, highways, or other major infrastructure projects.
- Experience of drainage, earthworks, structures, or utilities.
- Experience with Asta Powerproject.
- Experience with Microsoft Project.
- Experience producing NEC Clause 32 narratives.
- Experience supporting compensation event assessments.
- Experience with resource loading and resource histograms.
- Experience developing 4–6 week look-ahead programmes.
- Experience developing detailed fragnet / mini-programmes to assess changes in sequence or methodology.
- Experience with P6 XER interrogation / data extraction.
- Experience of working with large, multi-disciplinary project teams.
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What we offer
- Opportunity to work on high-profile infrastructure projects
- Supportive and collaborative team environment
- Career development and training opportunities
- Competitive salary and benefits package
Why Join McDermotts
McDermotts is a nationwide civil engineering and groundworks company based in Birmingham, supporting some of the largest construction companies across the length and breadth of the UK. Established in 1994, we’re a family-founded business that still operates with the customer focus and values we started with. Construction is our passion, and we believe that the industry can provide rich and rewarding experiences.
Our certifications include: CIOB, ISO 45001, ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, NHSS30, PQS Health and Safety SSIP, Achilles Building Confidence, Safe contractor, Construction Line, SMAS, Mission Zero, and Considerate Constructors.
To ensure we continue to meet the needs of our customers and grow as a business, we continually look for new recruits to join our team. When you engage with McDermotts, you are not just joining a team, you become part of our family. Our culture is built around supporting each other and working together to achieve success.
Commitments to equality & diversity
McDermotts is an equal opportunities employer, and we value diversity. All engagement is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need. Applicants from outside the UK must have a suitable visa or the Right to Work in the UK to be considered for this job. Your shared personal information will be stored and shared by email or a printed copy with HR and hiring managers in relation to any open vacancy for which you wish to be considered.
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