Transport for London
Planning Manager
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Planning Manager – External Advert
Applying for this role means you have read and understood this advert and any associated documents and links.
Grade
Band 3
Salary
c. £60,000 - flexibility on salary and dependent on experience (Plus competitive benefits and open to negotiation).
Contract Type
TfL - Permanent
Location
TfL Offices London including hybrid working
Hybrid working within this role enables a balance of 50 per cent of time split between the office and home over a 4-week period. Hybrid working arrangements can evolve subject to business requirements.
The closing date for applications is Wednesday 29th July 2026 @ 23:59hrs.
Due to the expected high response to these vacancies, we reserve the right to close this campaign once we have a suitable pool of applicants, which could be prior to the published application closing date.
About Us
An exciting opportunity has arisen to recruit Planning Managers within Transport for London.
TfL is responsible for some of the highest profile, most complex and diverse infrastructure work in the UK. Our projects keep a world city moving for 8.6 million people and we do this through our teams of talented people.
TfL delivers critical portfolios of projects to make journeys better for our customers. Our projects vary from enhancing our stations, trains, tracks, and roads to multi £billion programmes to invest in our infrastructure and the technology that supports it.
Our core values of delivering safely, sustainably, reliably, and affordably are at the heart of every project. People are the key to our success and by making sure we share knowledge, skills, and expertise across our programmes we enhance both your career and how we deliver for London.
We are now looking for talented Planning Managers to join us to work on a wide variety of exciting and high-profile projects and programmes. You will assist with the day-to-day management of external contractors/suppliers and support the implementation of projects. This includes management of TfL obligations, contractors, Private Finance Initiative (PFI) suppliers, or other third-party partners, to ensure delivery of projects on behalf of TfL, meeting the needs of our customers.
TfL is an inclusive and flexible organisation, committed to developing you. We are looking for both experienced Planning Managers and people with potential and the ability to demonstrate a passion for planning management.
Applications welcomed from experienced planners in rail and other sectors.
Overview Project/role
The Planning Manager is responsible for supporting the Project Management Office (PMO) Planning function by providing direction, leadership, guidance, and management of the embedded planning resources. The Planner should assist Project or Programme Manager(s) with producing and reporting budget loaded work programmes/schedules, for the purpose of co-ordinating works with Contractors and other third parties. To create and update programme data in compliance with PMO centralised requirements. To provide analysis and assist in the interpretation of all reports produced within TfL.
Key Accountabilities
- Plan and manage complex multi-project programme time schedules to ensure delivery of intended business benefits.
- Analyse, review and highlight critical time schedule issues and ensure viable resolution plans are in place.
- Act as coordination lead for the production of outward facing topical summary reports discussing programme/project progress, critical issues, impact, and mitigation.
- Establish and maintain a highly motivated programme planning team.
- Management of the implementation of planning work processes and procedures in accordance with Pathway and otherwise approved deviations.
- Provide direction and supervision to any assigned project planners and / or possess extensive technical expertise.
- Establish and maintain a good, professional, and pro-active relationship with other project management/ planning teams.
- Conduct Project Controls orientation/training sessions for Programme team(s) and assist Senior management with the interpretation of periodic time schedule/cost reports.
- Liaise with Senior Planning Managers; other Planning Managers & Planning Assistants regarding common planning issues for the purpose of providing a common solution for all parties.
- Analysis of programme controls data and create summary programme reports/analysis for Senior Managers/Sponsors.
- Assess the need for change to planning processes and methods and implement changes to deliver improved performance.
- Assess contractual schedules and compensation events and support the business in schedule related commercial aspects.
- Contribute to driving and leading a positive safety culture within capital projects and ensuring their team is invested in managing and improving HSE performance.
- Contribute to equality of opportunity, social inclusion, fair employment, and environmental sustainability, creating open, inclusive, and engaging environment within capital projects and across stakeholders, customers, and supply chain.
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Required Skills
Skills, Knowledge & Experience
- Good communication skills to enable successful management of schedules with an environment that has multiple stakeholders.
- Good influencing skills to manage and motivate teams.
- Ability to embed Planning Management methodology and process in support of delivery of high risk, value, and complex projects/programmes.
- Analysis of complex data to draw conclusions and produce reports.
Required technical skills include:
- Project / Programme Office (L3 – Practitioner)
- Project Management (L3 – Practitioner)
- Stakeholder Management (L4 – Expert)
- Planning (L4 – Expert)
- Budgeting and Cost Management (L3 – Practitioner)
- Information Management and Reporting (L3 – Practitioner)
- Schedule Risk Analysis (L3 – Practitioner)
- Earned Value Management (L3 – Practitioner)
- Primavera P6 Enterprise scheduling software (L4 – Expert)
- Microsoft Project scheduling software (L3 – Practitioner)
Required Knowledge
- Extensive knowledge and understanding of capital projects and programmes with an emphasis on Planning and how this supports and integrates with a wider high functioning environment.
- Extensive knowledge of PPM Systems and Tools especially in regard to the Planning discipline.
- Knowledge of the professional disciplines of programme and project management in the context of complex capital projects with expertise in Planning.
- Knowledge of different Commercial arrangements, NEC3/4 contractual obligations and their impact of project controls management with an emphasis on Planning methodology.
- Awareness of safety issues in an operational environment.
Desired Knowledge
- Domain knowledge of the planning, design and construction activities undertaken across a number of TfL project areas; namely track, signalling, stations, civils, or surface projects.
Required Experience
- Experience of creating, adapting, and monitoring planning in major projects and/or construction or asset renewal projects managing to time, quality, and budget.
- Experience of dealing with a range of stakeholders at all levels across the organisation influencing improving process and guidance to support project delivery and reporting.
- Experience building critical path schedules from knowledge and first principles, interviewing and leading workshops with project resources to understand progress and performance across a programme of critical path projects.
- Experience of using time scheduling software
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Application Process
The process consists of 3 stages including in person Assessment Centre. You will need to pass each stage to progress to the next.
We strongly advise that you read about the Planning Manager Application process before submitting your application.
Working In Planning
Video link: A Day in the Life
Disclaimer: This video reflects our Band 2 Planning Assistant's personal views and experiences and is not intended to be a full representation of the role and its responsibilities.
Campaign Timetable
The campaign is running to a very specific delivery timescale as determined by the business and there will only be enough slots for the number of candidates invited. Dates for the Assessment Centre will be opened on an ongoing basis, therefore if there are no slots available please check again the following day. You are encouraged to schedule into an assessment event as early as possible. If you do not book an assessment, you will be withdrawn from the campaign.
Outcomes for the assessment will be provided 10-14 days after the last assessment event.
Attending An Assessment Event
Should you be successfully shortlisted for an assessment, you will be invited to book a date and time for your interview. You will receive confirmation of your booking together with any relevant information required for your assessment at the time of booking.
Please Ensure
- You have an active email address where correspondence, invitations to assessment events and practice material can be sent.
- All your contact details including phone numbers, address and email are updated and current on your application.
Candidate Charter
You can download a copy of the Candidate Charter here. This outlines our commitment to you as a candidate by providing insight into our recruitment process. It also outlines our expectations with regards to your engagement with us, to ensure that you receive the best recruitment experience possible, as we believe you should know the standards of service you can expect from us. You must read this document prior to submitting your application in order to understand every aspect of the process.
Reasonable Adjustment Process
If you require reasonable adjustments, you must notify the recruitment at least 48 hours (excluding weekends) prior to your scheduled assessment event to allow us to accommodate your requirements. You will then be sent a confirmation email which you will need to bring to your assessment. If you fail to bring this on the day your adjustments will not be granted, and you will be unable to re-book. We will consider that you are the expert regarding your own requirements, and we will consider all requests fairly within the context of the role.
Please take the time to read the Disability Charter here.
Confidentiality of the recruitment process.
Please be aware that sharing any details of your assessment process, or internal information with others may result in your offer being withdrawn immediately.
This includes posting or discussing details in online forums, social media groups, or messaging platforms.
Maintaining confidentiality is essential to ensure fairness and compliance throughout the recruitment process.
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