Canal & River Trust
Programme Planner
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About the Trust
We're one of the UK’s biggest charities and we care for 2,000 miles of canals, rivers, docks and reservoirs because we believe life is better by water. We're looking for people who support our cause and want to make a difference for future generations. Could this be you?
Along with our waterways we also manage museums, archives and the country's third largest collection of historic buildings, as well as the nature and wildlife that calls our canals home. All of this enables us to provide wellbeing opportunities for millions of people each year.
Join Our Team: Programme Planner opportunity
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Fixed term or internal secondment contract until July 2027
Our Infrastructure and Programmes Directorate, Programme Planning Team, are looking for a new Programme Planner to join their team.
Working with the Hire Desk team within Direct Services, you will play a key role in establishing, maintaining and coordinating programmes of work across all regions nationally. Working closely with Delivery Managers, Regional Construction Managers, Construction Managers and operational teams, you will support the effective delivery of both planned and reactive works, ensuring resources, schedules and priorities are aligned to meet operational requirements across the Trust's network.
Whilst the nature of programme planning is all about looking ahead and ensuring effective planning of works to optimise budget and resources, we also expect that every day unscheduled urgent tasks arrive and we need to assess and prioritise those activities alongside our planned works to ensure our accessibility of our waterways and safety of our users/visitors. This may include programme planning for our various departments across the Trust - immersing yourself in the world of project planning, forecasting and working with SAP to manage and get information to support the programme planning process.
See how your work can have a real impact here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuHAG2Mz7j8
To find out more about our organisation and the fantastic and varied work we do, visit our website by clicking here (or search for https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us)
Working Hours & Location
This Programme Planner vacancy will be offered on a remote working basis, with a requirement to attend our main hub spaces as and when required for team working and collaborative meetings. Travel throughout the regional waterway network will also be expected to enable site visits and to help conduct improvements. This can range from 1 - 5 times per month, but will be clarified ahead of time by the hiring manager as part of a scheduled rota of work.
Relevant Hubs include: Burnley, Ellesmere Port, Stoke on Trent, Leeds, Newark & Birmingham. See our canal network here: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/enjoy-the-waterways/canal-and-river-network.
Role Overview
You're a proactive planner who enjoys bringing structure to complex programmes, building strong stakeholder relationships, and driving efficient delivery. With experience in engineering, infrastructure, or asset maintenance environments, you'll use your organisational and communication skills to help keep projects on track and deliver real impact.
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Key responsibilities
- Prepare, monitor and update asset maintenance, repair and renewal work delivery programmes and financial plans.
- Review and optimise the work programme to maximise efficiencies.
- Provide optimum visibility of the delivery programme, and any changes that arise, to key stakeholders through the availability, maintenance, and implementation of communications to satisfy their differing needs.
- Maintain effective programme performance and output monitoring and reporting to ensure planned objectives are met and any variances to plan are reported appropriately.
- National stoppage delivery programme, preparation, consultation and change management.
- Effectively manage changes to the work programme through application of a change control process.
- Work closely with the team of schedulers to enable work to be scheduled and dispatched in a timely manner to operatives and contractors.
- Review and feedback programme performance to internal stakeholders and customers and communicate lessons learned to improve future performance.
- Work safely ensuring the safety of others and contribute to safe working in all activities.
About You
Qualifications:
- Educated to degree level/HND or equivalent in a relevant subject or able to demonstrate relevant equivalent experience
- Project/Programme Management accreditation/qualification i.e. APM Project Management Qualification, Managing Successful Programmes (MSP), Prince2.
Technical:
- Substantial experience in project planning and scheduling within complex engineering, construction, infrastructure, or asset maintenance environments.
- Strong practical experience in programme and schedule management within civil engineering or asset maintenance projects.
- Comprehensive knowledge and use of SAP, particularly within the Logistics, Accounting, and Information System modules.
- Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office 365 applications and project planning tools such as Microsoft Project.
- Budget and financial awareness, including experience forecasting costs and monitoring performance against budgets.
General:
- Experience leading, supporting, or influencing others, with the ability to motivate and empower colleagues and stakeholders.
- Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to identify and work effectively with individuals and groups of varying levels of influence.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience delivering presentations and communicating complex information to diverse audiences.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan, prioritise and manage multiple activities effectively.
- Full and valid UK driving licence.
Safety
At the Canal & River Trust, safety is everyone's responsibility. We expect all colleagues to comply with Trust Health & Safety policies and standards, proactively report incidents, accidents and near misses, and contribute to a positive safety culture. Applicants should be able to demonstrate a strong commitment to safe working practices and apply this mindset consistently in their day-to-day activities.
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Safeguarding
The Canal & River Trust is committed to providing safe environments and working practices for children, young people and adults at risk. All colleagues are expected to understand their safeguarding responsibilities and support the Trust's commitment to promoting and protecting welfare at all times.
Contact & Application
If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at CRT.recruitment@canalrivertrust.org.uk. We encourage early applications as we may close the vacancy once we receive enough suitable candidates.
What We Offer
In addition to your annual base salary of £42,165 we also offer a competitive pension scheme, increasing holiday entitlement, and a range of employee benefits. For a full breakdown of our benefits, check out our brochure here: EVP - 1
Learn more: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us/work-for-us/our-benefits
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Our values
We care passionately for our waterways, and as importantly, for those who look after and use them. We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce where everyone can thrive. We are striving to represent the diverse communities that we are a part of and welcome applicants from across all sectors of the community.
We want everyone to have the opportunity to perform at their best during our recruitment process. If you require any reasonable adjustments - whether for a disability, neurodiversity, or health condition - please let us know what you need and how we can support you. We’ll work with you to make any necessary changes.
All of our jobs can be considered on a part time, flexible or job share basis.
We operate a Guaranteed Interview Scheme for disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the role. You are considered disabled under the Equality Act 2010 if you have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on your ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. We recognise not everyone who is classified as disabled under the Equality Act personally identifies this way, or with this definition of disability. Please do not let this discourage you from applying under the scheme.
At Canal & River Trust, we are committed to fair, transparent, and ethical recruitment practices. As part of our hiring process, we may use AI to analyse applications and support us work more efficiently. However, all hiring decisions – without exception - are made by our hiring managers.
Navigate your future and lock in your career as we keep our canals open and alive.
Find out more about us on our website: https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/about-us
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