Lead Planner

Req ID:463026

Location: Cork

Appointment Basis: Permanent

Excellent Salary + Benefits Include: Pension, Contributed Healthcare, Life Assurance

At Alstom, we understand transport networks and what moves people. From high-speed trains, metros, monorails, and trams, to turnkey systems, services, infrastructure, signalling and digital mobility, we offer our diverse customers the broadest portfolio in the industry. Every day, 80,000 colleagues lead the way to greener and smarter mobility worldwide, connecting cities as we reduce carbon and replace cars. 

Alstom is the UK & Ireland’s leading supplier of new trains and train services, and a leading signalling and rail infrastructure provider. Alstom have built, or are building, just under 40% of the UK mainline train fleet. We provide the widest range of smart solutions in the rail market, from innovative high-speed rolling stock, metros and trams to maintenance, modernisation, infrastructure and signalling. 

This role is in the UK & Ireland Systems, Signalling & Infrastructure (SS&I) team, delivered Signalling and/or Infrastructure projects across Ireland.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The role of Lead Project Planner is to manage the preparation and maintenance of integrated and co-ordinated project programmes, enabling resource and material requirements to be forward planned to meet project deliverables, using P6 Project Planning software. The postholder will be expected to interact and communicate effectively with all levels of the delivery team and also deal with the client directly and professionally.

Reporting to the Planning Manager, the Lead Planner will be expected to work autonomously and independently, setting high personal standards and delivering reports in a timely and accurate manner to the project team and client alike. They will also be expected to manage/mentor less experienced staff within a dynamic project environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop comprehensive, logic linked, project programmes for UK SS&I projects incorporating resource planning, materials planning, cost-loading and earned value forecasting and reporting.
• Continuously monitor the programmes prepared to accurately reflect progress and maintain accurate earned value and resource data for internal and external purposes.
• Identify critical paths and ensure action plans are developed and implemented to maximise project quality, cost and delivery objectives.
• Through accurate reporting on Work Package progress, co-ordinate all functional activity on the project and ensure that problems and bottlenecks are anticipated and resolved in a timely manner to prevent negative impact on the project.
• Provide regular reports and feedback to management on project progress and critical issues.
• Provide sufficiently accurate data to enable the Work Package Managers and Project Managers to ensure that co-ordinated project activity complies with and delivers company financial and business targets on cash and project margins.
• Through active dialogue with Work Package Managers and the Project Manager, ensure that the project programmes will deliver customer and contractual requirements to time and cost.
• Conduct regular project co-ordination meetings on the status of the project with specific reference to engineering activity, sourcing, quality, cost and delivery.
• Support the Planning Manager with business requests and auditing the programmes against the planning procedure / work instruction.
• Manage/mentor a small team (1-3 Planners/Assistant/Graduate Planners) to successfully deliver projects assigned to the team.
• Ensure all programmes under their control are updated and reviewed in line with the planning procedure / work instruction.
• Ensure all reports from their planning team are produced to a high quality and to deadlines. This role will be measured against the timeliness and accuracy of reporting.
• Undertake all staff management duties for their team, including undertaking relevant Performance Management and People Review activities.
• Travel when required to other sites across the country.
• Occasional weekend/bank holiday cover for any major commissionings.
• Comply with and undertake all relevant Environment, Health and Safety measures and activities.

POSTHOLDER REQUIREMENTS

Essential:

• Extensive experience in a project planning / scheduling role, including resource and cost-loading / forecasting.
• Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Excel.
• Ability to communicate well and build relationships
• Extensive experience and expert knowledge of Primavera P6 Planning Software.
• Ability to persuade and influence others.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Educated to at least A Level Standard.
• Knowledge and experience of working in a business process environment with an emphasis on project delivery (Contractor side)
• Understanding and experience of Earned Value Management, SPI & CPI.

Desirable:

• Educated to degree level.
• Knowledge and experience of Rail Signalling.
• Demonstrable people management skills and experience.
• Expert knowledge of MS Excel.
• Extensive experience of Earned Value Management.
• Experience of Primavera Risk / Quantitive Schedule Risk Analysis (QSRA).

Things you’ll enjoy  

Join us on a life-long transformative journey – the rail industry is here to stay, so you can grow and develop new skills and experiences throughout your career.  

You’ll also:  

• Enjoy stability, challenges and a long-term career free from boring daily routines 
• Collaborate with transverse teams and helpful colleagues 
• Contribute to innovative projects 
• Steer your career in whatever direction you choose across functions and countries 
• Benefit from our investment in your development, through award-winning learning 
• Benefit from a fair and dynamic reward package that recognises your performance and potential, plus comprehensive and competitive social coverage (life, medical, pension)  

You don’t need to be a train enthusiast to thrive with us. We guarantee that when you step onto one of our trains with your friends or family, you’ll be proud. If you’re up for the challenge, we’d love to hear from you! 

What we offer 

We offer a highly competitive remuneration package, 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, with the opportunity to buy or sell holiday. Contributed healthcare, life assurance, an excellent company-contributed pension scheme, and a wide range of flexible benefits that you can tailor to suit your lifestyle. 

Alstom is the leading company in the mobility sector, solving the most interesting challenges for tomorrow’s mobility. That’s why we value inquisitive and innovative people who are passionate about working together to reinvent mobility, making it smarter and more sustainable. Day after day, we are building an agile, inclusive, and responsible culture, where a diverse group of people are offered opportunities to learn, grow and advance in their careers, with options across functions and geographic locations. Are you ready to join a truly international community of great people on a challenging journey with a tangible impact and purpose? 

Equal opportunity statement: 

 
Alstom is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive working environment where all our employees are encouraged to reach their full potential, and individual differences are valued and respected.  All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by local law.  

As a 'Disability Confident' employer, we will interview all disabled job applicants who match the essential criteria of the job description or specification. We will consider flexible working requests for all roles unless operational requirements prevent otherwise. 

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