Lead Project Planner

Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) is a programme of activities that is improving the railway between York and Manchester via Leeds and Huddersfield.

Stretching across the North of England between York and Manchester, this key 76-mile Transpennine railway serves 23 stations, crosses over and dips under 285 bridges and viaducts, passes through six miles of tunnels and crosses over 29 level crossings

It is the largest railway upgrade in the country. The programme runs across multiple control periods and will deliver transformational changes to the current railway.

Principal Project Planner:

1. Provide professional leadership in respect of the planning processes; identification of key stakeholders; communication; promote awareness of accountabilities and responsibilities.
2. Develop, maintain and progress quality project plans/schedules in line with the functional processes and project requirements.
3. Maintain key interdependencies between projects and programmes confirming appropriate monitoring and action is undertaken as required in a timely manner.
4. Demonstrate through agreed performance indicators the efficiency and effectiveness of the project plans/schedules developed and utilised.
5. Validate plans/schedules inline with the agreed functional Quality Management Plan for completeness and fitness for purpose.
6. Provide the key point of interface between the planning function and the project teams and interface between the other project support functions such as Risk & Value; Cost Management etc.
7. Oversee and confirm that the ''contractor schedules'' comply with the Network Rail procedural and quality requirements.
8. Provide technical expertise and guidance to the project team and provide functional expertise as required.
9. Support the continued personal and professional development of the planning resources within the project or programme.

Criteria Specific for the Role:
* Strong communications skills, able to explain planning and scheduling outputs to non-planning personnel.
* Demonstrate leadership of teams and developing others.
* Examples of simplifying complex / detailed programme for reporting purposes
* Understanding of railway design and delivery principles.
* Experience in stakeholder management.
* Understanding of railway access principles, experience in reading Railway Access box plans alongside schedules

Essential
* Membership of a relevant professional body and/or have a CPD established to attain membership
* Relevant successful experience in the management, planning and delivery of major construction/engineering projects.
* Relevant successful experience of proprietary software planning/scheduling tools
* Previous knowledge and expertise within the field of project resource management.
* Good communication skills at all levels and a team player.
* Good information technology user skills.

Desirable
* Knowledge of/experience in Network Rail''s processes and systems.
* Knowledge of/experience in the UK rail industry.
Educated to "A" level standard in a mathematics or information technology-related topic.

Place of work:

Minimum 3 days a week in Network Rails Manchester & York Offices, flexible location for the remainder of the week

Will require travel to York, Manchester, Huddersfield and Leeds offices to support delivering the role on an ad-hoc basis.

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