We are seeking an experienced Lead Planner to oversee a portfolio of complex, NEC-based infrastructure and healthcare projects at varying stages — from bid and pre-construction through to live delivery.

This is a hands-on leadership role that combines strategic oversight with detailed programme preparation. You will lead a team of planners supporting live and pre-construction projects, while personally developing robust, logic-linked tender programmes for new bids and framework opportunities.

Experience in the healthcare sector is advantageous but not essential — success in this role depends on your ability to manage complexity, work collaboratively across disciplines, and apply strong planning principles within regulated, live, or high-risk environments.

At John Sisk & Son, we’re more than a construction company, we’re a family-owned business with a global reach, committed to building excellence in every project. We deliver trust, certainty and value to our clients while embracing innovation and shaping the future of construction.

Portfolio Leadership

• Lead planning and programme management across a portfolio of live and pre-construction projects, ensuring consistency and quality of outputs.

• Line-manage and mentor planners assigned to individual projects, embedding best practice and ensuring timely, accurate programme reporting.

• Act as the senior planning lead, advising Operations and Commercial Directors on programme risk, sequencing, and time-related entitlement

• Provide oversight on programme governance, time-risk analysis, and recovery strategies across multiple projects.

Bids & Pre-Construction

• Personally prepare detailed, logic-linked tender programmes for new bids and framework submissions.

• Translate construction methodology into buildable, defendable programmes supported by phasing, logistics, and commissioning strategies.

• Contribute to tender deliverables including narratives, risk registers, and presentations for client interviews.

• Support bid strategy and methodology reviews with estimating, design, and operational leads.

Project Delivery

• Review and validate live project programmes, challenge logic and progress, and ensure consistency across planning reports.

• Lead delay and impact analysis in line with NEC provisions, preparing forensic assessments where required.

• Coordinate integration between design, procurement, construction, and commissioning activities.

• Drive best practice in digital planning, 4D visualisation, and collaborative planning workshops.

• Significant experience (typically 8+ years) in project planning for major infrastructure or building projects, ideally within a Tier 1 environment.

• Demonstrable track record working under NEC contracts — including programme acceptance, early warnings, and compensation events.

• Experience in complex, multi-phased environments such as healthcare, data centres, aviation, transport, defence, life sciences, or similar.

• Strong understanding of sequencing, buildability, logistics, and commissioning in operational or live environments.
• Proficient in Asta Powerproject (essential); Primavera P6 and MS Project advantageous.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with confidence to engage clients and senior stakeholders.

• Degree or HNC/HND in Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or related discipline.

The Lead Planner will demonstrate a balanced blend of leadership, technical strength, and commercial awareness. They will be capable of coordinating multiple planners across live and pre-construction projects, setting the rhythm of programme delivery while influencing multidisciplinary teams to maintain focus on critical milestones. Their leadership style will be collaborative yet assertive — fostering accountability within the planning function while creating confidence among project and client stakeholders.

Technically, the individual will bring a deep understanding of programme logic, sequencing and interdependencies across design, procurement, and construction phases. They will apply advanced resource loading and time-risk management techniques to develop programmes that are both realistic and resilient, ensuring that progress is measured accurately and potential delays are identified early.

A sound commercial understanding is essential. The successful candidate will be fluent in the principles of NEC contract management — particularly around programme acceptance, early warnings, and compensation events — and able to translate time impacts into clear, evidence-based narratives that support entitlement and risk mitigation.

Equally important is the ability to remain hands-on when required. The Lead Planner will be comfortable developing detailed tender and baseline programmes personally, ensuring that bid submissions are technically robust and supported by a clear build strategy and logic trail.

Collaboration is central to the role. The Lead Planner will act as a bridge between design, commercial, and operational disciplines — facilitating clear communication, aligning expectations, and ensuring that the programme becomes a shared tool for decision-making rather than a reporting obligation.

Overall, the individual will demonstrate adaptability. Whether operating in hospital, infrastructure, or complex building environments, they will bring the same rigour and discipline to each context, quickly understanding the specific constraints — from live-environment phasing to high-integrity commissioning — and applying consistent planning principles to achieve certainty of delivery.

Performance Indicators

• Accuracy and quality of tender and baseline programmes.
• Timely and consistent programme reporting across the portfolio.
• Client satisfaction with programme clarity and logic.
• Effectiveness of risk identification, recovery actions, and delay analysis.
• Development and engagement of planners within the team.

This role will suit a senior planner looking to step into a more strategic senior role, who thrives in technically demanding environments — whether experienced gained working on hospitals, data centres, airports, or transport hubs — and who can combine detailed programming skill with strategic oversight.

If you have successfully planned and delivered NEC-based complex projects, your expertise will transfer seamlessly into the healthcare environment.

• Competitive salary
• 26 days annual leave plus additional company days
• Pension and benefits
• Unlimited learning and development opportunities
• Much more

Our People and Recruitment Commitment

At Sisk Group our people are at the heart of our success. We offer the chance to work with purpose, build a career with no limits and be part of a great team.

All vacancies are managed directly by our Internal Recruitment Team. Unsolicited contact or speculative CVs from unapproved agencies will not be accepted and no introductory fees will apply.

We are an equal opportunities employer. We welcome applications from all qualified candidates regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion or any other protected characteristic. Reasonable adjustments are available during the recruitment process.

We know the confidence gap and imposter phenomenon can stop talented candidates applying. You do not need to meet every criterion – your skills and potential matter. Don’t hold back we want to hear from you.

All recruitment materials comply with legal and regulatory requirements including the EU Pay Transparency Directive and the Equality Acts UK and Ireland