Junior Planner

Location: Rugby

Job Description SummaryThe Junior Project Planner supports the project by maintaining schedule data integrity, monitoring progress, and assisting in the preparation of schedule reports. This role focuses on the execution phase of projects, ensuring that updates are accurately reflected in the schedule and that standard processes are followed. Under the guidance of senior planners, you will contribute to the maintenance of high-quality, resource-loaded schedules that provide project teams with clear visibility into status and performance.

Role Purpose To assist in the day-to-day maintenance of project schedules, ensuring alignment with project baselines and financial tracking systems. The Junior Planner supports the project team by updating progress, identifying schedule slippage, and assisting with basic change control tasks, ultimately contributing to the predictability and success of project delivery.

Job Description Key Roles & Responsibilities

Schedule Maintenance: Regularly update project schedules with actual progress (percent complete, actual start/finish dates) under the supervision of the Lead Planner/Project Controller.

Data Integrity: Perform routine checks to ensure schedule data (Activity IDs, logic, and descriptions) complies with internal standards and PMO requirements.

Progress Reporting: Generate weekly/monthly progress reports, including look-ahead schedules, milestones tracking, and critical path updates.

Administrative Support: Assist in the maintenance of the RAID (Risk, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies) log during project execution, ensuring documentation is accurate and up-to-date.

Collaboration: Act as a liaison between sub-project leads and the planning team to gather accurate progress data.

Change Control Assistance: Provide support for simple "What-If" scenarios or schedule impact assessments as directed by senior staff.

Compliance: Assist in preparing data for DCMA 14-point health checks and support the documentation of re-baselining activities.

What Success Looks Like

Schedules are updated on time with high accuracy and minimal rework.

Proactive identification and communication of minor schedule variances to the project team.

Effective support of project reporting cycles, ensuring stakeholders have reliable data for decision-making.

Required Skills & Experience

Baseline & Setup: Proven working-level experience in project schedule setup during the initial baseline period, ensuring logic, constraints, and resource loading are established correctly from the start.

Customer Engagement: Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to confidently manage and lead schedule discussions with Customer Planners, effectively defending the schedule logic and status.

Technical Proficiency: Foundational knowledge of enterprise scheduling software (e.g., Primavera P6, Planisware, or MS Project).

Analytical Skills: High attention to detail and ability to interpret project logic, schedule links, and critical path analysis.

Process Knowledge: Familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM) concepts and the importance of WBS/CBS alignment.

Communication: Strong organizational skills and the ability to work effectively within a cross-functional team environment.

Growth Mindset: Eagerness to learn advanced probabilistic modelling and risk management techniques under senior mentorship.

SC Clearance: Have SC Clearance or Eligible to obtain SC Clearance

Key Relationships

Lead Planner / Project Controller: Providing status updates and receiving mentorship/task delegation.

Project Team, Site Leads, Engineering Team, Sourcing Team & Suppliers: Gathering progress updates and verifying activity completions.

PMO: Adhering to internal scheduling standards and reporting templates.

Additional Information

Relocation Assistance Provided: No