Assistant MEP Planner

ASSISTANT PLANNER – CONSTRUCTION / MEP

Manchester / Northwest
Permanent
Excellent salary and comprehensive benefits

Mech Electrics is working with a long-standing client to appoint an Assistant Planner to its Northwest operation.

We have recruited for this business for more than 15 years and know the quality of its people and projects extremely well. It is one of the most technically capable MEP contractors in the market, employing highly regarded engineers, project managers, planners, commercial professionals and operational leaders.

This is an opportunity to develop within an experienced planning team and build a career delivering substantial, technically complex construction projects.

Previous MEP experience would be welcomed, but it is not essential.

We recognise that planners with a genuine building-services background are difficult to find. The client is therefore equally interested in someone currently working within main contracting, construction, civil engineering or another project-led environment who wants to develop specialist MEP planning experience.

THE ROLE

Working alongside senior planners, project managers and engineering teams, you will help develop and maintain programmes covering design, procurement, offsite manufacture, installation, commissioning and handover.

This will be a practical project role rather than a position based solely on updating information supplied by others. You will spend time with the people delivering the work, understand the sequence in which it must happen and help the team identify risks before they affect the programme.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Assisting with the preparation and development of tender, pre-construction and delivery programmes
• Working with engineers and project teams to understand scope, methodology and construction sequencing
• Breaking project activities into logical, measurable and achievable programmes
• Incorporating design development, technical approvals and information release dates
• Linking procurement schedules, equipment lead times and subcontract packages to the construction programme
• Integrating DfMA and offsite-manufacturing activities with site installation requirements
• Monitoring progress against the agreed programme and helping identify delays or emerging risks
• Collecting accurate progress information from project teams, subcontractors and suppliers
• Supporting short-term planning, progress reviews and look-ahead programmes
• Producing clear programme updates, progress reports and supporting information
• Assisting with critical-path analysis and understanding the effect of programme changes
• Attending project, design, procurement and progress meetings
• Helping project teams develop recovery plans when activities fall behind programme
• Maintaining reliable records of programme revisions, progress and key project decisions
• Developing an understanding of testing, commissioning, completion and handover sequencing

DEVELOPING MEP KNOWLEDGE

Mechanical and electrical services form some of the most technically demanding and programme-sensitive elements of a construction project.

You will be supported in developing an understanding of:

• Mechanical and electrical design development
• Technical submissions and approval periods
• Procurement and manufacturing lead times
• Builder’s work and construction interfaces
• Digital engineering and coordinated-service installation
• DfMA, modular construction and offsite manufacture
• Plant delivery, logistics and installation sequencing
• Testing, commissioning and building handover
• The relationship between the MEP programme and the wider construction plan

The client has significant technical, digital-engineering and offsite-manufacturing capability. This provides an unusually strong environment in which to learn how complex MEP projects are designed, planned and delivered.

ABOUT YOU

You may already be working as an Assistant Planner, Junior Planner, Planning Assistant or Project Controls Assistant within construction, MEP, civil engineering or a related project environment.

Alternatively, you may be working in project coordination, engineering or construction delivery and have the aptitude and ambition to move into planning.

You are likely to have:

• Some experience within construction or another programme-led project environment
• An understanding of construction activities, sequencing and project delivery
• Exposure to planning software such as Asta Powerproject, Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project
• The ability to interpret programmes, drawings and project information
• Strong analytical and organisational skills
• Confidence gathering information from different members of a project team
• The ability to question progress information and recognise inconsistencies
• Clear written and verbal communication skills
• A practical, curious and methodical approach
• The willingness to visit projects and understand how work is actually delivered
• A relevant construction, engineering or project-management qualification, or equivalent industry experience

Previous MEP planning experience would be advantageous, but it is not a prerequisite. The client is more interested in your planning fundamentals, construction knowledge and ability to learn.

WHY CONSIDER IT?

This is an opportunity to learn within a highly capable project environment and develop a valuable specialism in MEP planning.

The business offers:

• A strong and secured Northwest project pipeline
• Substantial projects with genuine technical and planning complexity
• Support from experienced planners, engineers and operational leaders
• Exposure to the complete project lifecycle
• In-house design, digital-engineering and offsite-manufacturing expertise
• Structured development of your MEP knowledge
• The opportunity to take increasing ownership as your experience grows
• Long-term progression into a Planner and subsequently Senior Planner position
• An excellent salary and benefits package

This is a permanent position, with projects principally located across Manchester and the wider Northwest.

For a confidential conversation, contact Angus Eddowes at Mech Electrics.