Head of Planning in Manchester, Greater Manchester

Head of Planning

Location: Manchester (Hybrid Working – 2/3 days office/client-based)
Salary: £90,000 – £95,000 + Attractive Benefits Package
Job Type: Permanent

The Opportunity

We are currently recruiting for an experienced Head of Planning to join a growing infrastructure consultancy based in Manchester.

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in developing and expanding an established planning function, supporting the successful delivery of major infrastructure projects across the business.

You will lead a team of 4–5 planners, providing technical leadership, developing planning capability and working closely with senior directors and project teams. Alongside your technical and management responsibilities, you will play an important role in business development, helping to secure new opportunities, strengthen client relationships and grow the planning service.

This position offers the opportunity to make a real impact, shape the future direction of the planning team and take ownership of its continued development.

Key Responsibilities

Lead, manage and develop the planning team, including Senior Planners.

Provide technical leadership, guidance and support to planners and project delivery teams.

Oversee the development, management and monitoring of project programmes across the infrastructure business.

Ensure effective programme development, baseline management, critical path analysis, float assessment and progress measurement.

Provide forecasting, risk assessment and recovery planning to support successful project delivery.

Work closely with project teams and senior stakeholders to identify programme risks, opportunities and potential improvements.

Build and maintain strong relationships with existing and prospective clients.

Play an active role in business development, attending client meetings and contributing to proposals, tenders and presentations.

Identify new opportunities and support the development of the planning services pipeline.

Contribute to the strategic growth and long-term development of the planning function.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will have significant experience in planning or project controls within construction, infrastructure or major projects.

You will be an established planning leader with the technical expertise, management experience and commercial awareness to develop a team while helping drive business growth.

You will ideally demonstrate:

Significant experience in project planning or project controls within infrastructure, construction or major projects.

Proven experience managing and developing internal planning teams.

Strong technical knowledge of programme development, baselines, critical path, float, progress measurement, forecasting and recovery planning.

Experience working with senior stakeholders, clients and project delivery teams.

A proven ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.

Experience contributing to business development, tenders, proposals and winning new work.

Excellent communication, leadership and people management skills.

A proactive and commercially minded approach, with the ability to identify opportunities and develop planning services.

What's on Offer?

Competitive salary of £90,000–£95,000.

Attractive additional benefits package.

Hybrid working, with typically 2–3 days in the Manchester office or with clients.

The opportunity to lead and shape a growing planning function.

Direct exposure to senior directors and business leadership.

The opportunity to influence the strategic direction and development of the team.

Excellent career progression opportunities as the business continues to grow.

Why Apply?

This is more than a traditional Head of Planning position. It is an opportunity to take ownership of an expanding planning team, influence how planning services are delivered across a growing infrastructure consultancy and play a key role in winning new business.

If you are an experienced planning professional looking for a senior leadership position where you can make a genuine difference, we would welcome a conversation.

To apply or find out more, please submit your CV or contact Alan at AWC Staff Services for a confidential discussion.