Planning Manager

The Vacancy

We have an opportunity for a Planning Manager to lead our Smartspace Planning team to provide functional leadership and management of planning resources from pre-qualification to completion.

Wates Smartspace is a national business, delivering high-quality fit-out, refurbishment and property upkeep projects, enhancing its customers’ physical assets and operating environments.

We are looking for a professional Planning Manager, with knowledge of commonly used forms of contracts as well as an awareness of a variety of performance measurement techniques, such as Critical Path Analysis, Productivity Analysis, and use of Key Performance Indicators.

To be successful in this role you will be an experienced leader who is innovative and solution-focused with effective communication skills at all levels. Have a knowledge of commonly used forms of construction contracts as well as an awareness of a variety of performance measurement techniques, such as Critical Path Analysis, Earned Value Analysis, and use of Key Performance Indicators. We use Asta Power Project, so a working knowledge would be helpful.

Key Accountabilities will include:

• Ensure an effective and professional planning and programming service is available for pre-contract and project teams.
• Agree level of planning service with senior management; check and address quality issues.
• Work with functional heads of other disciplines and other Business Units’ planning departments to agree “best practice” and share knowledge.
• Prepare and issue protocols and guidelines to ensure consistency of planning approach across the Business Unit.
• Manage production of and carry out peer reviews and programme audits.
• Produce summary business reports, based on audits and Monthly Operational Reports, and suggest corrective action to manage risks and provide mitigation for delays on audit findings.
• Investigate and encourage innovation in construction and planning techniques.

Work for Wates

Wates is one of the UK’s leading family-owned development, building and property maintenance companies.  Founded over 125 years ago, we have a proud legacy in the built environment.

We are driven by our purpose, ‘reimagining places for people to thrive’ and our three promises:

• Thriving places – working with customers, partners and communities to create places that are more sustainable, inclusive, and full of opportunity.
• Thriving planet – protecting nature and taking action on climate change by collaborating and innovating with our partners.
• Thriving people – creating opportunities and relationships so that everyone who works for and with us feels included, invested in and treated with care.

We are proud to be recognised as Gold Investors in People and as a Disability Confident employer.  We also ensure that our recruitment processes do not treat anyone less favourably due to an offending background.