Planning Leader

Laing O'Rourke is looking for a Planning Leader to play a key role in shaping and delivering best-in-class planning across our projects and programmes.

This is a senior leadership position, focused on setting direction, driving consistency in planning standards, and ensuring robust project controls are embedded across complex, high-value programmes. You will work closely with senior stakeholders to influence strategy, optimise delivery methodologies, and ensure planning capability supports both internal teams and client organisations.

If you bring strong strategic thinking, leadership capability, and deep technical expertise in planning and project controls, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact at scale.

What will the role look like?

You will play a central role in leading planning activity, embedding robust processes, and ensuring successful project delivery.

• Develop and manage integrated programmes across all project stages, including digital and 4D modelling alignment
• Establish and maintain robust project controls, reporting, forecasting, and performance analysis
• Define key milestones, production outputs, and resource requirements to optimise delivery
• Lead, develop, and support planning teams, ensuring capability, performance, and succession planning

What skills & experience are we looking for?

We are looking for a credible planning leader who combines strategic thinking with strong delivery expertise.

• Proven experience leading planning and controls functions across complex projects or business units
• Strong expertise in project/programme controls, contract planning, and strategic planning methodologies
• Ability to influence senior stakeholders using data, insight, and commercial awareness
• Experience implementing systems, driving improvement, and embedding best practice across teams

About you

You will bring a combination of leadership, technical expertise, and strong interpersonal skills.

• Clear and confident communicator, able to engage effectively at all levels
• Strategic and analytical thinker, able to challenge and improve delivery approaches
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to prioritise in complex environments
• Motivating leader who develops teams and drives high performance

Disability Confident scheme

As part of the Disability Confident scheme, we would like to enable access to candidates with long term conditions and disabilities through the Offer an interview scheme.