Directorate: Project Management Office
Location: Derby, Manchester, Warrington with Hybrid Working
Reports to: Lead Planner
We need you to join us as a Project Planner and play a key role in creating and maintaining the schedules that keep our programmes moving. You’ll be our specialist in planning and scheduling—building robust work package schedules that reflect 100% of the scope and directly support confident, informed decision‑making across complex engineering and nuclear‑adjacent environments.
Your work will have real impact: enabling On‑Time Delivery, supporting programme governance, and contributing to a system that underpins the safe and timely delivery of one of the UK’s most complex engineering programmes.
What you’ll be doingWe need you to:
- Develop, baseline and maintain work package schedules in line with SMR planning processes and guidance.
- Apply deep knowledge of Primavera P6, including WBS architecture, coding, resource structures and user‑defined fields.
- Capture and analyse schedule performance, comparing progress vs baseline to support effective decision making.
- Work within an Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) environment, collaborating with engineering, supply chain, operations, procurement and programme management teams.
- Support Earned Value Management (EVM) processes, focusing on the theory and application rather than specific toolsets.
- Manage change control and baseline updates, ensuring accurate reflection of approved programme shifts.
- Provide mentoring and coaching to junior or apprentice planners as needed, supporting their development as our planning capability grows.
There’s no such thing as a perfect candidate. If you meet ~75% of what we’re looking for, we’d love to hear from you.
You’ll bring experience in:
Core Technical Skills- Strong Primavera P6 practitioner‑level capability (front‑end scheduling + architecture).
- Working within an IMS / MIP structure, including horizontal & vertical logic.
- Knowledge of EVM principles and value management concepts.
- Change management and baseline control.
- Experience supporting complex programmes—from engineering to construction to large‑scale technical delivery. Nuclear background is useful but not essential; complexity is more important.
- Skilled at working with multidisciplinary teams including engineering, programme management, operations, supply chain and procurement.
- Understanding of NEC‑style contractual requirements for schedules (advantageous, not essential).
- Primavera P6 Practitioner – mandatory.
- APM PMQ (or working towards) – mandatory/flexible.
- APM PPC Practitioner (or equivalent) – desirable/willing to work towards.
- Experience within a project controls / PMO environment on complex programmes.
- Who you’ll work with
You’ll be part of a high‑performing planning team, collaborating daily with:
- Lead Planners
- Programme managers
- Engineers
- Supply chain and procurement teams
- Operations & manufacturing functions
You’ll also contribute to the coaching and development of junior planners and apprentices as our capability grows.
About youWe’re looking for someone who:
- Thinks in systems and structure
- Enjoys solving complex problems
- Communicates clearly and confidently with varied stakeholders
- Likes working in a collaborative, growing planning community
- Is excited by engineering and programme complexity—regardless of the sector you come from
- £50,650 - £66,500 salary
- £2,200 benefits allowance
- 12.5% bonus opportunity
- 6x pensionable life assurance
- 50% income protection
- 28 days holiday + bank holidays
- £250 new joiner payment
- Flexible & part‑time working options available
If you’re excited by complex engineering challenges and want to help shape the future of our planning capability, we’d love to hear from you.
Pay Range:
£50,600.00-
£66,465.00Why Join Us?
You’ll be joining a forward-thinking organisation that values transparency, fairness, and innovation. We offer:
• A flexible, inclusive, and supportive working environment.
• Opportunities for career growth in a rapidly scaling business.
• A culture that values diversity, innovation, and continuous learning.
We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all backgrounds. Inclusivity is important to us, and as a Disability Confident organisation, we are committed to fair, supportive, and continually improving recruitment practices that ensure everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Confidence can sometimes hold us back from applying for a job. But we'll let you in on a secret: there's no such thing as a 'perfect' candidate. If you feel you meet 75% of the requirements for this role, we would love to hear from you.
Also, if you are considering a career move or a sector-jump, please get in touch – we welcome applications from people with transferable skills.
Our Application Process
Due to the safety regulations within the nuclear industry, applicants will be required to participate in additional screening. These are:
• Obtaining Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS) clearance
• Satisfactory completion of a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
• Satisfactory completion of a basic financial probity check
#LI-VS1
#LI-Hybrid
Skills Required
- Primavera P6 Practitioner certification
- Strong Primavera P6 practitioner-level capability (scheduling and architecture)
- Working within an IMS / MIP structure, including horizontal and vertical logic
- Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM) principles
- Change management and baseline control experience
- Experience within a project controls / PMO environment on complex programmes
- Experience supporting complex engineering, construction or large-scale technical delivery programmes
- APM PMQ (or working towards)
- APM PPC Practitioner (or equivalent) or willingness to work towards
- Understanding of WBS architecture, coding, resource structures and user-defined fields
- Ability to capture and analyse schedule performance and support decision making
- Ability to collaborate with multidisciplinary stakeholders (engineering, programme management, supply chain, procurement)
- Ability to mentor and coach junior or apprentice planners
- Understanding of NEC-style contractual schedule requirements
What We Do
Rolls-Royce SMR is a UK-based company developing an affordable, integrated small modular reactor (SMR) power plant. It leverages established nuclear technology and a factory-based philosophy for fabrication and assembly to provide a repeatable, standardised, and investable energy solution globally, with the mission of providing clean and affordable energy for all.
