National Planning Manager

Planning Manager (Energy Performance Contracts)

National Role | Shape the Future of Planning at Dalkia

About Dalkia UK

At Dalkia, we're driven by a shared purpose: tackling climate change and building a more sustainable future. We bring together talented people who share knowledge, challenge each other, and grow together.

Backed by EDF, Britain's largest generator of low-carbon electricity, we're a people-first organisation with over 5,000 employees and £600m+ turnover. We combine the strength and stability of a major group with the agility, innovation and collaborative culture of a growing business.

As our Energy Performance Contracting (EPC) division continues to expand, we're looking for an experienced Planning Manager to establish and lead our planning capability across a growing portfolio of decarbonisation, energy and infrastructure projects nationwide.

The Opportunity

This is far more than a traditional planning role.

As Planning Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping how planning is delivered across our EPC business, operating at both strategic and operational levels. You'll be the driving force behind establishing planning excellence, developing consistent standards, governance and best practice, whilst remaining hands-on in the planning and delivery of major projects.

This position offers a unique blend of leadership and delivery. Initially, you'll act as the lead planning professional within the business, working closely with operational, commercial, design and procurement teams to support bids, pre-construction activities and live project delivery.

As the business continues to grow, you'll have the opportunity to shape and develop the future planning function, helping define capability requirements, mentoring emerging talent and building a high-performing planning team to support our long-term ambitions.

You'll take ownership of planning across a diverse portfolio of projects delivering energy efficiency, decarbonisation, heat networks, renewable energy and infrastructure solutions that support the UK's journey to net zero.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the planning strategy, establishing consistent standards, governance and programme controls across the EPC business.
• Work closely with operational leaders to drive continuous improvement in planning processes and project controls.
• Assess future planning resource requirements and help shape the growth of the planning function.
• Personally develop, maintain and oversee fully logic-linked programmes from bid stage through to project completion, remaining actively involved in the detail of project delivery.
• Provide hands-on planning support across bids, pre-construction and live projects.
• Support tender and bid activities through programme development, sequencing and delivery strategy.
• Collaborate with design, commercial, procurement and operational teams to create robust, achievable project programmes.
• Identify programme risks and opportunities, challenge assumptions and develop mitigation and recovery plans.
• Manage integrated master programmes across multiple concurrent projects.
• Produce and manage resource-loaded and cost-loaded programmes where required.
• Monitor progress against key milestones, critical path activities and contractual obligations.
• Support NEC3 and NEC4 contract administration, programme submissions, compensation event assessments and programme impact analysis.
• Deliver accurate forecasting, reporting and performance analysis to support decision-making.
• Engage with clients, subcontractors and internal stakeholders to drive accountability and successful project outcomes.

About You

We're looking for an experienced planning professional who combines technical excellence with the ambition and capability to build a planning function within a growing business.

You'll have:

• Proven experience operating as a Planning Manager, Planning Lead, Senior Planner or similar position within construction, energy, engineering, building services, utilities or infrastructure sectors.
• Significant experience supporting both pre-construction and live project delivery environments.
• Expert-level knowledge of Asta Powerproject.
• Experience using Primavera P6.
• Strong understanding of critical path analysis, programme risk management and recovery planning.
• Experience working under NEC3 and NEC4 contracts.
• The ability to influence, challenge and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Strong analytical, reporting and communication skills.
• Experience managing complex programmes across multiple projects and disciplines.
• A proactive and collaborative approach with a willingness to remain hands-on whilst driving strategic improvements.

Desirable Experience

• Experience establishing, developing or transforming a planning function.
• Project Controls experience.
• APM Planning & Scheduling Practitioner, PMI-SP or equivalent qualifications.
• Experience with Power BI, Earned Value Management (EVM) and performance reporting.
• Experience delivering decarbonisation, energy transition or Energy Performance Contracting projects.

Why Join Dalkia?

This is a rare opportunity to help define how planning is delivered within one of the UK's fastest-growing decarbonisation businesses.

You'll enjoy the autonomy to influence strategy, implement best practice and help build a planning capability that supports a growing national portfolio of complex energy and infrastructure projects.

Most importantly, you'll be contributing to meaningful projects that reduce carbon emissions, improve energy efficiency and help create a more sustainable future.

Our Values

People First

We prioritise the health, safety and wellbeing of our people.

Better Together

We achieve more through collaboration and teamwork.

Trusted Partners

We're committed to delivering exceptional outcomes for our customers.

Taking Responsibility

We make a positive difference for our people, customers and communities.

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion

At Dalkia, we're committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and supported. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and encourage candidates to let us know if any adjustments are required throughout the recruitment process. Our team will be happy to support you in confidence.