MERITUS are recruiting for an Senior Planner to join our client in a permanent position in London to support exciting Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences projects. *PLEASE NOTE* You MUST be able to evidence both examples of NEC projects you have worked on as well as experience within the Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals industry.
SENIOR PLANNER - NEC PROJECTS - KENT - £90,000/£100,000 PER ANNUM (DOE) - LIFE SCIENCES & PHARMACEUTICALS
Are you looking to build a successful planning career within one of the UK’s most respected Tier 1 contractors? We’re working with a leading construction business known for delivering complex, high-profile projects across sectors including commercial, healthcare, education, and infrastructure. They are now seeking a motivated Senior Project Planner to support senior planning leads across a diverse range of projects.
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a few years of experience looking to advance their technical planning skills and gain exposure to high-value construction programmes.
Your Role:
As an Senior Project Planner, you'll work alongside experienced Senior Planners to support the development, monitoring, and updating of robust construction programmes. You’ll gain hands-on experience across all stages of the project lifecycle—developing a strong foundation in planning methodologies, construction sequencing, and programme management.
Key Responsibilities:
-
Assist in reviewing and defining the current programme status across multiple live projects on a weekly and monthly basis.
-
Support Senior Planners in reviewing project outputs, phasing, and progress regularly.
-
Help develop and maintain tracking schedules to monitor key project milestones and subcontractor deliverables.
-
Contribute to the preparation of fully logic-linked baseline contract programmes, covering design, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover.
-
Ensure planning decisions and methodologies reflect the company’s health & safety policies and industry standards.
-
Assist in the development of safe and effective construction methodologies and sequencing strategies.
-
Collaborate with internal teams and subcontractors to gather accurate planning data and contribute to programme accuracy.
What You’ll Bring:
-
5+ years’ experience in construction or a planning support role.
-
Exposure to working within multidisciplinary project teams.
-
Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
-
Solid IT proficiency and familiarity with planning software tools.
-
Basic understanding of industry best practices and contract awareness (NEC, JCT, etc.).
-
A willingness to learn, take initiative, and contribute to team success.
Qualifications & Training:
-
Degree or Diploma in Construction Management or related discipline.
-
Introductory training in Asta Powerproject and Primavera P6(essential).
-
Presentation skills training beneficial.
-
Basic contract awareness and understanding of key construction programme principles.
-
Membership of a relevant professional body (e.g. CIOB) is desirable but not essential.
