Associate Director Planning (Project Controls) – Energy & Natural Resources

Overview

As Associate Director Planning (Project Controls), you will lead planning and scheduling across major programmes, shaping robust controls and driving delivery outcomes. You’ll provide strategic direction to planning teams, engage senior stakeholders, and guide client decisions through integrated schedules and risk-aware performance management. You will develop people, nurture client relationships, and contribute to business growth. This role offers impact at scale within a cross-functional, innovative environment.

Pay / Benefits

• healthy, productive and flexible working environment
• opportunity to influence change
• equal opportunity employer
• voice to affect change
• focus on work-life balance
• career development opportunities

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for Planning and Project Controls across a portfolio of major programmes
• Lead and develop high-performing Planning and Project Controls teams with coaching and career development
• Establish robust planning, scheduling governance frameworks ensuring quality and compliance
• Oversee development and assurance of integrated project schedules with critical path and resource planning
• Act as trusted advisor to clients and senior stakeholders on planning and performance
• Lead schedule management, progress monitoring, change control, risk management, EVM and reporting
• Proactively identify and mitigate programme risks, opportunities and constraints
• Manage resource planning and utilisation across commissions to support growth
• Provide clear reporting on project performance, schedule health, risks, and interventions
• Collaborate with PM, Cost, Commercial, Risk, and Engineering teams for integrated controls
• Support business development including bids, proposals, and framework opportunities
• Build strong client relationships and act as senior planning and project controls contact
• Champion innovation, digital tools and continuous improvement in planning maturity
• Contribute to departmental strategy and service delivery standards
• Foster an inclusive, collaborative, high-performance culture

Key requirements

• Significant Project Controls and Planning leadership experience on major capital projects and programmes
• Subject matter expert in planning and scheduling across full lifecycle
• Strong communicator and leader capable of influencing senior stakeholders
• Eligible to obtain BPSS level security clearance
• Bachelor in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management or related discipline
• Experience leading Planning and Project Controls teams on major projects
• Advanced expertise in Primavera P6 including governance, critical path, resource loading, progress measurement, reporting
• Experience implementing and assuring Project Controls frameworks and reporting standards
• Knowledge of project lifecycle management, programme controls, schedule risk analysis, and integrated performance management
• Experience engaging with senior stakeholders at Director/Executive level
• Understanding of governance, change management, EVM, and project assurance practices
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams, coaching, and developing professionals
• Excellent verbal and written communication, with stakeholder facilitation
• Strong commercial awareness and experience supporting bids, framework opportunities, and service growth
• Adaptable to complex, fast-paced environments with multiple stakeholders
• Commitment to continuous improvement and industry best practices in Planning and Project Controls

• strong leadership and people development
• clear and influential communication
• stakeholder management at executive level
• Primavera P6
• schedule governance
• critical path analysis

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