Westlakes Recruit are currently recruiting for an experienced senior/lead planning engineer to be engaged on a permanent basis in Whitehaven, Cumbria.

As Lead Planner within the Nuclear Decommissioning sector, you will play a pivotal role in the planning and delivery of complex decommissioning programmes. You will be responsible for developing and managing integrated schedules that reflect the unique regulatory, safety, and technical challenges of nuclear environments. In addition to technical planning responsibilities, you will lead and mentor a team of planners and manage planning activities across multiple projects of varying complexity, ensuring consistency, compliance, and delivery confidence.

Your Purpose:

Lead the development, maintenance, and management of detailed project schedules using Primavera P6, aligned with decommissioning milestones and regulatory requirements.

Oversee planning input across all project phases-from feasibility and design through to dismantling and waste management.

Define and manage work breakdown structures (WBS), logic sequencing, and critical path analysis specific to nuclear decommissioning.

Manage planning activities across multiple concurrent projects, each with varying levels of complexity, scope, and stakeholder engagement.

Monitor progress, identify schedule risks, and implement mitigation strategies to maintain delivery confidence.

Produce and present planning reports, earned value metrics, and performance dashboards to internal and external stakeholders.

Support regulatory submissions and assurance reviews by providing robust planning evidence and justifications.

Line manager and mentor a team of planners, providing guidance, performance feedback, and development opportunities.

Coordinate planning input from multiple workstreams and contractors, ensuring alignment with programme objectives.

Engage with client representatives, supply chain partners, and regulatory bodies to align planning assumptions and expectations.

Required Skills and Experience:

Proven experience in a Lead Planner or Senior Planner role within the nuclear or highly regulated infrastructure sectors.

Demonstrated experience in leading and developing planning teams.

Strong track record of managing planning across multiple projects simultaneously, with varying complexity and delivery models.

In-depth knowledge of decommissioning processes, safety case integration, and regulatory interfaces.

Proficiency in Primavera P6 and MS Project.

Experience with Earned Value Management (EVM), schedule risk analysis, and integrated baseline reviews.

Excellent stakeholder engagement and communication skills, particularly in high-scrutiny environments.

Ability to manage planning inputs across multiple workstreams and contractors.

Desirable Qualifications:

Degree in Engineering, Project Management, or a related technical discipline.

Membership of APM, PMI, or equivalent professional body.

Familiarity with NEC3/4 contracts and nuclear site licence conditions.

Security clearance (or ability to obtain) is essential due to the nature of the work.

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