Senior Planning Manager - Defence at Mace in Reading, England, GB

Position status: This opportunity is for a secured role that is due to commence in November subject to approval. If you would like to be considered as we progress with this position, please click to apply.

We are looking for an experienced senior planning manager to work on complex programme schedules across one of our major defence projects in Reading.

While the client is based in Reading, this is a predominantly remote working opportunity with occasional travel to the client location as required.

This role offers a great opportunity to apply strong technical planning expertise on some of the UK’s most complex and high‑profile defence programmes.

You will bring specialist experience across planning, schedule analysis and cost control, along with a solid background in large scale engineering or infrastructure environments ideally within nuclear, defence, civil engineering or other similarly regulated sectors.

Please Note: Due to strict security requirements of this programme, candidates must have SC clearance or eligibility to obtain it.

You’ll be responsible for:

• Managing planning processes to align schedules, budgets, and resource profiles with project objectives.
• Monitoring progress, KPIs, and change codes to ensure timely delivery and compliance.
• Driving team performance, capability development, and succession planning.
• Promoting safety, quality, and continuous improvement across all activities.
• Managing level 4/5 schedules and material demand dates,
• Coordinating with engineering, procurement, and production to maintain schedule integrity.
• Overseeing shop orders, labour forecasts, and delivery performance against targets.
• Analysing trends, resolve technical queries, and implement lessons learned for improvement.

You’ll need to have:

• Proven experience in nuclear, civil engineering, defence or infrastructure.
• Strong experience in ERP systems, scheduling, and estimating across full construction lifecycle.
• Skilled in MS Office and project planning tools.
• ONC or equivalent engineering/professional qualification (APM, RICS, ACostE).
• APM certifications in planning, risk, and earned value management.

What's on offer:

• Hybrid working.
• Car allowance.
• Pension scheme.
• Medical health care.
• Life assurance.
• Income protection insurance.
• Family friendly policies.
• Real career progression opportunities.

Our values

Safety first - Going home safe and well: We champion a safe, diverse and inclusive working environment, understanding the importance of wellbeing in every team.

Client focus - Deliver on our promise: We own the quality of deliverables, strategic outcomes and build long term relationships with our clients.

Integrity - Always do the right thing: We influence positive outcomes within our industry, while always aligning with our compliance obligations.

Create opportunity - For our people to excel: We champion a continuous improvement culture throughout all activities, inspiring our people and teams to develop.

Mace is an inclusive employer and welcomes interest from a diverse range of candidates. Even if you feel you do not fulfil all the criteria, please apply as you may still be the best candidate for this role or another role within our organisation.

We are also open to discussing part time, flexible, and hybrid working options if suitable within the role.

Please remember the Employee Referral Scheme and if there are any talented people you can recommend, just click the button and use the ‘Refer a friend’ feature found within the relevant job.