Planning Manager

Planning Manager

The Opportunity

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Planning Manager to provide planning leadership across major construction and data centre projects in Sweden. This senior role involves taking ownership of the planning function across complex, fast-track projects, ensuring robust programme controls, reporting standards, and planning methodologies are embedded throughout the project lifecycle.

The Planning Manager will work closely with Project Directors, Project Managers, Construction Managers, Commercial Teams, clients, and subcontractors, providing strategic planning leadership from pre-construction and design through procurement, construction, commissioning, and final handover. The role is based in Sweden, with flexibility around specific project locations and occasional travel within Sweden, the Nordics, and Europe.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning function across major construction, MEP, and data centre projects.
• Develop and oversee integrated project programmes using Primavera P6.
• Establish project planning strategies, methodologies, procedures, and reporting standards.
• Develop and manage Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 programmes as required.
• Establish and maintain robust project baselines covering engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover.
• Ensure project programmes are logically structured, fully integrated, and aligned with contractual requirements.
• Lead programme reviews with project leadership and clients.
• Monitor progress against baseline programmes, key milestones, and contractual obligations.
• Lead critical path analysis and identify schedule risks, constraints, and opportunities.
• Develop and implement mitigation, acceleration, and recovery strategies.
• Review project performance and provide clear programme forecasts to senior management.
• Manage and integrate subcontractor and supplier programmes into the overall project schedule.
• Ensure effective management of programme interfaces between engineering, procurement, construction, and commissioning.
• Oversee progress measurement, earned value analysis, and schedule performance reporting.
• Lead the preparation of weekly, monthly, and executive-level programme reports.
• Support commercial teams with programme information for extensions of time, delay analysis, and contractual matters.
• Review schedule impacts arising from design changes, procurement delays, construction issues, and client changes.
• Support project teams with short-term look-ahead programmes and construction planning.
• Identify resource, productivity, and sequencing constraints and develop appropriate solutions.
• Support tender and pre-construction teams with programme development, project schedules, and planning strategies.
• Establish consistent planning standards and best practices across projects.
• Provide guidance, mentoring, and technical support to Planning Engineers and Project Planners.
• Ensure effective communication of programme status, risks, opportunities, and recovery strategies to project leadership.
• Support continuous improvement of planning and project controls processes across the business.

Requirements

• Significant experience within planning and project controls, including experience at a senior or management level.
• Advanced and demonstrable expertise in Primavera P6.
• Proven experience managing complex construction programmes from pre-construction through commissioning and handover.
• Strong understanding of CPM, programme logic, baselines, schedule analysis, and forecasting.
• Experience developing and managing Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4 programmes.
• Strong understanding of construction sequencing and project delivery methodologies.
• Experience integrating engineering, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover activities.
• Strong knowledge of mechanical and electrical installation and MEP construction methodologies.
• Proven experience managing subcontractor and supplier programmes.
• Experience leading programme reviews with senior project stakeholders and clients.
• Strong experience developing recovery programmes, acceleration plans, and mitigation strategies.
• Experience supporting delay analysis, extensions of time, and programme-related contractual matters.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
• Ability to present complex programme information clearly to senior management and clients.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary and multinational project environments.
• Experience working within fast-track construction environments.
• Strong Microsoft Office and programme reporting skills.
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Controls, or a related discipline.
• Fluent English communication skills, both written and verbal.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience delivering Data Centre or Mission Critical projects.
• Experience working for an MEP contractor or technical services organisation.
• Experience managing planning teams or mentoring junior planners.
• Experience across multiple projects or a large project portfolio.
• Experience within large-scale commercial, industrial, pharmaceutical, manufacturing, energy, or infrastructure projects.
• Nordic or wider European project experience.
• Experience with Power BI or advanced programme performance reporting.
• Knowledge of BIM-enabled planning and 4D scheduling.
• Understanding of FIDIC, NEC, AB 04, ABT 06, or equivalent construction contracts.
• Professional qualification or membership with AACE, PMI, APM, or a similar professional body.