Senior Project Planner

Overview

Kirby Group Engineering, a leading international multidisciplinary engineering contractor, seeks a Senior Project Planner for a permanent role based in Galway. This position offers a sustained portfolio of work extending beyond five years, presenting an excellent career development opportunity within an innovative, collaborative, and performance-focused environment that serves key sectors like pharmaceuticals, data centers, and power transmission.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality project planning services supporting project managers and multi-disciplinary teams.
• Mentor and guide junior planners to enhance team capabilities.
• Interpret contract documentation to identify scheduling and tracking necessities.
• Create detailed construction schedules aligned with target timelines and work breakdown structures.
• Engage in client schedule negotiations to influence favorable outcomes.
• Load schedules with labor hours and resource metrics using commercial data.
• Develop and maintain project trackers and reporting templates for clear status updates.
• Collaborate with main contractors and project managers to produce integrated construction schedules.
• Monitor weekly progress and efficiency, validating data with site and commercial teams regularly.
• Proactively identify and escalate project risks and bottlenecks to senior planning staff.

Detailed Role Functions

• Serve as primary planning liaison for project managers, addressing all schedule-related queries.
• Assist in bid support activities by preparing schedules and histograms under guidance.
• Implement and uphold Kirby's planning methodologies and processes across project phases.
• Organize and facilitate planning meetings; ensure contractual schedule and reporting criteria are met.
• Validate and refine high-level target schedules based on current project information and emerging design intent.
• Develop and negotiate optimized build schedules collaboratively with main contractors and site management teams.
• Labour load schedules and produce S-curves, ensuring alignment with the commercial budget and highlighting periods of intense activity.
• Contribute to risk identification and mitigation planning.
• Manage progress reporting including earned value, labour efficiencies, and estimates at completion in cooperation with commercial teams.
• Lead weekly site look-ahead meetings and provide clear communication of early warnings and performance improvements.
• Maintain and revise schedules continuously, escalating concerns promptly.
• Identify opportunities to enhance internal service delivery and improve planning processes.

Qualifications and Experience

• Degree or equivalent qualification in Electrical, Mechanical, Building Services Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or a strong technical trades background.
• Minimum of five years’ proven experience in developing, implementing, monitoring, and controlling project plans effectively.
• Proficient in developing project schedules from design and commercial data and coordinating multiple project plans.
• Experienced with project planning software such as Microsoft Project, Primavera P6, or equivalents, and skilled in Microsoft Office applications and report writing.
• Capable of effective time management to meet demands of a busy project schedule.

Desired Skills and Attributes

• Strong results orientation and commercial awareness.
• Excellent customer relationship and service skills.
• Innovative thinker focused on process improvement.
• Meticulous attention to detail with resilience and positive attitude.
• Effective team player and builder fostering collaboration.

Additional Information

This role includes a competitive salary package with room for negotiation. Candidates will benefit from Kirby’s career development programs designed to enhance leadership skills. Kirby Group Engineering is committed to equality and inclusion, welcoming applications from all qualified individuals regardless of background.