Trainee Planner

Are you a recent graduate seeking a Trainee Planner role in Northern Ireland's thriving construction industry? Atkins Search have an exciting opportunity for a Construction Planner trainee to join a leading main contractor based in Northern Ireland who specialise in project planning across education, healthcare, defence, and commercial sectors.

This graduate planner position offers structured training in both tender and delivery planning, with opportunities to work on high-profile projects throughout Northern Ireland. Whether you're a fresh graduate or an experienced professional looking to transition into construction planning, this role provides comprehensive development in project management and planning engineering.

Our client is seeking ambitious individuals to join their expanding team, offering mentorship from experienced planners and the chance to rotate between different departments to gain a complete understanding of this successful, family-run construction company's operations.

Our client is a thriving, privately owned main contractor in Northern Ireland with an exceptional annual turnover projected for next year. They specialise in delivering complex construction projects across the education, defence, healthcare and commercial sectors throughout Northern Ireland and beyond. With a growing portfolio of construction projects, the planning team plays a crucial role in maintaining their success and reputation for excellence.

Construction planners are an integral part of the team, working on both tender and delivery planning across MOD, MOJ, education and public/private sector projects. As the business continues to expand across Northern Ireland, they are seeking ambitious individuals to work closely with more experienced planning engineers to progress their career with the opportunity to rotate between different departments to gain a full grasp on the inner workings of this successful, family-run construction company.

As a Trainee Planner in Northern Ireland, you'll be part of a structured development programme designed to give you hands-on experience in both tender and delivery planning. You will rotate through office-based bid work and site-based roles, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the construction planning process across various sectors.

Working closely with experienced project planners and construction teams, you'll contribute to successful project delivery while developing the skills needed to progress your career as a construction planner. This role offers excellent exposure to project management methodologies and planning techniques used by leading Northern Ireland contractors.

• Assist in creating project programmes, covering design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover stages for Northern Ireland construction projects
• Support bid preparation with tender programmes and sequencing plans for various sectors
• Collaborate with project teams to create logistics and site organisation plans for construction sites across Northern Ireland
• Monitor project progress and assist in preparing detailed reports for internal and external stakeholders
• Learn to utilise industry-standard planning software, including Asta Powerproject, MS Project, and Primavera P6
• Develop an understanding of NEC contracts and the construction process within the Northern Ireland market
• Support planning engineers with critical path analysis and programme risk assessments

• A degree in project management, construction management, or related field would be ideal, but is not essential for this trainee planner role
• A proactive and enthusiastic attitude, with a genuine desire to learn and develop in construction planning
• Strong organisational and problem-solving skills essential for project planning roles
• Excellent communication and teamwork abilities to work effectively with construction teams
• A genuine interest in construction planning and a commitment to building a long-term career in Northern Ireland's construction industry
• Motivated, committed and personable individual ready to start their career as a construction planner
• Willingness to travel across sites as required

• Structured Training: Gain practical experience and mentorship from industry experts through a robust development programme in construction planning
• Career Growth: Start your career as a trainee planner in a thriving Northern Ireland construction company with significant opportunities for progression to senior planner roles
• Diverse Projects: Work on a variety of exciting construction projects across education, healthcare, defence, and commercial sectors throughout Northern Ireland
• Supportive Environment: Join a construction team that values collaboration, innovation, and professional development in project planning
• 25 days annual leave, plus bank holidays
• Car allowance for travel across Northern Ireland construction sites
• Private healthcare
• Professional Development: Training in Asta Powerproject, Primavera P6, and other industry-standard planning software
• Exposure to NEC contracts and modern construction management practices

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