Consultant / Senior Consultant – Planning Specialist

Consultant / Senior Consultant – Planning Specialist (Project Controls)

£45,000–£65,000 (DoE) + Annual Bonus | Hybrid Working

This is a pivotal role within our growing Project Controls capability at i3Works. We're seeking a Planning Specialist with strong consultancy skills to help shape and deliver planning excellence across our client portfolio in defence, public, and private sectors.

Overview

We deliver measurable value to clients across defence, private, and public sector environments through expert led services in Project Controls and Planning. As we continue to grow, we're seeking experienced Planning Specialists to strengthen our capability and support delivery across the i3Works business.

This role offers the opportunity to work on complex and high-impact programmes, where your planning expertise will directly influence strategic outcomes for both our clients and our organisation. You'll be responsible for developing, maintaining, and communicating integrated schedules aligned to delivery strategies, while guiding stakeholders through critical decision-making processes. Strong leadership, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative working are essential, as you'll be operating in a visible, outward facing role that demands both technical excellence and interpersonal effectiveness.

Role Purpose – Planning Specialist (Project Controls)

As a Planning Specialist within Project Controls, you will be instrumental in supporting our clients to deliver successful projects, programmes, and portfolios. While your primary expertise lies in planning and scheduling, you will also bring a working knowledge of other project controls disciplines, enabling you to operate effectively within integrated delivery environments.

You will lead the development, assurance, and management of project schedules, build trusted client relationships, and deliver high-quality planning solutions that support timely and informed decision making.

Your ability to understand, interact with, and collaborate across broader project controls functions such as risk, governance, and performance reporting will enhance your contribution to integrated delivery and reinforce your credibility with clients and stakeholders.

Key Capabilities

Planning & Scheduling

• Expert in Primavera P6, MS Project / POL.
• Familiar with agile planning tools (e.g. Jira, Trello).
• Proficient in developing, assuring and maintaining integrated schedules across full delivery lifecycles. (CADMID)
• Skilled in constructing Performance Measurement Baselines and applying Earned Value Management (EVM) principles and how schedules are fundamental in its application.

Governance & Assurance

• Support the implementation of governance frameworks.
• Ensure planning aligns with wider assurance and control processes.
• Familiar with Integrated Baseline Reviews and their critical role in assuring a projects viability.

RAIDO Management

• Proactively identify and manage Risks, Assumptions, Issues, Dependencies and Opportunities.
• Integrate RAIDO elements into planning outputs and mitigation strategies.
• Experienced in conducting Schedule Risk Analysis and familiar with tool sets (e.g. Safran, Deltek, PRA)

Data Analysis & Reporting

• Understand and collaborate with reporting teams to support MI development.
• Experience with automation and dashboard tools (e.g. Power BI).

Hybrid Delivery Models

• Comfortable operating in environments that blend traditional and agile delivery.
• Able to adapt planning approaches to suit delivery context.

Deployment Flexibility

Consultants may be deployed in roles such as:

• Planner / Scheduler
• RAIDO Manager
• Change Manager

Key Responsibilities

Delivery

• Act as a Planning SME, providing expert project controls input across client programmes, proactively identifying risks and opportunities to maintain schedule integrity.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams and client stakeholders to ensure alignment on planning strategies, milestones, and deliverables.
• Develop and maintain integrated schedules that drive value and support successful project outcomes, ensuring alignment with client expectations.
• Provide clear, timely progress updates and schedule performance reports to clients, fostering transparency and trust.

Client Relationships and Business Development

• Build and sustain strong client relationships by understanding their planning and delivery challenges and offering tailored, value adding solutions.
• Represent i3Works' planning and project controls capabilities in client meetings, showcasing technical expertise and leadership.
• Support the development of proposals and bid documentation, particularly in areas related to planning, scheduling and project controls.

Internal Workstreams

• Contribute to internal initiatives aimed at improving planning methodologies, tools and operational efficiency.
• Mentor junior planners and support their development through knowledge sharing and coaching.
• Pursue continuous professional development to stay current with industry best practices and emerging planning technologies.

Experience and Qualifications

• Recognised qualifications in Project Controls or P3M (e.g., APM PMQ, PP&C, MoR).
• Deep expertise in planning and scheduling, with knowledge across broader P3M disciplines.
• Experience managing or mentoring others within planning or project controls functions.
• Prior consultancy experience is advantageous, particularly in client-facing roles.
• Ability to hold or currently holding SC/DV clearance.

Role Location
Our consultants are expected to work in a hybrid environment, in accordance with our clients. We require our people to be within an easily commutable distance of our Bristol office and to be able to co-locate at our client locations, which are typically 50 miles of Bristol or along the M4 corridor. New clients are always coming on board, and we require our consultants to be able to work flexibly and wherever this work requires.

Our Core Values & Behaviours

Our core values, Purposeful, Dynamic & Supportive, stand us apart from our competition, are the central, driving force to i3Works' culture and are expressed through our associated behaviours:

Purposeful

• Professionally Responsible - Builds and delivers professionalism to bring value to the organisation, stakeholders and peers.
• Driven to Deliver - Demonstrates determination, resourcefulness, and purpose to deliver the best results for and behalf of i3Works.
• Critical Thinker - Demonstrates the ability to analyse and understand data and information quickly. Uses information, insights and knowledge in a structured way to identify options, make recommendations and make robust, defendable decisions.

Dynamic

• Curious - Is future-focused, inquisitive, and open- minded; seeks out evolving and innovative ways to add value to the organization.
• Skilled Influencer - Demonstrates the ability to influence to gain the necessary commitment and support from diverse stakeholders in pursuit of organisation value.

Supportive

• Collaborative - Works effectively and inclusively with a range of people, both within and outside of the organisation
• Role Model - Consistently leads by example. Acts impartiality and independently, balancing personal and organisation parameters.

Benefits at i3Works: 

• Private healthcare/medical cover & Group life insurance
• Annual bonus scheme (dependent on personal and company performance)
• 25 days holiday plus bank holidays (increasing by day per each calendar year, after your 3rd anniversary with the company– rising to a maximum of 30 days + bank holidays).
• Enhanced Reservist Leave – up to 10 days paid.
• Annual leave purchase scheme (up to 5 days per year)
• 5% company pension contribution
• £250.00 annual donation towards a charity or grassroots organisation of your choice
• Personal wellness benefit of £120.00 per month, access to unlimited 1-1 counselling support and a wealth of wellbeing and support resources
• Enhanced parental leave
• Electric car leasing salary sacrifice scheme
• Cycle to work scheme (save 25-39% on a bike and accessories)
• Paid qualifications for employees at all levels
• Internal Employee Networks, regular social events throughout the year and charity fundraising activities to get involved with if you wish.

At i3Works we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and strongly encourage you to apply.

We ensure that all hiring decisions are made without regard to age, race, national origin, sex, disability, gender, gender identity, religion, or any other protected characteristics, and will treat all applications with the strictest confidence. Please don't be afraid to ask about what we can do to support your needs. All requests will be carefully and fairly considered. We wish you every success in your job search.