Key Skills

Job Description

Job Title: Senior Planner Location: Randstad, the Netherlands Employment Type: Full-time, On-site/Project Site-Based Right to Work Requirements (Mandatory): All applicants must have the legal right to live and work in the Netherlands and the European Union at the time of application. Languages: Fluent spoken and written English. Dutch and/or other European languages are highly desirable and will be considered an advantage. Reports to: Group Head of Planning | Project Director | Construction Director Company Description TSL is a leading technical engineering and construction partner operating across EMEA, the Americas and APAC. We are committed to creating the spaces to power the fourth industrial revolution, whilst ensuring we leave a positive environmental and social legacy for communities across the world. Specialising in Data Centres, Advanced Manufacturing, Logistics, Food and Pharmaceuticals, we are proud to deliver outstanding turnkey projects at speed, without compromise on safety or quality. Our team at TSL is focused on working with our clients and the entire supply chain to create a simple agenda concentrated on getting things done. At the heart of what TSL does is taking the ‘noise’ out of project delivery whilst ensuring that we are always engineering best value for money and fit-for-purpose solutions. TSL is an equal opportunity employer and we are especially proud that our dynamic, international team is made up of colleagues representing 57 nationalities across the world. We want big-picture thinkers who aren't afraid to roll up their sleeves, refusing to settle for 'good enough' and pushing for great each time. We are firm believers that to build quality, you must invest in quality. We will continue to invest in our biggest asset: our amazing team. Role Description The Senior Planner/Project Planner is responsible for leading all planning, scheduling, progress monitoring, reporting, forecasting, and programme control activities throughout the full project lifecycle. Working closely with the Project Director, Project Managers, Pre-Construction Team, Commercial Team, Design Managers, Site Engineers, Procurement, Commissioning and Construction teams, you will develop and maintain integrated project programmes that support the successful delivery of large-scale data centre construction projects. This role requires exceptional Primavera P6 expertise together with strong analytical capabilities, commercial awareness and excellent stakeholder management skills. The successful candidate will become the planning lead for the project, ensuring accurate forecasting, proactive risk management, timely reporting, and continuous schedule optimisation from pre-construction through to final handover. Key Responsibilities Project Planning & Scheduling Develop, maintain and manage detailed baseline and master programmes using Primavera P6. Develop tender, bid and pre-construction programmes aligned with project requirements. Build fully integrated project schedules incorporating Civil, Structural, Architectural, Mechanical, Electrical, Procurement, Design, Commissioning, long-lead equipment, subcontractor deliverables and client milestones. Develop resource-loaded and cost-loaded programmes. Establish project critical paths, key milestones and project sequencing. Continuously update project programmes to reflect approved changes and actual site progress. Prepare detailed look-ahead programmes for site execution. Review and validate subcontractor programmes and integrate them into the master schedule. Track design progress, procurement status, long-lead items and key deliverables to ensure alignment with the overall project programme and critical path. Project Controls & Performance Management Implement and manage Earned Value Management (EVM) processes. Produce Schedule Performance Index (SPI), Cost Performance Index (CPI), S-Curves, Cash Flow Forecasts, Resource Histograms, Productivity Reports and KPI Dashboards. Monitor actual progress against baseline programmes. Produce accurate project forecasting and completion projections. Identify trends that may impact project performance. Recommend corrective actions to maintain project objectives. Risk Management & Recovery Planning Perform Critical Path Analysis. Conduct Float Analysis. Identify schedule risks and opportunities. Develop mitigation programmes and recovery schedules. Prepare target programmes where required. Monitor programme impacts resulting from design changes, procurement delays, client instructions, variations, and site constraints Prepare Time Impact Analyses (TIA). Support the preparation of Extension of Time (EOT) claims. Progress Monitoring & Reporting Monitor project progress on a weekly basis. Update Primavera programmes with actual progress. Produce comprehensive weekly and monthly planning reports. Prepare executive dashboards for senior management. Present planning updates to clients and project stakeholders. Report deviations from baseline together with recommended mitigation actions. Ensure planning data remains accurate, current and auditable. Stakeholder Management Work closely with Project Director(s), Project Managers, Design Managers, Commercial Team, Quantity Surveyors, Site Managers, Procurement Team, Site Engineers, Commissioning Team, Client Representatives, Consultants and Subcontractors. Attend weekly client meetings. Facilitate planning workshops. Ensure effective communication of programme status across all project disciplines. Pre-Construction & Tender Support Prepare tender programmes and construction methodologies. Develop realistic construction durations and sequencing. Support bid submissions with planning expertise. Review programme assumptions and construction strategies. Assist estimating teams with planning input during tender stages. Documentation & Programme Governance Maintain programme integrity throughout the project lifecycle. Ensure compliance with company procedures, client requirements, contractual obligations, and industry best practice. Carry out programme health checks. Manage schedule revisions through formal change control processes. Maintain accurate programme records for contractual purposes. Leadership & Continuous Improvement Mentor and support Junior Project Planners. Promote best practice planning standards. Drive continuous improvement initiatives within the planning function. Share lessons learned across projects. Support planning activities across other European projects where required. Undertake any additional project-related duties as directed by the Project Director or Planning Lead. Qualifications Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Industrial Engineering or a related technical discipline. Professional Planning qualification is advantageous. Primavera P6 certification is desirable. Skills, Knowledge & Experience Minimum 5–7+ years’ experience in project planning and scheduling within the construction industry, with proven experience on complex, multi-million-euro projects. Proven experience working for a Main Contractor. Extensive experience on large-scale industrial or mission-critical construction projects. Expert knowledge of Primavera P6 (essential). Strong understanding of: Critical Path Method (CPM) Earned Value Management (EVM) Integrated Activity Planning & Scheduling (IAPS) Work Breakdown Structures (WBS/CWBS) Resource Loading Cost Loading Experience producing baseline, tender, recovery, and mitigation Programmes Experience with Time Impact Analysis (TIA), Extension of Time (EOT) Claims, and Schedule Risk Analysis Strong understanding of project controls and reporting. Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities. Strong commercial awareness. Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills. Ability to lead planning meetings with clients and senior stakeholders. Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail. Proactive, resilient and solutions focused. Desirable Experience delivering hyperscale data centre projects. Experience on advanced manufacturing, pharmaceutical, semiconductor or mission-critical facilities. Experience using Microsoft Project and Asta Powerproject. Knowledge of BIM-integrated planning. Experience managing planning teams.

Core Responsibilities

Lead planning, scheduling, progress monitoring, forecasting, reporting, and programme control across the full project lifecycle for large-scale construction projects. Maintain integrated Primavera P6 schedules, manage schedule risks and recovery plans, report performance, and coordinate planning with project teams, clients, and subcontractors.

Requirements

Requires 5–7+ years of construction planning experience, including work for a main contractor on complex industrial or mission-critical projects, and expert Primavera P6 knowledge. A relevant technical degree is required; strong project controls, analytical, commercial, communication, and stakeholder-management capabilities are also expected.