Principal Project Planner in Leeds, West Yorkshire

Principal Project Planner - Rail Infrastructure

Location: Leeds - Hybrid
Rate: £424-£531 per day Umbrella
Contract: 12 months, with potential to extend
IR35: Inside IR35
Working Pattern: 5 days per week, minimum 3 days in the Leeds office

We are recruiting for an experienced Principal Project Planner to support a major railway infrastructure programme improving connectivity across the North of England.

The programme covers a 76-mile railway route between York and Manchester via Leeds and Huddersfield, serving 23 stations and involving extensive work across bridges, viaducts, tunnels and level crossings. It is one of the largest railway upgrade programmes in the country.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead planning and scheduling activities across major rail projects.
• Integrate multiple schedules and provide clear programme reporting.
• Support projects through the Network Rail PACE lifecycle.
• Develop delivery strategies, output schedules and construction programmes.
• Review construction staging and schedule assurance.
• Manage stakeholders and explain complex planning information clearly.
• Provide leadership and support to other planning professionals.

About You

• Strong rail planning and scheduling experience.
• Experience delivering major construction or engineering projects.
• Experience working with train and freight operator projects.
• Understanding of railway design, delivery principles and constructability.
• Experience across project development and construction/delivery phases.
• Strong experience integrating multiple schedules.
• Experience with professional planning/scheduling software.
• Knowledge of Network Rail processes and the UK rail industry.
• Relevant professional membership or established CPD towards membership.