Head of Planning & Portfolio Controls (SRE E&P) (0865)

We are recruiting for a Head of Planning & Portfolio Controls to join us here at Octavius, working on our SRE and E&P projects out of London Blackfriars.  This is a 12 month contract.

We are a leading civil engineering organisation delivering safe, sustainable, and efficient transport solutions across the UK.

You'll be working on…. (what your role and responsibility is)

• As Head of Planning & Project Controls, you'll lead the planning and project controls function for the Electrification & Plant (E&P) portfolio within the Southern Renewals Enterprise (SRE). Working as part of the integrated SID delivery model, you will provide trusted insight across programme, cost, risk, change and performance, helping the business make informed decisions and drive successful outcomes.

  You'll be responsible for:

  • Leading the E&P planning and project controls team across a complex rail infrastructure portfolio.
  • Providing clear performance insight, forecasting and reporting to support decision-making and portfolio delivery.
  • Developing and maintaining robust programme controls across planning, cost, risk, change and governance.
  • Driving the effective use of data, reporting systems and dashboards to improve visibility and confidence in performance information.
  • Owning planning standards and Primavera P6 implementation across the portfolio.
  • Identifying emerging risks, trends and opportunities, ensuring timely intervention where required.
  • Supporting a collaborative, "Best for Portfolio" approach across the wider Southern Renewals Enterprise.

You'll work with… (because relationships are important)

You'll receive…. (because we value you)

About you…. (what you are skilled at)

• You'll be an experienced project controls leader with the ability to translate complex data into meaningful insight that supports delivery and strategic decision-making.

  You'll have:

  • Strong leadership skills, with the ability to influence, collaborate and constructively challenge across multiple stakeholders.
  • Extensive experience managing planning and project controls functions within major infrastructure programmes.
  • A thorough understanding of programme controls, including planning, cost management, risk, change and performance reporting.
  • Advanced analytical skills and the ability to identify trends, risks and opportunities across complex portfolios.
  • Experience developing dashboards, reporting tools and data-driven performance solutions.
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly to both technical and executive audiences.
  • A structured, organised and collaborative approach, combined with a strong focus on delivery and continuous improvement.

You'll bring… (your wealth of experience & qualifications)

• Significant experience in planning and project controls within major infrastructure or rail environments.
• Experience working within collaborative delivery models and multi-partner organisations.
• Advanced knowledge of Primavera P6 and Office 365, including Power BI and the wider Power Platform.
• A strong track record of delivering portfolio-level reporting, forecasting and performance analysis.
• A degree in Engineering, Project Management, Quantity Surveying or a related discipline.
• Professional accreditation such as APM, PRINCE2, MSP or equivalent.
• Chartered status, or progress towards achieving chartership.

Inclusion and diversity are important to us, we are an equal opportunities employer and value difference. We want and will continue to build an inclusive environment where our people thrive. We firmly believe constantly striving to build a truly diverse workforce is what makes us a strong business and will enable us to continue to solve important problems and deliver unrivalled value to both our customers and clients. If you need any specialist support throughout your application, we will work with you where we can to support your journey with us.