Planner

Colas Ltd are a UK subsidiary of the global Colas Group, which operates in over 50 countries worldwide and employs over 55,000 people including over 1500 in the UK across multiple sites. We are specialists in highways construction and have been involved in large-scale UK and international construction projects within the highways, airfields, and marine sectors as well as offering highways maintenance services and manufacturing our own innovative surfacing products. We hold a 'Gold Investor in People' award for continuously developing and rewarding our employees, offering excellent career potential.  

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Purpose of the role

Colas are responsible for the eight-year Maintenance & Response contract for National Highways Area 9. The contract covers around 2,300 miles of Strategic Road Network within Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Shropshire, as well as parts of Gloucestershire, Derbyshire, and Leicestershire. We deliver cyclical maintenance, reactive maintenance, incident response, severe weather response and minor works in a region that has five strategically critical motorway interchange junctions, as well as being at the heart of the new HS2 network. Area 9 is a critical transport hub enabling customer journeys across the UK. 

We are seeking a Planner to be based at the Strensham office, WR8 9LJ to support the development, monitoring and reporting of multi-disciplinary maintenance programmes across the network. The role is responsible for planning and coordinating both cyclical and reactive works, ensuring service delivery aligns with client requirements, contractual obligations and commercial objectives. Working closely with operational teams, clients and stakeholders, you will help maximise productivity, optimise resource utilisation and contribute to the successful delivery of highway maintenance services.

Main Responsibilities

The Planner will develop and maintain annual and short-term work programmes, ensuring activities are delivered in accordance with contract requirements, tender strategies and productivity targets. You will support the implementation of commercial planning strategies, manage resource allocation and workforce planning, and ensure all operational programmes remain achievable, accurate and aligned with forecast expenditure profiles. You will oversee the preparation and management of job packs, ensuring risks and hazards are appropriately identified and mitigated, while maintaining compliance with corporate procedures and health, safety, environmental and quality standards. The role requires close collaboration with operational teams, clients, contractors, local authorities, National Highways, emergency services and other stakeholders to coordinate works, manage road space requirements and minimise network disruption. The successful candidate will monitor programme performance, track progress, forecast delivery dates and expenditure, identify risks and communicate changes to key stakeholders. You will support emergency response activities, assist with remedial repair coordination and contribute to network recovery following incidents. Attendance at planning meetings, production of programme reports and maintenance of accurate records will form a key part of the role. You will also work alongside the wider planning team to drive continuous improvement, identify innovative solutions, maximise opportunities within road closures and support a collaborative, high-performing team culture. Participation in the Silver/Bronze call-out rota will also be required.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate will have experience within highways maintenance, network operations or infrastructure planning, with a good understanding of traffic management requirements and programme delivery. You will be highly organised, commercially aware and able to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills are essential, along with the ability to coordinate resources, analyse workloads and maximise operational efficiency. Experience using Confirm or similar systems, knowledge of highways legislation, and strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel, would be advantageous. Applicants should hold a full UK driving licence and ideally possess relevant industry qualifications, including CSCS accreditation and SMSTS certification.

Package Description

Here at Colas, we offer a great total compensation package, including:

• A salary between £30,000 and £35,000 (dependent on experience)
• Our Colas Pension Scheme has combined contributions of up to 10%
• Life Assurance Scheme which is x4 basic salary
• 25 days annual leave per year + Public Holidays 
• Holiday Purchase & Selling Scheme
• Hybrid Working Scheme (dependent on the role)
• Opportunities to study towards a fully funded Professional Qualification
• Ongoing personal / professional development
• Discounts on car leasing, holidays, cinema tickets, restaurants and much more through our online employee benefits portal

At Colas, our culture is guided by four core values: Respect, Commitment, Pioneering, and Sharing. These values shape how we work, collaborate, and grow together. We believe that respect is the foundation of every relationship. By treating others as we wish to be treated, we foster fairness, transparency, and inclusion within our teams and with our clients, communities, and partners. Commitment means dedicating ourselves fully to everything we do. We strive to create an environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and empowered to make a meaningful impact. With a pioneering spirit, we prioritise bold innovation over blind ambition. We welcome new ideas, invest in our people, and work to deliver sustainable infrastructure solutions that shape the future. Through sharing, we build trust and solidarity, encouraging collaboration and growth at all levels of the business. 

Colas Ltd is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workforce that mirrors the communities we serve. As an equal opportunity employer, we welcome applications from all backgrounds. If you want a workplace where your voice is valued and your potential is developed, Colas is the right choice. 

Note to Recruitment Agencies                                                                                                                                         

In line with our Company Policy, Colas Ltd has a preference for direct hiring and we will reach out to our PSL (Preferred Suppliers List) agencies if the role is eligible for release. We do not accept speculative CVs from agencies. If a speculative CV is sent, no fee will be applicable.