Strategic Planner
Added 9 Oct · still live
Likely
Sponsorship likelihood
This employer has issued visas recently
Not disclosed
Salary
Not disclosed by employer
£41,700
Going rate
Skilled Worker going rate
This role likely qualifies for a Skilled Worker visa
SOC 2481 (81% match) is an eligible occupation, with a going rate of £41,700, and Hitachi Rail is a licensed sponsor. That is our reading of the rules. Whether they issue a Certificate of Sponsorship is still their call.
This could also be SOC 3116 (Planning, process and production technicians) or SOC 3549 (Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified). We read the code off the advert, so it is our best guess, not the employer's.
Your salary route
New graduate or PhD holder? Pick one of the lower rates.
What each route needs for this job
| Occupation code | New entrant 70% of going rate | STEM PhD 80% of going rate | Relevant PhD 90% of going rate | Standard rate 100% of going rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
2481 Quality control and planning engineers Most likely code | £33,400 | £33,400 | £37,500 | £41,700 |
3116 Planning, process and production technicians Also possible | £33,400 | £33,400 | £37,500 | £41,700 |
3549 Business associate professionals not elsewhere classified Also possible | £33,400 | £41,700 | £41,700 | £41,700 |
We use the lowest threshold across the plausible codes. Likelihood is Possible at most when the pay clears only a lower rate, or only under a less likely code. How the Home Office picks the code
About the role
About Us
A career at Hitachi Rail will help create a legacy. With operations in every corner of the world, our work goes to the cutting-edge of digital transformation and technology. From the multi-cultural strength of our global organisation to the sustainable and innovative ways we work to bring people together, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into. And that’s where you come in.
Job Description:
We’re looking for an experienced Strategic Planner to provide specialist expertise across maintenance planning, forecasting, modelling and data governance.
This is a key role supporting the development and continuous improvement of our maintenance planning frameworks, ensuring plans are strategically aligned, operationally achievable and commercially robust.
Working across Operations, Projects, Procurement and Data & Systems teams, you’ll use your engineering knowledge and analytical expertise to develop long-term maintenance strategies, optimise resources and capacity, and provide the modelling and insight needed to support operational delivery and competitive bid submissions.
As a subject matter expert, you’ll also play an important role in influencing cross-functional decisions and ensuring planning data and maintenance strategies are accurate, controlled and fit for purpose
This role can be based from any of our UK locations
What You’ll Be Doing
Planning & Forecasting
You’ll lead the development and maintenance of key planning tools, including:
Strategic Planning & Optimisation
Working closely with Operations Delivery and other key teams, you’ll:
A career at Hitachi Rail will help create a legacy. With operations in every corner of the world, our work goes to the cutting-edge of digital transformation and technology. From the multi-cultural strength of our global organisation to the sustainable and innovative ways we work to bring people together, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into. And that’s where you come in.
Job Description:
We’re looking for an experienced Strategic Planner to provide specialist expertise across maintenance planning, forecasting, modelling and data governance.
This is a key role supporting the development and continuous improvement of our maintenance planning frameworks, ensuring plans are strategically aligned, operationally achievable and commercially robust.
Working across Operations, Projects, Procurement and Data & Systems teams, you’ll use your engineering knowledge and analytical expertise to develop long-term maintenance strategies, optimise resources and capacity, and provide the modelling and insight needed to support operational delivery and competitive bid submissions.
As a subject matter expert, you’ll also play an important role in influencing cross-functional decisions and ensuring planning data and maintenance strategies are accurate, controlled and fit for purpose
This role can be based from any of our UK locations
What You’ll Be Doing
Planning & Forecasting
You’ll lead the development and maintenance of key planning tools, including:
- Integrated Heavy Maintenance Plans
- Integrated Light Maintenance Plans
- Generator Unit Forecasts
- Pantograph Forecasts
- Long-term maintenance strategies
- Depot capacity plans
Strategic Planning & Optimisation
Working closely with Operations Delivery and other key teams, you’ll:
- Develop and implement heavy maintenance strategies across current and future fleets.
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You’ll work with Data and Systems teams to:
- Support effective validation, control and governance of planning data within Maintenance Management Systems.
- Maintain the integrity and traceability of asset tracking information.
- Support transactional accuracy and reliable maintenance histories.
- Use accurate planning data to support effective business decision-making.
You’ll develop, maintain and continuously improve Bills of Materials, ensuring they effectively support maintenance planning and operational delivery.
Stakeholder Engagement & Continuous Improvement
A key part of the role will be building strong relationships across the business and with external partners.
You’ll:
- Work collaboratively with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders.
- Support the delivery of strategic planning and operational objectives.
- Identify opportunities to continuously improve planning processes and approaches.
- Support the introduction and adoption of new tools, techniques and skills as business requirements evolve.
- Share expertise and insight to support effective cross-functional decision-making.
You’ll have a strong combination of engineering or maintenance planning experience, analytical capability and stakeholder management skills
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.
Essential Requirements
We’re looking for someone with:
It would also be beneficial if you have:
You’ll be naturally analytical, comfortable working with complex datasets and able to see the bigger picture behind the numbers.
You’ll combine strong attention to detail with a practical understanding of engineering and maintenance environments, using data and operational insight to develop plans that are both ambitious and achievable.
Most importantly, you’ll be comfortable working across multiple teams, challenging assumptions constructively and turning complex operational requirements into clear, robust and actionable maintenance plans.
What We Offer
Essential Requirements
We’re looking for someone with:
- Demonstrable experience in engineering or maintenance planning within a complex operational environment.
- Advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including complex modelling and dynamic array functionality.
- Strong analytical and critical-thinking capabilities, with the ability to interpret complex datasets and turn them into clear, actionable plans and reports.
- Hands-on engineering experience, with the ability to support the development and implementation of fleet improvement strategies.
- Proven ability to influence and engage stakeholders across different disciplines and organisational levels.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- The ability to work independently, manage competing priorities and take ownership of activities.
- A collaborative approach and strong stakeholder engagement skills.
- HNC/HND or relevant equivalent experience.
It would also be beneficial if you have:
- Experience using Power BI or equivalent data visualisation tools.
- Working knowledge of enterprise and ERP systems, such as SAP.
- A broader understanding of maintenance management systems and associated data structures.
You’ll be naturally analytical, comfortable working with complex datasets and able to see the bigger picture behind the numbers.
You’ll combine strong attention to detail with a practical understanding of engineering and maintenance environments, using data and operational insight to develop plans that are both ambitious and achievable.
Most importantly, you’ll be comfortable working across multiple teams, challenging assumptions constructively and turning complex operational requirements into clear, robust and actionable maintenance plans.
What We Offer
We value the importance of all of our employees, if you would like to join our fantastic organisation you could be entitled to:
Closing date for applications is 25th October 2026.
Thank you for your interest in Hitachi Rail. If your application is of interest, we will be in contact. Please do not hesitate to discover more about us and our latest jobs at https://www.hitachirail.com/careers.
At Hitachi Rail, there is a place for everyone. We welcome and value differences in background, age, gender, sexuality, family status, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and world view. It is our commitment to create an inclusive environment - we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
We would be delighted if you would be one of our followers at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachirail
Apply Now
- Competitive salary
- 25 days holiday
- Potential opportunity for annual performance related bonus
- Pension scheme with contributions up to 9%
- Private medical insurance
- Personal Accident insurance
- Group Income protection
- Group Life Insurance
- Employee Assistance Programme
Closing date for applications is 25th October 2026.
Thank you for your interest in Hitachi Rail. If your application is of interest, we will be in contact. Please do not hesitate to discover more about us and our latest jobs at https://www.hitachirail.com/careers.
At Hitachi Rail, there is a place for everyone. We welcome and value differences in background, age, gender, sexuality, family status, disability, race, nationality, ethnicity, religion, and world view. It is our commitment to create an inclusive environment - we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
We would be delighted if you would be one of our followers at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hitachirail
Apply Now
This description is the source posting as it read when we added it. We are not affiliated with Hitachi Rail, so check their own site for the current details.
Where this offer sits in the market
Quality control and planning engineers (SOC 2481) · UK · ONS ASHE 2025 · basic pay · ~52k in sampleSOC 2481
- Middle half £35,620–52,676
- Median £43,576
- Going rate £41,700
- Threshold £41,700
- New entrant £33,400–37,100
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About sponsorship for this role
Does this job guarantee visa sponsorship?
Not necessarily. Hitachi Rail holds a sponsor licence, but sponsorship for a specific hire is always the employer's decision. Be upfront in your application that you'll require it.
What salary is needed for this role to be eligible?
The offer must clear both the general threshold and the SOC 2481 going rate of £41,700. New-entrant and shortage discounts can lower it.