Assistant Planner

The role:

Your role as an Assistant Planner will be to provide support to the PMO team in the development, maintenance, and reporting of project schedules.

What you’ll be responsible for:

• Assist in the development and maintenance of project schedules under guidance from Planning Managers / Senior Planning Managers with the inputs gathered from Project Delivery Teams.
• Support data entry and updates in the company planning tool, Primavera.
• Help collate progress updates from contractors and internal teams.
• Maintain records of schedule changes and assist in tracking impacts.
• Support the preparation of reports and dashboards for schedule performance.
• Attend project meetings to take notes and follow up on planning-related actions.
• Attend project verification meetings to ensure reported schedule progress is fair & true.
• Learn and apply basic principles of WBS/RBS/OBS/CBS structures.
• Assist in identifying and flagging potential planning issues to Planning Managers / Senior Planning Managers.
• Work with Project Delivery Teams to support Collaborative Planning & short-term planning initiatives, where applicable
• Support Earned Value Management (EVM) reporting, where applicable, by gathering and formatting data.
• Collaborate with PMO colleagues to ensure consistency and accuracy in schedule data.

What we’re looking for:

• Educated to A-level or equivalent; working towards a degree or professional qualification in project management or a related field.
• Some exposure to project planning or scheduling tools (e.g., Primavera, MS Project) is desirable.
• Basic understanding of project lifecycles and planning principles.
• Strong attention to detail and willingness to learn.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively and receive guidance / coaching from team members.
• Proactive attitude and eagerness to develop planning skills.

What we offer:

• 26 days annual leave, increasing to 30 days after four years, plus 8 bank holidays
• Competitive pension with up to 14% employer contribution (21% combined) and life cover
• Performance‑related bonus
• Comprehensive company‑funded healthcare plan
• A strong commitment to flexible and hybrid working

Inclusion at United Utilities

At United Utilities, we believe diversity of thought, background and experience helps us deliver better outcomes for our customers and communities.

We're proud to be recognised as one of the UK's Inclusive Top 50 Employers. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported and able to achieve their potential.

If you're excited about this role but don't meet every requirement listed, we'd still encourage you to apply. We'd love to understand the skills, experiences and perspectives you could bring to our team.

About United Utilities:

United Utilities proudly serves the North West, delivering high‑quality water and wastewater services that support healthier communities, a stronger economy and a greener environment.

We’re ranked #11 in The Inclusive Top 50 UK Employers, and we’re serious about inclusion, wellbeing and creating a workplace where everyone can thrive. Our people are empowered to grow, innovate and make a meaningful difference — not just for our customers, but for the communities we serve.