Project Planner Senior

A little bit about us

Ascent Flight Training is an established, fast growing aerospace and training company which operates across the UK, delivering flying training services to the UK Government and UK industry partners.

We want to attract and work with innovative, adaptable, and proactive people to help us achieve Our passion for training, helping our customers to realise their potential and deliver their Mission..

We offer the opportunity to work in a flexible, dynamic, and diverse environment within our Training Support Hub and on our operations sites.

You will bring expertise and fresh ideas to an environment where your contribution is really valued.

At Ascent, our values are rooted in respect – for our employees, our partners and our customer. That’s why championing diversity and inclusion is so important to us; when we embrace different perspectives and give everyone the chance to be the best they can be, we can think in new, creative ways that grow and enhance our business. We are committed to equal opportunities for all. We pride ourselves on being a Disability Confident Committed Employer. We actively practice inclusivity for all people with disabilities where we provide work place opportunities and experiences. As a supportive employer we endeavour to accommodate all disabilities and will always work with our employees to make provisions for their disability needs.

We encourage all people with disabilities to apply for relevant skilled job roles within the business. As an inclusive company we welcome all disability applications which will be processed fairly, in line with our recruitment policy. At Ascent, we also provide work place schemes for all students including those with disabilities, this includes Apprenticeships, Work Experience and Job Shadowing for a day. Ascent will continue to work towards maintaining our commitment to those with disabilities

A day in the life of an Ascent Senior Project Planner

As a Senior Project Planner you will be part of a dedicated and diverse Planning team. You will build relationships with our stakeholders across all areas of the business, customer and supplier organisations. You will have the opportunity to experience both our headquarters and operating sites. If you are interested in joining our exceptional planning team, keep reading to find out more details on this exciting role.

Reporting to the Senior Planning Manager, this job description covers more than one role. The roles will be split by delivery stream to align with the current org structure, with planning focusing on Rotary Wing/Rear Crew and Fixed Wing/Fast Jet. The roles will interchange to ensure experience in all aspects of the operation is ensured.  The Senior Project Planners will be seen as planning subject matter experts and their responsibilities will include, but not be limited to:

• Ensuring detailed schedules are updated and maintained on a regular basis with high accuracy in line with the business rhythm.
• Ensuring cross project linkages are up to date and accurate across the portfolio.
• Generating reporting packs and briefing packs to highlight change in month.
• Responsible for communicating the monthly reporting out to Operations teams and addressing queries on the data.
• Responsible for guiding site based teams through analysing and understanding the reporting and data held within Primavera.
• Troubleshooting operational planning issues, including rapid scenario (what-if) planning, at a detailed data level, ensuring full stakeholder engagement and communication throughout the process.
• Validating and signing-off changes from Training Design Database and enacting required changes into the Primavera toolset.
• Managing and maintaining an accurate data set to ensure management information is accurately represented in all reports across the operational activity.
• Active engagement in the meeting rhythm for the training pipeline including all working groups, Scenario Planning, Flying Training Plan working groups, Course Delivery Schedule working groups, Change Review Boards etc.
• Challenging planning assumptions and ensuring plan aligns with delivery.
• Maintaining a focus on revalidating planning assumptions on a regular basis with the site teams.
• Interface with Capability Delivery team to understand future changes to the training pipeline.

What will make you successful?

You will already have a breadth of fantastic project management experience, having run sizable complex projects. You will thrive when working with stakeholders across all levels coupled with your ability to truly understand our business from a commercial standpoint. You will have strong communication skills.

You will love working in an environment where alternative tailored solutions are the answer, being able to navigate both yourself and stakeholders to a positive solution. You will know the importance of being able to work successfully in situations that can often be pressured.

Essential:

• Be able to demonstrate courage and the ability to solve problems and make decisions.
• Analytical, logical thinking
• Previous experience of a Planning software in a portfolio or programme environment optionally with resource loaded schedules.
• Strong communicator both one on one and in larger groups
• Good IT skills – Microsoft office and confident in utilising other third party software (e.g. MS Teams, Monday.com, databases etc.)
• Strong team worker focusing on shared as well as individual goals
• The ability to think beyond a given task to ensure the right outcomes are achieved
• Have to be working in the UK already for more than 5 years

Desirable:

• Have experience of managing complex projects with a track record of delivering great results.
• Be able to demonstrate experience of working in collaboration with cross-functional teams
• Have strong presentation skills, targeting a wide audience from customers to internal stakeholders.
• Proven customer facing skills
• Have Primavera P6 EPPM or Primavera Cloud experience
• Confident dealing with senior stakeholders
• Living in the Bristol area, or willing to relocate to the Bristol area

What can we offer you in return?

• Competitive salary
• Equivalent to 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (Extra days with length of service)
• Private AXA health care for you and your family 
• Pension plan (Up to 6% matched)
• Life Assurance (Up to 3 times your annual salary)
• Flexible benefits (Buying and selling of holiday, BUPA dental, cycle2work scheme, retail discounts)
• Enhanced maternity and paternity leave and pay
• Enhanced company sick pay which increases with length of service
• Employee Assistance Programme (24/7 free and confidential legal and wellbeing advice)
• Annual reviews of your salary and individual learning and development plan
• Mental Health Support and subscription to the Unmind platform for you and a plus one
• Free eye tests for DSE users and money towards any subsequent corrective glasses.