Preconstruction Planner

Location: Ireland (Hybrid)

Department: Preconstruction & Bid Team

Reports to: Senior Preconstruction Planner / Bid Director

Collen Construction is recruiting a Preconstruction Planner to support our bid and early delivery functions. This role is ideal for ambitious junior planners, or experienced site engineers/managers who want to move into planning and shape how major projects are delivered from the very beginning.

You will work within a high-performing preconstruction team, contributing to programmes on large-scale data centres, pharma facilities, power infrastructure, public works, and complex commercial projects. You will learn how delivery strategy is built at the preconstruction stage.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assist in developing tender and preconstruction programmes under the guidance of senior planning and bid leaders

• Translate drawings, design briefs, logistics constraints, and procurement requirements into workable sequencing

• Work with technical leads and site stakeholders to reflect real buildability, not academic assumptions

• Support the creation of phasing strategies, enabling works scopes, commissioning allowances and critical paths

• Maintain planning logs, programme assumptions, and risk notes

• Contribute to structured programme narratives for bid submissions

• Engage with specialist contractors and design partners to gather technical input

• Validate durations using first principles, historic benchmarks, and feedback from delivery teams.

Who We’re Looking For

You’ll fit this role if at least one of the below applies:

1. Junior / Intermediate Planner

• Experience with Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project (formal or self-taught)

• Some involvement in programming, commissioning plans, lookaheads, or tender support

• Curious, organised, and good at translating drawings into sequence and logic

2. Site Engineer, MEP Coordinator or Site Manager Ready for Change

• Hands-on delivery experience — you understand how jobs are actually built

• Familiar with programmes, sequencing, subcontractor coordination, logistics and project workflow

• Keen to step off the tools/site and into early-stage project strategy and planning

• Strong communicator who can explain project realities confidently

• We value real construction experience as much as software knowledge

Ideal Skills & Attributes

• Solid grasp of construction phasing, access, resourcing, or commissioning logic

• Basic ability to work with programmes or planning tools — or willingness to learn fast

• Comfortable asking questions, challenging unrealistic assumptions, and learning from senior planners

• Able to interpret drawings, method statements, or tender documents logically

• Calm, organised, and capable of working in a deadline-driven environment

What We Offer

• Direct mentorship from highly experienced planners and bid leaders

• Exposure to landmark projects across Europe and the UK

• Structured career progression in Planning and Bid Management.

• Opportunity to pivot your career away from execution and into strategic planning

• Education and professional development support.