Planning Manager

Skewb is transforming the Utilities sector through innovative solutions that tackle industry-wide challenges. Since our founding in 2018, we’ve grown from 2 people to a team of over 250, with no signs of slowing down. Our “Skewbers” are passionate, curious, and committed to making the ordinary, extraordinary. Our core values, Outcome Focused, Integrity, Citizenship, Simplicity, Co-create & Collaborate, are at the heart of everything we do. When you join Skewb, you become part of a dynamic, supportive team where ideas thrive, voices are heard, and real impact is made. We value diversity, empower individuals, and work together to drive meaningful change.

We are looking for an experienced and strategic Planning Manager to lead the end-to-end planning, scheduling, and coordination of Developer Services operations in a water utility business. This critical role ensures the successful delivery of developer-related works such as new connections, main-laying, and infrastructure adoption across a large and diverse field workforce of approximately 24 delivery teams. You will be accountable for managing enabling works (including street works compliance), aligning resources to delivery demand, and providing a central hub of control and visibility for delivery performance. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, complex operational environment, and can bring structure, foresight, and drive to the planning function

• Lead, coach, and support a team of planners to deliver high-quality, coordinated work programmes.
• Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and customer focus.
• Plan and schedule Developer Services activities, including new connections, diversions, and main-laying schemes.
• Ensure compliance with permitting and regulatory requirements (e.g. NRSWA, D-MeX).
• Manage resource forecasting and operational risk to balance workload and maintain service levels.
• Monitor performance, resolve planning issues, and uphold planning standards through audits and reviews.
• Act as a key liaison with developers, local authorities, and internal teams to coordinate delivery and manage risks.
• Drive improvements in planning systems, processes, and reporting tools.
• Contribute to wider transformation and strategic planning initiatives.

• Strong organisational skills with a structured, proactive approach to workload balancing and coordination.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to engage effectively across all levels, including field teams and external stakeholders.
• Confident and capable in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment.
• Relationship builder, comfortable working in a matrix environment with multiple stakeholders.
• Willingness and flexibility to travel to the client site (Yorkshire) and Skewb HQ as required.

• Proven experience in operational planning, scheduling, or resource management in utilities, construction, highways, or infrastructure sectors.
• Experience leading planning teams in time-critical, service-driven environments.
• Strong working knowledge of street works regulations, NRSWA, permitting, and traffic management planning.
• Experience within a Developer Services function in the water sector (desirable, not essential)
• Understanding of regulatory frameworks such as D-MeX and Ofwat performance metrics (desirable, not essential)
• Experience working with multiple delivery partners in a matrix organisation (desirable, not essential)

• There are no specific qualifications or education requirements for this position.