Planning & Project Controls · REQ-2026-007

Associate Planner

Lead planning on our largest commissions, guide our planners and advise clients on programme strategy and risk.

  • Associate (day rate)
  • Remote
  • Salary on application
Apply for this roleApplications close 28 Jan 2027 · posted 03 Nov 2026

About JC Virtual PMs

JC Virtual PMs (JC.VPMS LTD) is a UK-based virtual consultancy delivering project management, design management, BIM, information management and document control. We work with SMEs and other clients across the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, bringing joined-up project, design and information management to projects that need more than a freelancer but less than a large consultancy. We are remote-first and growing.

About the role

As Associate Planner you will lead planning and scheduling on our largest and most complex commissions, set the standard for programme quality across the team, and advise clients on programme strategy, earned value and schedule risk. You will report to the Associate Director – Planning & Project Controls, lead and develop Senior Planners, Planners and Assistant Planners, and support the directors with bids.

The step up from Senior Planner is team and standards leadership: you audit other people's programmes and own planning quality across the portfolio. This role is a pathway to Associate Director.

Key responsibilities

  • Lead programme development, baselining and control on high-value, multi-disciplinary commissions
  • Set and audit scheduling standards: WBS, coding, logic, constraints, calendars and resource loading
  • Lead earned value analysis and integrated cost and schedule reporting in our project controls platform
  • Lead quantitative schedule risk analysis and support delay and extension-of-time assessments
  • Advise clients on programme strategy, phasing and recovery options
  • Lead, mentor and quality-check Senior Planners, Planners and Assistant Planners
  • Support bids with programmes, methodologies and planning content

What we're looking for

Essential

  • Around 10 years' planning or scheduling experience on construction or infrastructure projects
  • Expert in Primavera P6, with working knowledge of Asta Powerproject or MS Project
  • Strong earned value management (EVM) and cost-loaded programme experience
  • Experience leading and developing planners
  • Right to work in the country where you will be based

Desirable

  • Experience of schedule risk analysis (e.g. Primavera Risk Analysis, Safran Risk or Deltek Acumen)
  • Experience of delay analysis and NEC or JCT programme requirements
  • Professional membership or certification (APM, CIOB, RICS, AACE or PMI)
  • International project experience, particularly in the Middle East

Experience levels are a guide, not a cut-off. If you are close and can show equivalent experience, please apply.

How we work

  • Remote-first: you work from your home base, with occasional client meetings or site visits when a project needs them.
  • Our clients and teams span the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, so we agree working hours that overlap with each project's time zones.
  • We work in Microsoft 365 (Teams, SharePoint and Outlook) and our own project controls and HR platforms for timesheets, reporting, leave and expenses.
  • This role is open as an associate on a day rate or on an employed basis, full-time or part-time. Tell us which suits you.
  • We resource against confirmed client commissions, so start dates follow project mobilisation. We will be open about timing from our first conversation.

What we offer

  • Remote, flexible working, full-time or part-time
  • Competitive salary or associate day rate, benchmarked to your location and experience. We will discuss pay with you before your interview
  • Professional membership fees covered for employed team members
  • Exposure to a diverse portfolio of UK and international projects
  • A clear career path, with Associate Director as your next step
  • A supportive, collaborative team with a focus on professional growth
  • The chance to help shape and grow a forward-thinking virtual consultancy

Our hiring process

  1. Apply online with your CV. We will ask where you would be based, whether you have the right to work there, and a few short questions about your experience.
  2. Review: our team reviews every application against the role's requirements, and you can follow progress on your application status page.
  3. Interview: one or two video interviews on Microsoft Teams, booked at a time that suits your time zone. For this role, one conversation includes a discussion of a project or team you have led.
  4. Offer: we confirm the offer in writing for you to sign electronically, then complete references and right-to-work checks before you start.

If there is no suitable commission straight away, we may keep your details on our active file for up to 12 months so we can contact you when one comes up, and we may invite you to our free remote training sessions (we ask you to sign a non-disclosure agreement first). You can ask us to update or remove your details at any time from your application status page or by emailing projects@jcvirtualpm.co.uk.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. If you need any adjustments to apply or interview, just tell us. We do not ask about your pay history.

Working with JC Virtual PMs

  • Remote-first with occasional client visits; we work across UK, Gulf and West Africa time zones.
  • Senior, hands-on work with recognised frameworks — ISO 19650, NEC, RIBA Plan of Work, FIDIC, CDM 2015.
  • CPD time and budget, professional memberships paid, and a structured review cycle.
  • We welcome applications from everyone and will make reasonable adjustments at any stage — just tell us what you need.