Project Planner

Project Planner - Mechanical & M&E Projects | Dublin

• Join a leading M&E Contractor with a strong pipeline of major projects throughout Ireland.

• Work across high-value pharmaceutical, semiconductor and hyperscale data centre developments.

• Gain exposure to technically complex mechanical, process and mission-critical systems.

• Progress towards Senior Planner, Lead Planner or Planning Manager responsibilities.

• Work alongside experienced Project Directors, construction leaders and planning professionals.

• Influence project strategy, construction sequencing and programme recovery decisions.

• Receive structured training and continued professional-development support.

• Develop experience across design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.

• Benefit from long-term project continuity and career opportunities within a growing contractor.

• Receive a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package.

Project Planner Job Overview
A leading M&E Contractor is seeking an experienced Project Planner to join its Dublin-based planning team, supporting the delivery of major pharmaceutical, semiconductor and hyperscale data centre projects.

The Project Planner will have a strong mechanical bias and will develop, maintain and monitor detailed construction programmes covering design, procurement, installation, testing, commissioning and final handover. The mechanical scope may include HVAC, process pipework, clean and critical utilities, cooling systems, plantrooms, ventilation, fire protection and associated BMS and electrical interfaces.

Working closely with Project Directors, Project Managers, construction teams, commercial departments and specialist subcontractors, you will provide accurate programme information, identify critical-path risks and support the successful delivery of multiple technically complex projects.

This opportunity would suit a Mechanical Project Planner, M&E Planner, Construction Planner or Mechanical Engineer with strong planning experience who wants to develop within a large and established M&E contracting organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning and Programme Development

• Develop detailed project programmes covering design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning and handover.

• Establish appropriate work breakdown structures for mechanical and multidisciplinary M&E packages.

• Translate contract requirements, construction strategies and project milestones into achievable programmes.

• Develop Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4 schedules in accordance with client and project requirements.

• Establish programme logic, activity durations, dependencies, constraints and key interfaces.

• Identify the critical path and monitor activities that could affect contractual completion dates.

• Ensure programmes reflect the agreed construction methodology and delivery strategy.

• Develop tender, pre-construction, baseline, target and recovery programmes as required.

• Incorporate project calendars, access restrictions, shutdowns and working-hour requirements.

• Maintain programmes throughout the project lifecycle and ensure they accurately reflect current conditions.

Mechanical Construction Planning

• Plan the delivery of mechanical packages, including HVAC, ventilation, pipework and plant installations.

• Develop programmes for chilled-water, heating, cooling and heat-rejection systems.

• Coordinate schedules for process pipework, clean utilities and high-purity systems.

• Plan plantroom construction, equipment installation and associated builders' works.

• Sequence fabrication, delivery and installation of prefabricated mechanical assemblies.

• Incorporate pressure testing, flushing, cleaning, chemical treatment and balancing activities.

• Coordinate specialist mechanical systems used within pharmaceutical and semiconductor facilities.

• Plan cooling and mechanical infrastructure associated with hyperscale data centres.

• Identify access, lifting, logistics and temporary-works requirements affecting mechanical installation.

• Ensure mechanical programmes incorporate insulation, labelling, snagging and final system completion.

M&E and Multidisciplinary Coordination

• Integrate mechanical programmes with electrical, CSA, architectural and specialist systems schedules.

• Coordinate mechanical activities with electrical containment, cabling, controls and energisation requirements.

• Identify spatial, access and sequencing conflicts between mechanical and electrical services.

• Work closely with BIM and design teams to align coordinated model releases with construction requirements.

• Ensure builder's work openings, equipment bases, penetrations and structural supports are programmed.

• Coordinate ceiling closures, cleanroom finishes and architectural completion with M&E activities.

• Monitor interfaces between mechanical equipment, BMS, controls and electrical infrastructure.

• Participate in multidisciplinary planning and coordination workshops.

• Maintain clear interface milestones between project disciplines and specialist subcontractors.

• Escalate unresolved coordination issues that could affect the critical path.

Procurement and Supply-Chain Planning

• Develop procurement schedules aligned with the approved construction programme.

• Identify long-lead mechanical equipment and materials at an early stage.

• Monitor enquiry, tender, technical approval, manufacture, testing and delivery milestones.

• Track major equipment such as chillers, pumps, air-handling units, heat exchangers and specialist process equipment.

• Coordinate vendor drawings, technical submissions and manufacturing information.

• Monitor factory acceptance testing and equipment-release dates.

• Ensure subcontractor appointments and mobilisation dates support the programme.

• Identify procurement delays and recommend mitigation or alternative sequencing strategies.

• Incorporate client-supplied and contractor-supplied equipment into the integrated programme.

• Maintain visibility of procurement risks within programme reports and risk registers.

Progress Monitoring and Reporting

• Establish reliable methods for measuring physical progress.

• Obtain progress information from engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning teams.

• Conduct regular site walks to verify reported progress.

• Update project programmes weekly or in accordance with agreed reporting cycles.

• Measure actual progress against the approved baseline and target programmes.

• Produce weekly and monthly progress reports for project and senior management.

• Prepare dashboards, milestone trackers, progress curves and executive summaries.

• Develop S-curves, manpower histograms and productivity reports.

• Monitor planned versus actual labour deployment and output.

• Provide accurate short-term and long-term programme forecasts.

• Highlight emerging delays, constraints and areas of underperformance.

• Ensure progress reporting is supported by accurate records and site evidence.

Short-Term Planning and Look-Ahead Programmes

• Develop detailed two-week, four-week, six-week and twelve-week look-ahead programmes.

• Work with construction managers and supervisors to validate planned activities.

• Ensure labour, materials, plant, access and information are available before work starts.

• Identify constraints and assign actions to the appropriate project stakeholders.

• Monitor completion of weekly commitments and measure planning reliability.

• Coordinate subcontractor work plans with the overall project programme.

• Support daily and weekly coordination meetings.

• Develop area-based and system-based completion plans where appropriate.

• Ensure short-term programmes remain aligned with contractual milestones and critical-path requirements.

Critical-Path and Programme Risk Management

• Perform regular critical-path and near-critical-path analysis.

• Identify programme risks relating to design, procurement, construction and commissioning.

• Assess the potential impact of delayed decisions, approvals and material deliveries.

• Maintain programme risk and opportunity registers.

• Develop mitigation strategies in coordination with project management.

• Model alternative construction sequences and acceleration options.

• Prepare recovery programmes where progress falls behind the approved baseline.

• Monitor float consumption and report significant changes.

• Provide early warning of issues that could affect contractual milestones.

• Support scenario planning and programme contingency reviews.

Commercial and Change Management Support

• Work closely with commercial teams to maintain accurate programme records.

• Identify changes in scope, sequencing or access that may affect time or cost.

• Record programme impacts arising from late information, variations and client instructions.

• Support the preparation of extension-of-time submissions.

• Assist with time-impact analysis and delay assessments.

• Maintain contemporaneous records supporting contractual entitlement.

• Compare updated programmes against the approved baseline.

• Provide programme information for change-control and commercial-review meetings.

• Support the assessment of subcontractor delay or disruption claims.

• Ensure approved programme changes are incorporated through a controlled process.

Resource and Productivity Planning

• Develop labour-resource forecasts for mechanical and M&E packages.

• Produce trade-specific manpower histograms.

• Monitor planned and actual productivity rates.

• Identify potential labour shortages or periods of resource congestion.

• Coordinate resource requirements with package managers and subcontractors.

• Assess the impact of additional shifts, extended working hours or acceleration measures.

• Support the development of realistic installation production targets.

• Monitor progress against quantities, installed units and system completions.

• Provide forecasting information to support recruitment and mobilisation decisions.

Testing, Commissioning and Handover Planning

• Integrate testing, commissioning and handover activities into the overall project programme.

• Develop system-based completion and turnover schedules.

• Plan pressure testing, flushing, cleaning, balancing and equipment start-up activities.

• Coordinate factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing and vendor attendance.

• Incorporate pre-commissioning inspections and quality-documentation requirements.

• Coordinate mechanical commissioning with BMS, controls and electrical energisation activities.

• Support Level 1-5 commissioning planning on data centre projects.

• Incorporate CQV, validation and qualification activities for pharmaceutical and semiconductor projects.

• Develop snagging, punch-list and defect close-out programmes.

• Track operation and maintenance manuals, as-built drawings and training documentation.

• Ensure progressive handover activities support contractual completion dates.

• Coordinate client demonstrations, integrated testing and final system acceptance.

Stakeholder and Team Coordination

• Work closely with Project Directors, Project Managers and Construction Managers.

• Coordinate with mechanical, electrical, CSA, BIM, commercial, procurement, quality and commissioning teams.

• Attend and contribute to client progress and programme meetings.

• Chair internal planning and programme-review meetings where required.

• Engage with subcontractors to validate logic, durations and resource requirements.

• Present programme performance clearly to technical and non-technical stakeholders.

• Challenge unrealistic forecasts and obtain evidence-based progress information.

• Maintain effective working relationships with clients, consultants and supply-chain partners.

• Support junior planners and engineers in developing planning and reporting skills.

• Promote collaborative and accountable project-planning practices.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Degree, diploma, trade qualification or equivalent experience in Mechanical Engineering, Building Services or Construction Management.

• Previous experience working as a Project Planner, Construction Planner, M&E Planner or Mechanical Planner.

• Strong mechanical construction knowledge gained within an M&E contractor, specialist subcontractor or major project environment.

• Experience planning mechanical packages from design and procurement through commissioning and handover.

• Good understanding of HVAC, pipework, plant, utilities and mechanical building-services installations.

• Experience developing and updating detailed construction programmes.

• Strong working knowledge of Primavera P6, Asta Powerproject, Microsoft Project or equivalent planning software.

• Ability to understand programme logic, critical-path analysis, float and construction sequencing.

• Experience producing look-ahead programmes, progress reports, S-curves and manpower histograms.

• Ability to interpret drawings, specifications, BIM models and project documentation.

• Strong Microsoft Excel and reporting skills.

• Good communication, presentation and stakeholder-management abilities.

• Ability to work across multiple projects and manage competing priorities.

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accurate reporting.

• Eligibility to work in Ireland.

Desirable Experience

• Previous experience on pharmaceutical, semiconductor or hyperscale data centre projects.

• Experience working for a large M&E Contractor or specialist mechanical contractor.

• Knowledge of clean utilities, process systems or high-purity mechanical installations.

• Understanding of data centre cooling systems and Level 1-5 commissioning.

• Familiarity with pharmaceutical CQV and validation processes.

• Experience developing resource-loaded or cost-loaded programmes.

• Knowledge of earned-value management and schedule-performance indicators.

• Experience supporting extension-of-time and delay-analysis submissions.

• Familiarity with NEC, FIDIC, RIAI or other construction contracts.

• Experience using Power BI or other digital reporting platforms.

• Exposure to BIM, 4D planning and digital construction tools.

• Professional membership of Engineers Ireland, CIBSE, APM or another relevant institution.

Apply for This Project Planner Opportunity

This opportunity would suit an experienced Project Planner, Mechanical Planner, M&E Planner, Construction Planner or mechanically biased Project Engineer with experience delivering technically complex construction or engineering projects.

Candidates with strong mechanical planning experience across pharmaceutical, semiconductor, data centre, life-sciences, industrial or advanced-technology projects are encouraged to apply.

For further information about this Dublin-based Project Planner position, or other mechanical and M&E planning opportunities across Ireland and Europe, please contact a member of Evergreen Talent Group for a confidential discussion.