Utilities Planner

Cadent, with recruitment support from Network Plus, is looking for a Utilities Planner to join the operations team in Manchester. This is a permanent, full-time, onsite role that centers on planning and streetworks coordination before any work begins on site. The successful candidate will be the main point of contact for the operational teams, ensuring plans and dates are realistic, compliant with NRSWA, and aligned with push plans to minimise financial impact.

The company behind the role focuses on delivering reliable utility services, and the role offers a chance to influence how street works are scheduled and executed. The right person will thrive on organising complex schedules, communicating across multiple stakeholders, and spotting potential issues early so projects stay on track. Cadent, with Network Plus handling recruitment, aims to find someone who brings practical problem-solving and careful attention to detail to the day-to-day activity.

The posted salary range for this position is £32,000 to £35,000 per year, along with a full benefits package. The job is onsite in Manchester, and the arrangement is full-time.

Orchestrating street works from start to finish

In this role, you’ll own workstreams from the moment a job is created through to its completion, coordinating activities across teams to keep progress steady and on schedule. You’ll schedule work orders in line with service level agreements while looking for smarter travel routes to boost productivity and reduce wasted time. You’ll also spot noticing issues early and apply timely interventions so information from inspections and other sources is handled correctly, ensuring the right responses from utilities and other promoters of street works and minimising any impact on Section 74 invoices and potential fines.

You’ll keep the works management systems up to date, recording and escalating issues as needed, and making sure both client and operational requirements are met with professionalism. The role also involves producing daily and weekly reports to show that service levels and objectives are being achieved, and bringing a practical, innovative perspective to the team as changes arise. Finally, you’ll help maintain safety by reporting issues in line with company procedures.

What you’ll bring to the role

• Experience in the utilities sector is preferred.
• A background in a planning or coordination position.
• Ability to prioritise tasks, multitask, and stay productive under tight deadlines.
• Strong communication skills.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• A logical, methodical approach to solving problems.

Nice-to-haves: none listed.

Pay, benefits and practical details

The role offers a salary in the range of £32,000 to £35,000 per year, plus a full benefits package. It is a full-time, onsite position based in Manchester. Cadent states an equal opportunity policy and Network Plus notes support for applicants from diverse backgrounds; they welcome ex-Armed Forces personnel, reservists, veterans, cadet instructors and military spouses/partners. The company also emphasises privacy and the protection of personal information as part of the application process.

Advice for applicants

Your resume should lead with a clear record of utilities planning or coordination work, and highlight any street works experience, NRSWA familiarity, and time you’ve spent with works management systems. Put those elements up front so the reader sees you’ve handled pre-work planning and stakeholder coordination.

To demonstrate the must-have skills, include a specific example of owning a workstream from receipt to completion, explaining how you scheduled tasks to meet SLAs and how you used data in the works management system to track progress and resolve issues. If you can show you’ve improved travel routing or productivity, add that too.

In the interview, be ready to talk about how you’ve managed notices and safety reporting, and how you’ve produced daily or weekly reports to meet service levels. Have a crisp narrative about a time when you helped avert delays or penalties through proactive planning or early intervention.

Ask a thoughtful question to show you’ve thought about the role’s impact: for example, how success is measured for the planning function, or what systems are used to capture and report on street works activity and safety compliance. You could also ask how the team collaborates with utilities and other promoters to keep on-schedule delivery and minimise penalties.