Lead Planner | Power and Renewables | Cape Town

Role summary

Lead Planner | Power and Renewables | Cape Town is a full-time role at Kirby Group Engineering in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa (on-site). Posted 2026-10-14. Experience level: 5-10.

Job title

Lead Planner | Power and Renewables | Cape Town

Company

Kirby Group Engineering

Location

Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

Work arrangement

on-site

Employment type

full-time

Category

Logistics & Warehousing

Experience level

5-10

Date posted

2026-10-14

Job description

Permanent position available with a considerable portfolio of works for the next 5+ years

To build your career by assisting in the delivery of ‘leading edge’ engineering projects.

To work with a vibrant, agile and multi-functional team in delivering projects on time, safely, to budget and to the required quality standards.

To benefit from Kirby’s Career Development Programmes that will enhance your leadership capability.

To work with the best.

Excellent package on offer with room for negotiations

About Kirby Group Engineering

Kirby Group Engineering is an international multi-disciplinary engineering services contractor and leading provider of high-value engineering services to a number of ‘blue chip’ companies. Operating across Ireland, the UK, Europe and South Africa, Kirby has become the engineering service provider of choice in growth segments such as pharmaceuticals, data centres and power transmission and distribution. Our culture is innovative, collaborative and performance focused. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to grow and develop in a company committed to developing talent and rewarding performance.

Role Purpose

As a Senior/Project Planner, you will play an active role in project management support of multi-disciplined, multi-sector project delivery work by facilitating the planning, scheduling and controlling processes. Providing advice, support and clear communication of fact-based answers to key management questions which will aid in intelligent and effective decision making, and must escalate and flag internally to the Lead Planner (& Planning & Risk Manager) immediately where there is risk to Kirby

Key Functions of the Senior/Project Planner

Provide a high quality of service to the project manager

Managing, mentoring and providing guidance to Planners / Juniors as required depending

Review Contract documentation and highlight key schedule and tracking requirements

Develop Construction schedule based on high level target schedule and WBS received from Project manager

Support in client schedule negotiations

Labour & Metrics load the schedule based on hours & quantities received from the Commercial Team

Develop the required Trackers and Reporting templates

Develop fully integrated construction schedule in conjunction with the Main Contractor and Project Manager

Measure & track weekly progress and efficiency in consultation with the Site Team and validate this formally with the Commercial Team every 2 / 3 weeks

Highlight potential risks and roadblocks to the project team and lead planner on an ongoing basis

Senior/Project Planner Responsibilities

In conjunction with your project team, you will be responsible for the execution of various stages of a project as follows:

Business Unit Support

Point of contact for the Project Manager for all project related planning issues

Develop Schedule’s and Histograms for Bid Support as required by the Lead Planner

Programme Co-ordination (Planning Phase of Project Life Cycle):

Support the implementation of Planning Process (& Kirby Way)

Review Contract documentation concerning Schedule and Reporting Requirements and ensure that they are met

Facilitate Planning Meeting(s) where required

Validation of High Level Target Schedule as received from PM considering current emerging IFC project information

Optimize build schedule & develop “Pinch Pint Register” identifying where we are not in agreement with Main Contractors / CMT schedule

High level labour load of Target Schedule to be completed and S-Curve to be produced

Submit the Schedule and S-curve (& all subsequent schedules) for review and approval to the Lead Planner

Negotiation strategy to be developed to deal with main contractor schedule risk – influence favourable outcome to KGE

Organize with Kirby PM & attend meeting with Main Contractor / CMT to negotiate and agree Kirby optimum build schedule – minute and circulate

Revise / Develop and add agreed level of detail to schedule

Assist Main Contractor / CMT in development of an overall integrated schedule

Ensure that the schedule is “Labour Loaded” and aligned with the Commercial Department Budgets – highlight any weeks where large progress is forecasted to PM’s, Lead Planner & Planning Manager

Produce Build Methodology / Phasing Drawings

Present the latest version of the schedule to the construction team to ensure there is a thorough understanding

Support in Risk identification & mitigation

Status and Performance Advisor (Controlling Phase of Project Life Cycle):

Provide clear communication of early warnings to project management teams obtained from progress reports and knowledge of project field conditions

Advise project teams on ways to improve performance

Monitor package progress and efficiency (direct and subcontract) provide “estimate at completion” on labour man-hour spend in conjunction with the Commercial Team

Chair and facilitate weekly “Look Ahead” Meetings on site with SM’s as required

Progress Measuring / recording & collating actual installation progress for installation progress reporting

Weekly Spent / Earned man-hours efficiency reporting in conjunction with the Commercial Team

Compilation of and issuing of period progress reports (internal / external)

Produce Weekly “Drop-line Schedule” cw. 2 week look ahead and 2 week retrospective

Schedule management, revision and maintenance

Escalation of risk items to Lead Planner & Planning & Risk Manager

General

Look for new opportunities to improve service to “Internal Customers”

Look for new opportunities to improve processes

Necessary requirement of the Senior Project Planner

3rd level qualification in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Building Services Engineering, Quantity Surveying or strong trades background coupled with technical ability may be considered

5+ years’ experience / demonstrate ability to develop and implem