Working for the Client (Union Railways North), I was responsible for all aspects of the planning function of the Project Controls Department. My initial assignment involved developing and implementing an Integrated Client Programme (ICP) for the completion of the multi-billion pound Section 2 of the Channel Tunnel Rail Link Project. This involved liaising with the various project stakeholders’ (both internal and external) senior management to develop a detailed (Level 4) programme, getting buy-in at all levels, developing reporting dashboards and KPIs, writing and implementing procedures, running 4-weekly meetings with senior management to identify key problem areas arising from progress updates and, where necessary, driving the Project Manager for earlier delivery in order to meet end-user requirements and deadlines.
I addition to managing the ICP, I was also responsible for approval and oversite of the Project Managers construction programme. This involved regular programme reviews, attendance at meetings with the Project Manager and sub-contractors, production of a 4-weekly report for the Project Representative and the DfT, and regular attendance at meetings with and presentation to the URN Executive and the DfT.
Strategic Risk Management also became a key part of my role as Planning Manager. This involved managing the development and implementation of the Client risk database and associated procedures and reports. I updated the risk database on a 4-weekly basis in meetings with senior management and reported at each period end to the URN Executive.
As a result of successful implementation of the ICP and Risk Management systems, many key threats to successful delivery were identified early and remedied to allow the project to complete on time and within budget.