Planner

Company overview

SOCOTEC’s Monitoring and Surveying division delivers specialist monitoring, surveying, and data capture services throughout the UK. With more than three decades of experience, the team supports large-scale infrastructure, construction, utilities, and environmental programmes through land and utility surveying, gas and asset surveys, flow and water quality monitoring, and advanced geotechnical and structural monitoring. By combining leading technology with live data, the business helps customers lower risk, protect important assets, and make safe, well-informed decisions. A people-first, can-do mindset keeps safety, quality, and customer service at the centre of the work.

Role summary

SOCOTEC is hiring a Planner to support its Water Quality Monitoring team in Leeds. This role is suited to someone who enjoys environmental monitoring, coordinating data, and helping field operations run smoothly. You will work with field teams, clients, and internal colleagues to make sure monitoring work is planned efficiently, safely, and in line with contractual and regulatory obligations.

The role requires someone who can work independently while also being a reliable team player. Prior experience in planning, scheduling, or coordination is needed, together with familiarity with water quality monitoring activities and environmental regulations.

Key duties

• Build detailed work packages for field crews carrying out site inspections and equipment installations.
• Use client information, MapInfo (GIS), Land Registry records, Flood Risk Maps, and Google Maps to identify and prioritise monitoring locations.
• Contact landowners and business owners to secure access approvals for rivers, watercourses, and monitoring sites.
• Review whether sites are suitable and confirm that access for equipment installation is safe and legally compliant.
• Prepare Land Entry Notices (LENS) using MapInfo and verified land ownership information.
• Set up daily and weekly crew schedules using Teamleaf, the work management system.
• Receive site sheets, data, and photographs from field visits, then maintain accurate records and datasets.
• Prepare reports, contribute to performance reporting, and attend internal and external meetings when needed.
• Work with clients to ensure inspection and installation commitments are delivered as agreed.
• Help improve planning processes and internal systems, including Teamleaf.

Candidate profile

To succeed in this position, you should bring previous experience in planning, scheduling, coordination, or operational support. Strong organisation and time management are important, as the role involves balancing several priorities at once.

You should also have excellent communication skills for dealing with stakeholders and landowners by phone and in writing, strong attention to detail for documentation, reporting, and data handling, and good problem-solving ability when access or operational issues arise. Confident use of Microsoft Office, especially Excel, Word, and Outlook, is required, along with the ability to learn bespoke systems quickly.

Benefits and rewards

• Competitive salary.
• 25 days of annual leave, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Electric car scheme where applicable.
• Employee recognition initiatives.
• Family-friendly support.
• Retail discount programme.
• Employee assistance programme.
• Enhanced company pension.

Additional information

SOCOTEC UK & Ireland is Disability Confident accredited. The company has a team of more than 2,000 professionals and offers the chance to work on varied and meaningful projects across testing, inspection, and certification services.

Career development is supported through training, mentorship, and development opportunities from the start. The organisation promotes flexible ways of working, including office-based, remote, and hybrid arrangements depending on the role. SOCOTEC also highlights opportunities to build a traditional career path or explore different disciplines within the business.

The company’s wider mission is to help create a safer and more sustainable world, with innovation and social and environmental responsibility embedded in its operations.