Planner Scheduler

The Planner / Scheduler III independently leads planning and scheduling activities for complex construction projects or a defined portion of the project portfolio. The position is accountable for developing reliable project schedules, evaluating schedule performance, identifying schedule risks and opportunities, and converting project information into practical recommendations that support informed decisions and successful project execution.

The position works closely with Project Managers, Construction Managers, Superintendents, Cost Engineers, Procurement, and leadership to integrate project schedules with execution plans, project controls processes, and performance reporting. The Planner / Scheduler III owns assigned planning and scheduling deliverables and partners with Cost Engineering on productivity, progress measurement, forecasting assumptions, and time-phased performance analysis.

The role applies industry-recognized practices informed by AACE International, the Project Management Institute (PMI), and Construction Industry Institute (CII) research while placing primary emphasis on practical construction experience, sound judgment, and demonstrated competency. The Planner / Scheduler III also provides technical guidance, peer review, and mentoring to less-experienced project controls personnel.

Accountable For (owns the assigned outcome)

• Leads the development, maintenance, and control of integrated project schedules for assigned complex projects or portfolio scope.
• Owns schedule logic, sequencing, milestone structures, activity coding, calendars, and schedule integrity for assigned projects.
• Develops baseline schedules, schedule revisions, and recovery schedules in accordance with contract requirements, project execution plans, and company standards.
• Performs schedule status updates, progress validation, critical-path analysis, float analysis, and forecast evaluation.
• Identifies schedule risks, constraints, productivity impacts, and execution challenges that may affect project outcomes.
• Develops recovery plans, acceleration scenarios, what-if analyses, and alternative sequencing strategies to support project leadership decisions.
• Validates reported progress and schedule assumptions through review of field conditions, installed quantities, labor productivity, engineering deliverables, procurement status, and construction execution plans.
• Maintains schedule performance metrics and forecasting methods appropriate to project size, contract model, complexity, and execution strategy.
• Prepares and presents project and executive-level schedule reports, dashboards, narratives, milestone forecasts, and performance recommendations.

Leads and Influences (authority through expertise, analysis, and partnership)

• Partners with Cost Engineers to align schedule forecasts with cost forecasts, productivity assumptions, staffing plans, progress measurement, and project performance reporting.
• Advises project management, construction, engineering, procurement, subcontractors, vendors, and clients regarding schedule risks, critical-path impacts, and recovery opportunities.
• Constructively challenges unrealistic activity durations, sequencing assumptions, execution plans, and completion commitments using objective schedule analysis and project data.
• Communicates unresolved schedule exposure, incomplete logic, unsupported progress, or data-quality concerns to project and Project Controls leadership.
• Provides technical guidance, peer review, coaching, and mentoring to less-experienced planning, scheduling, and project controls personnel.
• Promotes consistent use of planning and scheduling standards, systems, templates, and procedures and contributes lessons learned and practical continuous-improvement recommendations.
• Supports project development, estimating, proposal, and execution-planning activities as assigned.
• Performs other duties as assigned in support of project and organizational objectives
  

Required Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, Finance, Accounting, Business, or a related field.
• An equivalent combination of education, training, and relevant industry experience will be considered.
• Minimum seven years of progressively responsible experience in cost engineering, project controls, construction cost management, estimating, project management, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience independently developing and defending forecasts, analyzing complex project performance, managing change impacts, quantifying cost risks and opportunities, and advising project teams on actions to meet financial objectives.
• Experience integrating cost forecasts with schedule progress, field productivity, procurement status, and construction execution plans.

Preferred Experience

• Experience supporting industrial construction, power generation, utility, engineering-procurement-construction, manufacturing, or heavy industrial projects.
• Experience independently supporting a large or complex project, multiple concurrent projects, or a defined project portfolio.
• Experience with project controls, cost-management, enterprise-resource-planning, and business-intelligence systems such as InEight, Primavera P6, Power BI, SAP, Oracle, Microsoft Dynamics, EcoSys, or similar platforms.
• Professional certification from AACE International, PMI, or another recognized construction, engineering, project controls, or project management organization. Practical experience and demonstrated competency remain the primary qualifications.

Skills and Business Competencies

• Advanced knowledge of construction cost management, budgeting, forecasting, change management, risk analysis, productivity measurement, contingency management, and project financial controls.
• Ability to interpret schedule status and progress information and translate changes into cost and forecast impacts while maintainingeffective alignment with the Scheduling group.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel and data-analysis skills, including financial modeling, pivot tables, trend analysis, and management reporting.
• Strong analytical judgment and professional confidence to identify trends, challenge assumptions constructively, explain complex findings clearly, and recommend practical action.
• Ability to work independently, prioritize competing requirements, and maintain accuracy in a deadline-driven project environment.
• Effective written, verbal, and presentation skills with the ability to communicate with field teams, project leadership, clients, and executive stakeholders.
• Ability to coach and mentor less-experienced team members and promote consistent project controls practices.
• Working familiarity with recognized industry practice informed by CII, AACE International, and PMI.

Domestic travel required - periodic travel to project and client locations based on assignment

Active construction site environment, subject to site-specific PPE and safety requirements

Physical Requirements: Must be able to access active construction sites, including walking uneven terrain and climbing stairs or ladders in accordance with site safety requirements.