Lead Planner

Job Summary

The Lead Planner leads planning and scheduling activities for large, complex Manufacturing & Technology (M&T) projects. Working as part of the Project Controls team, the role develops and maintains integrated schedules, monitors performance, supports forecasting and risk management, and provides schedule reporting and analysis to support project execution.

The Lead Planner provides leadership to planning personnel, facilitates coordination across project functions, and delivers strategic schedule insights and recommendations that support informed decision-making and successful project outcomes.

Major Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation, maintenance, and analysis of integrated engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and startup schedules.
• Ensure schedule alignment with project objectives, execution strategies, contractual requirements, and key project milestones.
• Direct the collection, validation, integration, and evaluation of project scope, quantities, productivity assumptions, staffing requirements, and schedule logic.
• Develop and maintain schedule forecasts that support project planning, performance measurement, and execution decision-making.
• Provide leadership, technical direction, and mentorship to planners and schedulers across the project organization.
• Facilitate planning workshops, schedule reviews, and cross-functional collaboration to ensure stakeholder alignment.
• Monitor schedule performance and perform critical path analysis, trend identification, forecasting, schedule risk assessments, and what-if scenario modeling.
• Develop and recommend mitigation, recovery, and execution improvement strategies to address schedule risks and performance issues.
• Cookordination planning and scheduling activities with Project Management, Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Startup, Cost Engineering, Risk Management, and other project functions to support integrated project controls.
• Prepare and present schedule reports, forecasts, schedule impact analyses, recovery plans, and executive-level presentations.
• Communicate schedule basis, assumptions, constraints, risks, and opportunities to project leadership and clients.
• Support the development and continuous improvement of planning and scheduling standards, procedures, best practices, performance metrics, and Project Controls requirements.

Education And Experience Requirements

• Requires bachelor's degree (or international equivalent) and 8 -10 years of relevant experience or 12-14 years of relevant work experience.
• Required Knowledge And Skills:
• Demonstrated experience developing, maintaining, and analyzing complex integrated project schedules.
• Advanced knowledge of Engineering, Procurement, Construction, Commissioning, and Startup work processes.
• Strong understanding of CPM scheduling, forecasting, schedule analysis, risk assessment, recovery planning, and schedule impact evaluation.
• Experience supporting large EPC, EPCM, PMC, or program management projects.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary planning efforts, facilitate decision-making, and mentor planning personnel.
• Strong communication, presentation, stakeholder engagement, and collaboration skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Primavera P6, Microsoft Office, and related Project Controls applications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting semiconductor, data center, pharmaceutical, battery, EV infrastructure, or other advanced manufacturing projects.
• Experience supporting large-scale EPC execution strategies and industrial megaprojects.
• Familiarity with Advanced Work Packaging (AWP), integrated EPC scheduling, and performance forecasting.
• Experience with schedule risk analysis (QSRA/SRA), trend management, and schedule-driven decision-making.
• Understanding of Total Installed Cost (TIC) impacts associated with schedule decisions and execution tradeoffs.

Total Rewards/Benefits

For decades, Bechtel has worked to inspire the next generation of employees and beyond! Because our teams face some of the world's toughest challenges, we offer robust benefits to ensure our people thrive. Whether it is advancing careers, delivering programs to enhance our culture, or providing time to recharge, Bechtel has the benefits to build a legacy of sustainable growth.

Learn more at Bechtel Total Rewards

At Bechtel, our employees enjoy a competitive total rewards package that includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans, along with optional disability and supplemental insurance options, generous paid time off (160 hours annually, accrued 6.16 hours per pay period), nine paid holidays, paid parental leave, discretionary bonuses, and a well-designed 401K plan with matching and profit-sharing components

Bechtel is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, national origin, disability, citizenship status (except as authorized by law), protected veteran status, genetic information, and any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law.