Senior Scheduler

Job Summary

The Senior Scheduler develops and updates end-to-end master project schedules, mapping out scope baselines, work breakdown structures (WBS), resource allocations, and operational tasks. Core duties include finding critical paths, running "what-if" scheduling scenarios, tracking timeline variations, and linking time logic with financial budgeting systems to prevent construction delays.

Qualification

Educational Level

• Minimum Requirement: Bachelor’s Degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Structural Engineering, Project Management, or a closely related heavy-industrial engineering discipline.

Experience

Candidates must demonstrate a deep background tracking timelines for complex civil works:

Construction Tenure & Software Mastery

• Total Career Footprint: Minimum of 6 years of total, verifiable experience operating within professional project planning, project controls, or scheduling positions.
• Heavy Construction Alignment: At least 5 years of dedicated experience working directly on-site or within project offices inside the commercial construction, heavy civil infrastructure, or industrial engineering sectors.
• Scheduling Tool Proficiency: Advanced, expert-level mastery of Primavera P6 (Oracle) or MS Project. Candidates must be deeply familiar with automated logic checking, baseline assignment, resource curves, and data exporting.
• Geographic Preference: Prior professional planning experience managing large-scale infrastructure projects or major public works within Africa is highly valued.

Technical Analytical Skillset

• Critical Path Method (CPM): Expert knowledge of CPM scheduling methodologies, total float analysis, lead/lag logic optimization, and schedule validation standards.
• Cross-System Integration: Proven ability to link operational schedules with cost management software, Risk Register matrices, and procurement tracking modules.
• Leadership Capability: Demonstrated leadership skills with the ability to manage, coach, and upgrade junior planning engineers and scheduling technicians on-site.

Key Responsibilities

1. Master Schedule Engineering & Architecture (35%)

• Build Project Schedules: Design and manage detailed project schedules that cover the full project scope, identifying tasks, logic paths, resource needs, and target timelines.
• Establish Work Breakdown Structures: Organize complex construction steps into practical Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) to track specific milestones accurately.
• Map Critical Paths: Analyze schedules to find critical paths, key milestones, and operational bottlenecks, keeping project management alert to potential delays.

2. Progress Optimization & Variance Analysis (30%)

• Update Progress Tracks: Conduct regular schedule updates to log real-world progress, map design changes, and communicate timeline variances directly to stakeholders.
• Optimize Resource Allocation: Partner with construction and site managers to balance resource allocation, prevent workload overloads, and maximize labor efficiency.
• Develop Contingency Plans: Run "what-if" scheduling models to evaluate the impact of supply delays or weather disruptions, building practical fallback strategies to keep the project on track.

3. Integrated Project Controls & Reporting (25%)

• Link Time and Costs: Integrate master project schedules with cost tracking, risk registers, and materials procurement data to create a unified view of project health.
• Prepare Progress Reports: Write and present accurate schedule updates, S-curves, and delay analyses for executive management and stakeholders.
• Recommend Mitigation Strategies: Evaluate schedule performance trends and recommend smart adjustments or recovery schedules to get slipping milestones back on track.

4. Leadership & Stakeholder Alignment (10%)

• Mentor Junior Staff: Coach and develop junior planning officers, building internal team capability in Primavera P6 and professional scheduling methods.
• Facilitate Technical Alignment: Lead scheduling alignment meetings with sub-contractors, procurement leads, and engineers to ensure unified milestone targets across the project.

Expected Outputs & Deliverables

• Fully integrated Primavera P6 master schedules featuring checked logic links, assigned resources, and approved baselines.
• Weekly and monthly schedule variance summaries, critical path indicators, and milestone risk updates.
• Documented "what-if" simulation reports and emergency schedule recovery options for high-risk construction phases.
• Integrated time-and-cost data models enabling accurate Earned Value Management (EVM) tracking.
• Regular training updates and quality reviews of schedules submitted by sub-contractors.

Skills Required:

• Civil / Engineering / Cotm