Lead Planner / Scheduler – PMC

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Role Summary

The Lead Planner / Scheduler is the PMC's principal planning authority at site and is responsible for maintaining an independent view of project schedule performance across engineering, procurement, logistics, construction, commissioning, and start-up activities. In a complex brownfield RKEF smelter expansion in Sulawesi, the role provides critical schedule assurance, forecasting, risk identification, and recovery planning to ensure the successful delivery of the second production train while protecting ongoing operations of the existing facility.

Role Purpose

The Lead Planner / Scheduler is the senior PMC planning and scheduling professional responsible for providing independent schedule management, planning assurance, progress analysis, and forecast reporting for the expansion of an operating nickel smelter through the addition of a second Rotary Kiln Electric Furnace (RKEF) production train.

Operating independently from both the Owner and EPC Contractor, the role is responsible for monitoring, validating, challenging, and reporting EPC contractor schedule performance while maintaining the PMC's integrated project schedule and milestone framework.

The Lead Planner / Scheduler provides the Project Director and PMC leadership team with accurate forecasts, schedule risk assessments, recovery recommendations, and performance analysis to ensure achievement of project milestones including Mechanical Completion, Energization, Commissioning, First Ore Feed, First Hot Metal, and Performance Testing.

A major focus of the role is managing the planning complexities associated with a brownfield expansion inside an operating smelter while coordinating engineering, procurement, logistics, construction, shutdowns, tie-ins, commissioning, and operational readiness activities.

Key Accountabilities

The Lead Planner / Scheduler is accountable for:

• Development and maintenance of the PMC Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).
• Independent validation of EPC contractor schedules.
• Critical path identification and monitoring.
• Progress measurement and schedule performance assessment.
• Forecasting project completion dates.
• Schedule risk identification and mitigation.
• Brownfield interface and shutdown schedule coordination.
• Recovery planning support.
• Project schedule reporting.
• Schedule assurance throughout project execution.

Principal Responsibilities

1. Project Planning and Scheduling Leadership

• Lead the PMC planning and scheduling function at site.
• Establish project planning standards, procedures, and reporting requirements.
• Maintain the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS).
• Ensure alignment between engineering, procurement, logistics, construction, commissioning, and operational readiness activities.
• Provide schedule expertise to the Project Leadership Team.
• Support informed decision-making through accurate schedule analysis and forecasting.

2. Integrated Master Schedule Management

Develop and maintain the PMC Integrated Master Schedule covering:

• Engineering

• Design completion
• IFC drawing issuance
• Vendor document reviews
• Technical query closure

• Procurement & Supply Chain

• Purchase order placement
• Manufacturing activities
• Expediting milestones
• Shipment and logistics milestones
• Customs clearance
• Site delivery

• Construction

• Civil works
• Structural steel erection
• Mechanical installation
• Electrical installation
• Instrumentation installation
• Refractory installation

• Commissioning

• Mechanical Completion
• Pre-Commissioning
• Energization
• System handovers
• Commissioning
• Start-Up
• Performance Testing

Ensure logical integration of all project phases.

3. EPC Contractor Schedule Assurance

Serve as the PMC authority for schedule oversight.

Responsibilities include:

• Review EPC contractor baseline schedules.
• Assess schedule logic and sequencing.
• Validate critical path methodology.
• Review resource loading assumptions.
• Verify schedule compliance with contract requirements.
• Evaluate schedule updates and revisions.
• Assess contractor recovery plans.
• Challenge unrealistic forecasts or unsupported progress claims.

Particular focus shall be placed on ensuring schedule integrity and transparency.

4. Critical Path Management

Identify, monitor, and report project critical paths.

Key areas likely to influence project completion include:

• Engineering

• Design completion
• Vendor data incorporation

• Procurement

• Kiln procurement
• Furnace procurement
• Transformer procurement
• HV electrical equipment
• Control systems

• China Supply Chain

• Manufacturing progress
• Factory acceptance testing
• Export readiness
• Shipping schedules

• Construction

• Foundations
• Structural steel erection
• Kiln erection
• Furnace installation
• Refractory installation
• Electrical energization

• Commissioning

• Utility system commissioning
• Furnace energization
• Kiln dry-out
• First ore feed
• First hot metal production

Provide early warning of threats to critical path activities.

5. Brownfield Planning and SIMOPS Coordination

A key responsibility of this role.

Support planning activities associated with execution within an operating nickel smelter.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinate shutdown schedules.
• Integrate operational constraints into project schedules.
• Monitor tie-in activities.
• Align project milestones with operating plant requirements.
• Identify schedule risks associated with SIMOPS activities.
• Coordinate utility connection schedules.
• Support outage planning and execution.

Key milestones include:

• Utility shutdowns
• Electrical outages
• Major tie-ins
• Energization windows
• Production interface works

Ensure operational impacts are minimized while supporting project delivery objectives.

6. Construction Planning and Workfront Analysis

Support the Construction Director by:

• Monitoring construction productivity.
• Evaluating construction sequencing.
• Identifying workfront constraints.
• Monitoring construction progress trends.
• Supporting workface planning initiatives.
• Assessing contractor manpower deployment.
• Reviewing short-term look-ahead schedules.

Focus areas include:

• Rotary Kiln erection
• Electric Furnace installation
• Structural steel erection
• HV substation works
• Utility systems
• Refractory installation
• Commissioning turnover packages

7. Progress Measurement and Performance Analysis

Establish and maintain robust progress measurement systems.

Responsibilities include:

• Validate contractor-reported progress.
• Monitor engineering progress.
• Track procurement status.
• Assess construction installation progress.
• Verify physical progress achievement.
• Calculate schedule performance metrics.
• Produce progress curves and trend analysis.

Typical metrics include:

• Planned vs Actual progress
• Schedule Performance Index (SPI)
• Milestone achievement
• Critical path movement
• Float consumption
• Recovery performance

8. Schedule Forecasting and Recovery Planning

• Develop forecast completion scenarios.
• Analyze emerging schedule risks.
• Prepare schedule recovery assessments.
• Evaluate acceleration opportunities.
• Assess mitigation alternatives.
• Provide recommendations for corrective actions.

Particular focus shall be placed on:

• Long-lead equipment delays
• Chinese manufacturing delays
• Shipping disruptions
• Brownfield access restrictions
• Weather impacts
• Productivity losses
• Shutdown overruns

9. Schedule Risk Analysis

Support project risk management through schedule analysis.

Responsibilities include:

• Identify schedule risks and opportunities.
• Participate in risk workshops.
• Quantify schedule impacts of risk events.
• Monitor mitigation actions.
• Develop schedule contingency assessments.
• Support probabilistic schedule analysis where required.

Key risk categories include:

• Procurement Risks

• Manufacturing delays
• Vendor performance issues

• Logistics Risks

• Shipping delays
• Customs clearance issues

• Construction Risks

• Productivity shortfalls
• Labor shortages
• Adverse weather

• Brownfield Risks

• Shutdown delays
• Operational restrictions
• SIMOPS constraints

• 10. Commissioning and Start-Up Planning

Coordinate project planning support for commissioning and start-up activities.

Responsibilities include:

• Integrate commissioning schedules.
• Track system turnover milestones.
• Monitor Mechanical Completion status.
• Support readiness assessments.
• Develop commissioning progress reporting.
• Forecast completion of commissioning activities.

Critical milestones include:

• Mechanical Completion
• Ready for Energization
• First Power-On
• Kiln Dry-Out
• Furnace Energization
• First Ore Charge
• First Metal Production
• Performance Guarantee Testing

11. Reporting and Stakeholder Communication

Prepare regular schedule reports for:

• Weekly Reporting

• Progress updates
• Critical activities
• Recovery actions
• Risk status

• Monthly Reporting

• Executive schedule summary
• Critical path analysis
• Forecast completion dates
• Schedule variance analysis
• Milestone status
• Recovery planning recommendations

Present planning and schedule performance to:

• PMC Leadership Team
• Owner Management
• EPC Contractor Management
• Steering Committees

• RKEF-Specific Technical Experience

The successful candidate should understand planning and execution requirements associated with:

• Process Facilities

• Rotary Kilns
• Electric Furnaces
• Furnace Transformers
• Electrode Systems
• Ore Drying Systems
• Slag Handling Facilities
• Ferronickel/NPI Production Facilities

• Utilities and Infrastructure

• Captive Power Systems
• HV Substations
• Power Distribution Systems
• Water Treatment Facilities
• Cooling Water Systems
• Port and Logistics Infrastructure

• Brownfield Activities

• Tie-ins
• Utility integration
• Shutdowns
• SIMOPS
• Energization
• Operational readiness

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Controls, or related discipline.

Preferred Certifications

• PMI-SP (Scheduling Professional)
• PMP
• AACE PSP (Planning & Scheduling Professional)
• AACE CCP
• Primavera P6 Professional Certification

• Experience
• Essential

• Minimum 10–15 years of planning and scheduling experience on major capital projects.
• Minimum 5 years in a Lead Planner, Senior Planner, or Planning Manager role.
• Experience on major industrial projects exceeding US$300 million.

• Preferred

• Mining and metals projects.
• Smelters, refineries, power plants, or heavy industrial facilities.
• Brownfield expansion projects.
• EPC and PMC project delivery models.
• Experience in Indonesia or Southeast Asia.
• Experience with Chinese EPC contractors and supply chains.
• RKEF, ferroalloy, steel, copper smelting, or pyrometallurgical projects highly desirable.

• Technical Competencies
• Planning & Scheduling

• Primavera P6
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Resource-loaded schedules
• Schedule risk analysis
• Earned Value concepts
• Progress measurement systems

• Project Execution

• Construction sequencing
• Brownfield execution planning
• Turnaround and shutdown planning
• Commissioning scheduling
• Contractor performance assessment

• Analytics & Reporting

• Power BI
• Primavera Analytics
• Excel advanced modelling
• Schedule dashboards
• Trend analysis

• Leadership Competencies

• Analytical thinking
• Strategic planning
• Attention to detail
• Problem solving
• Influencing skills
• Communication and presentation
• Stakeholder management
• Commercial awareness

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
• Schedule Performance

• Accuracy of project completion forecasts.
• Achievement of key milestone dates.
• Timely identification of schedule risks.
• Timely development of schedule recovery plans.

• Schedule Assurance

• Quality and integrity of integrated project schedules.
• Effective challenge of contractor schedules.
• Accuracy of critical path analysis.

• Reporting

• Timely issuance of weekly and monthly schedule reports.
• Quality of schedule dashboards and management information.
• Credibility of schedule forecasting.

• Brownfield Integration

• Successful integration of shutdown and tie-in schedules.
• No avoidable delays arising from planning failures.
• Effective coordination of SIMOPS activities.

• Stakeholder Satisfaction

• Positive feedback from PMC and Owner leadership.
• Effective support to construction, supply chain, and commissioning teams.
• Strong coordination with EPC contractor planning personnel.

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