Project Scheduler

First Nations Jobs; Canberra; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Meaningful work

Professional development

Great perks

Reservist Leave

Job summary

Downer Professional Services is seeking an experienced Project Scheduler to plan and deliver integrated schedules for defence programs in Australia. You will collaborate with Product Managers and multidisciplinary teams to translate activity data into actionable schedules and governance materials.

Focus areas include Sustainment IMS, six‑month and forward planning, risk identification and schedule forecasting to support decision‑making and program delivery.

Qualifications

• Experience developing and maintaining complex project or program schedules.
• Strong understanding of integrated scheduling, milestones, dependencies, critical paths and schedule risk.
• Experience supporting acquisition, sustainment, engineering or similarly complex project environments.
• Confidence working with Product Managers, project managers and multidisciplinary delivery teams.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to identify schedule impacts and communicate them clearly.
• Experience preparing scheduling information for project reviews, governance meetings and senior stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to keeping schedule information accurate and current.

Responsibilities

• Develop, review and maintain detailed schedules aligned with program priorities.
• Keep schedules current through updates and progress monitoring.
• Develop and manage Sustainment schedules and forward planning views.
• Create, maintain and report against the Sustainment IMS.
• Analyse schedule performance and provide practical recommendations.

Skills

Scheduling

Project controls

Stakeholder mgmt

Schedule risk

Analysis

Governance reporting

Attention to detail

Tools

IMS tools

Job description

Join our Downer Professional Servicesteam and play a key role in delivering complex defence and national security projects that safeguard Australia's future. Downer Professional Services is comprised of two business units, our Technical, Advisory, and Capability consulting practice and Team Downer, a major service partner to Defence. Together, we are a multi-disciplinary advisory and delivery partner of choice for our clients in Defence and National Security.

About the Role

This is an opportunity to play a key role in the planning and delivery of complex Defence capability within SPACE SPO.

As a Project Scheduler, you will work closely with Product Managers, project teams and key stakeholders to develop and maintain integrated schedules across acquisition and sustainment activities.

You will bring together activities, milestones, dependencies and risks to create a clear picture of program delivery, helping teams understand where things are progressing, where pressure points are emerging and where action may be required.

This is a hands-on scheduling role suited to someone who enjoys working across complex programs, engaging with multiple stakeholders and turning detailed project information into meaningful insights that support decision-making.

What You'll Do

You’ll partner closely with Product Managers to develop, review and maintain detailed schedules aligned with program priorities and delivery objectives. You’ll keep schedules current through regular updates and progress monitoring, identifying potential impacts and emerging issues along the way. You’ll also develop and manage Sustainment Cartoon Schedules, including six-month and forward planning views, to provide greater visibility of upcoming activities and support effective program planning and resource forecasting.

As well as:

• Create, maintain and report against the Sustainment Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), providing a consolidated view of activities, milestones and interdependencies.
• Analyse schedule performance, critical paths, dependencies and emerging risks, providing practical recommendations to support delivery.
• Prepare scheduling reports, analysis and inputs for governance forums, project reviews, planning sessions and stakeholder briefings.
• Maintain accurate and current schedule information in line with project management and governance requirements.

About You

You are an experienced scheduler or project controls professional who is comfortable working in a complex, stakeholder-rich environment.

You can take information from multiple workstreams and translate it into clear, structured and practical schedules that help project teams understand priorities, dependencies and potential delivery impacts.

You will ideally bring:

• Experience developing and maintaining complex project or program schedules.
• Strong understanding of integrated scheduling, milestones, dependencies, critical paths and schedule risk.
• Experience supporting acquisition, sustainment, engineering, Defence or similarly complex project environments.
• Confidence working with Product Managers, project managers and multidisciplinary delivery teams.
• Strong analytical skills and the ability to identify schedule impacts and communicate them clearly.
• Experience preparing scheduling information for project reviews, governance meetings and senior stakeholders.
• Strong attention to detail and a proactive approach to keeping schedule information accurate and current.

Why Join Us?

You’ll have the opportunity to work at the centre of complex Defence capability delivery, supporting programs where effective planning and scheduling make a genuine difference.

You’ll work alongside experienced Defence and project professionals, build relationships across acquisition and sustainment environments, and have the opportunity to apply your scheduling expertise to meaningful and technically complex work.

If you're an experienced Project Scheduler looking for your next opportunity within the Defence environment, we'd love to hear from you.

Why Downer Professional Services

At Downer Professional Services, we’re not just a workplace - we’re a business dedicated to contributing to the shaping of the future of defence in Australia. As the country’s only sovereign prime, we’re committed to making a real difference in protecting Australia’s interests.

What it means to belong at Downer Professional Services

• Meaningful work: Help to deliver critical Defence projects that protect Australia and shape its future.
• Professional development: Access career mapping, accelerated learning programs, and shared learning through our Communities of Practice.
• Great perks: Enjoy discounts on healthcare, retail, vehicles, and more through Perks@Downer.
• Veteran support: Benefit from initiatives like up to 20 days of Reservist Leave to stay connected post-service.

You want your work to matter and so do we. With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas.

We know that diversity makes us stronger and we actively celebrate it through our commitment to inclusion and belonging.

We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals. Even if your experience doesn't align perfectly with this role, we'd still like to hear from you. If it feels like the right fit, apply - potential counts, and so do you.

As a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it.

If you need support or adjustments through the recruitment process, just let us know, we’re here to help you put your best foot forward.