Planning Lead

People Group; Helsinki; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

People Group is seeking an experienced Planning Lead to take ownership of master project programme development and programme management across a major data centre development in Helsinki.

You will work closely with the client project team, design consultants, contractors and stakeholders to ensure delivery aligns with objectives, milestones and commercial requirements, with emphasis on critical path, risk mitigation and recovery planning.

Qualifications

• Extensive planning/programme management experience on large-scale construction or data centre projects.
• Advanced knowledge of Primavera P6 and schedule analytics.
• Experience with client-side or consultancy project environments.
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation and ongoing management of the master project programme.
• Review and challenge contractor and consultant programmes, ensuring realistic sequencing and delivery strategies.
• Monitor progress against key milestones, critical path and project objectives.
• Identify programme risks, delays and potential impacts, developing mitigation and recovery strategies.
• Coordinate programme interfaces across design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.
• Provide regular programme reporting and schedule analysis to senior client stakeholders.
• Lead progress meetings and ensure agreed actions are reflected within the programme.
• Assess contractor extensions of time, delay events and programme impacts where required.
• Ensure programme data supports wider cost, risk and project controls activities.
• Drive continuous improvement in planning processes, reporting and project controls.

Skills

Primavera P6

Stakeholder management

Scheduling

Project controls

Risk management

Client-side experience

Progress reporting

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Planning Lead to join a data centre client, taking ownership of project planning and programme management across a major data centre development.

The role will work closely with the client project team, design consultants, contractors and key stakeholders to ensure programme delivery remains aligned with project objectives, milestones and commercial requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development, implementation and ongoing management of the master project programme.
• Review and challenge contractor and consultant programmes, ensuring realistic sequencing and delivery strategies.
• Monitor progress against key milestones, critical path and project objectives.
• Identify programme risks, delays and potential impacts, developing mitigation and recovery strategies.
• Coordinate programme interfaces across design, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.
• Provide regular programme reporting and schedule analysis to senior client stakeholders.
• Lead progress meetings and ensure agreed actions are reflected within the programme.
• Assess contractor extensions of time, delay events and programme impacts where required.
• Ensure programme data supports wider cost, risk and project controls activities.
• Drive continuous improvement in planning processes, reporting and project controls.

Experience Required

• Significant planning/programme management experience within large-scale construction, ideally data centres or other mission-critical environments.
• Strong experience working in a client-side or consultancy environment.
• Advanced knowledge of Primavera P6.
• Strong understanding of design, procurement, construction and commissioning programmes.
• Experience challenging and managing Tier 1 contractor programmes.
• Strong understanding of critical path, delay analysis, change and recovery planning.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.