Project Scheduler

Vaco; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Vaco by Highspring seeks a Planner & Scheduler to align scope, schedule, cost, resources, and risk across FEL through execution for industrial capital projects. You will develop IMS, validate contractor progress, perform schedule risk analysis, and deliver actionable reporting for predictable outcomes.

The role requires 5–10 years in planning/scheduling, experience with Primavera P6/MS Project, and proficiency in Excel with Power BI for dashboards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 5-10 years in planning/scheduling for industrial projects (field and office).
• Proficiency with Primavera P6, MS Project, advanced Excel; Power BI for dashboards.

Responsibilities

• Front-End Planning & Governance: Develop WBS, preliminary schedules, logic networks, and key milestones for FEL stages.
• Integrated Scheduling & Updates: Build and maintain baseline schedules in Primavera P6/MS Project; drive weekly updates and publish variance analyses.

Skills

Field-driven planning

Analytical thinking

Communication

Collaboration

Safety & compliance

Education

Bachelor's in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Position Summary:

This combined role integrates field-driven planning and office-based scheduling for industrial capital projects. The Planner & Scheduler ensures alignment of scope, schedule, cost, resources, and risk across all phases-from FEL through execution-while maintaining compliance with governance standards and safety protocols. Responsibilities include developing and maintaining Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), validating contractor progress, performing schedule risk analysis, and delivering actionable reporting for predictable project outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Front-End Planning & Governance: Develop WBS, preliminary schedules, logic networks, and key milestones for FEL stages. Align scope, cost, schedule, and risk for AFE readiness; ensure compliance with governance thresholds.
• Integrated Scheduling & Updates: Build and maintain baseline schedules in Primavera P6/MS Project at multiple levels (Master, discipline, look-ahead). Establish logic, calendars, resource loading, and maintain schedule basis documentation. Drive weekly updates and publish variance analysis.
• Contractor Performance & Field Validation: Verify progress, QC of reports, and quantity takeoff. Validate productivity rates and crew plans; reconcile reported progress with physical completion.
• Execution Planning & Coordination: Develop execution plans with method statements, work sequencing, permits, and pre-requisites. Integrate outages, shutdowns, and startup milestones with facility operations.
• Progress Measurement & Earned Value: Implement EVMS-lite or full EVMS; track SPI/CPI, variances, forecasts, and recovery actions.
• Reporting & Communication: Produce reports including S-curves, look-aheads, variance analyses, dashboards (Power BI), and stage-gate readiness. Communicate schedule status and critical path to stakeholders.

Safety Responsibilities

• Champion a Safety-First culture and exercise Stop Work Authority when conditions are unsafe.
• Ensure compliance with site safety programs, OSHA regulations, and industry standards.
• Integrate safety into plans: permits (hot work, confined space), LOTO/energy isolation, and access/egress.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor's in Construction Management, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• Experience: 5-10 years in planning/scheduling for industrial projects (field and office).
• Tools: Primavera P6, MS Project, advanced Excel; Power BI for dashboards.
• Certifications: Preferred PMI-SP, PMP, or AACE PSP.
• Knowledge: FEL/AFE governance, EVMS, risk/change control, workface planning, and construction means/methods.

Core Competencies

• Field-Driven Planning: Converts real-world constraints into executable schedules.
• Analytical Thinking: Forecasts outcomes using qualitative and quantitative tools.
• Communication: Clear reporting for craft and management.
• Collaboration: Works effectively across disciplines and levels.
• Safety & Compliance: Integrates safety and quality into all planning decisions.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Schedule accuracy and milestone adherence.
• Timeliness and quality of updates.
• Progress integrity and productivity variance closure.
• Stakeholder satisfaction and governance compliance.

EEO Notice

Vaco by Highspring is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by federal, state or local law.

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [e-mail].

Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.

Representation Notice

By submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity.

You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. You also agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.

For residents of Ontario, Canada: Based on Highspring's discussions with its Client, Highspring's understanding is that this position for employment is a current vacancy (either through Highspring as a contractor or with the client directly).

Privacy Notice

Vaco by Highspring and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.

• California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.
• Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.
• Residents of all other states may access our policies here.
• Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.
• Residents of countries governed by GDPR may access our policies here.

Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.

Pay Transparency Notice

Determining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:

• the individual's skill sets, experience and training;
• licensure and certification requirements;
• office location and other geographic considerations;
• other business and organizational needs.

With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses.