Senior Project Planner

DRA Global; Phoenix (AZ); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

DRA Global is seeking a seasoned Planning Lead for our Phoenix, AZ office to establish and lead the planning function for North American projects. The role applies DRA’s global standards to create fully integrated SMEIP schedules using a robust critical-path method.

You will govern cross-functional integration, ensure data integrity, and drive timely, data-driven decision making across engineering, procurement, and construction teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Construction Management, or a related field, and ten (10) years of experience in a related position in the EPCM environment.
• Experience with Primavera P6 and MS Project, including development of fully integrated, logic-driven engineering, procurement, and construction schedules.
• Experience in multi-disciplinary SMEIP environments, with the ability to structure, sequence, and govern schedules across Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, and Piping disciplines.
• Experience with progress measurement systems, including earned-value tracking, performance analysis, and schedule variance reporting within EPCM project frameworks.
• Experience integrating planning systems with procurement workflows, including material tracking, long-lead item management, and alignment of engineering deliverables with procurement milestones.
• Experience developing and maintaining WBS structures, coding frameworks, and schedule governance standards consistent with corporate and project-specific requirements.
• Experience manage complex, multi-sector project schedules, including mining, minerals processing, and infrastructure projects, ensuring critical-path visibility and cross-disciplinary coordination.
• Experience leading, planning and scheduling activities using Primavera P6 and MS Project, with extensive experience operating in multi-disciplinary engineering and construction environments.

Responsibilities

• Identify project deviations and slippages, reporting issues to leadership.
• Deliver period program update and information regarding changes and delays that have impacted the program on a period-by-period basis.
• Ensure that all issues within the program are highlighted and understood by Senior Management, and give appropriate planning advice.
• Deliver necessary schedule reports.
• Form part of the WBS development process.
• Conduct activity coding to support the client’s own reporting requirements.
• Facilitate Enhanced Systematic Planning (ESP) sessions.
• Review schedules with discipline engineers to obtain ownership of the schedule.
• Resource load the schedule, using the agreed weighting method.
• Create project S-curves for reporting.
• Maintain project schedules through periodic reviews.
• Periodically update the schedule and issue progress reports.
• Communicate early warnings of deviations from the plan.
• Suggest corrective actions and develop recovery plans.
• Expedite subcontractor’s manufacturing, procurement & construction plans.
• Assist Procurement staff to develop and maintain the POP (Procurement Operating Plan).
• Develop and maintain Key Date Schedules.
• Attend all project progress meetings.
• Liaise with the Design & Drawing Offices to ensure targets are met.
• Conduct periodic site visits.
• Develop a Basis of Schedule document.
• Lead the development of the overall baseline program in accordance with the contract.
• Monitor job progress, comparing to baseline and reporting progress against schedule.
• Forecast the impacts on the schedule of proposed changes.
• Develop working control schedules (Level 3 & 4) for day-to-day activities for area / units under control.
• Develop and maintain an integrated progress reporting system including schedules, S-Curves, tables, milestones and earned value analysis.
• Update and maintain schedule data to ensure project consistency and optimization.
• Perform project progress monitoring duties including identifying critical activities and reviewing forecasts with progress achieved to date.
• Act as a Set work program and target milestones for each phase based on the project plan.
• Monitor critical activities based on the project schedule and advise project management.
• Serve as Primavera Data Base Administrator for Project.
• Interrogate progress reports and prepare action plans on deviations from targets with recommended remedial actions.
• Contribute to monthly reporting on projects both internally and externally.
• Create and manage Project integrated Schedule by liaising with relevant project Departments.
• Provide accurate, reliable, and traceable program data on a scheduled and ad-hoc basis.
• Undertake delay analysis and ensure the project is compliant to demonstrate planning compliance to the contract and for forensic auditing.
• Ensure all delivery streams provide accurate, reliable, and traceable data to meet our reporting obligations with project manager signatures on hard copies that are scanned for audit trail.
• Ensure the Project Coding Structure is complied with by the project as a whole.
• Ensure appropriate planning measures are taken with all clients to reassess, renegotiate and amend the scope of work.
• Ensure all contractors have an approved schedule that is aligned with and supports the overall project targets.
• Recommend and implement modifications to improve effectiveness and attain project milestones
• Provide leadership to the team to develop planning skills
• Liaise with other project controls departments to ensure information is shared and managed

Skills

Leadership

Scheduling

Cross-functional coordination

Reporting

Prog. control

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management

Tools

Primavera P6

MS Project

Job description

Responsible for establishing and leading the planning function in DRA’s Phoenix office, applying DRA’s global planning standards to North American projects, supporting project teams with mature scheduling practices and integrated controls, and facilitating knowledge transfer and ensuring consistency in execution across regions. Develop and manage fully integrated SMEIP (Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation & Piping) schedules using DRA’s critical‑path methodology, ensuring accurate sequencing, transparent dependency logic, and alignment of milestones to support predictable and efficient project execution. Establish and govern integration protocols between planning, engineering, and procurement systems to ensure seamless cross‑functional coordination, optimized workflows, and consistent data integrity throughout the project lifecycle. Leads the development, standardization, and oversight of internal reporting structures, ensuring timely, accurate, and actionable information flow that supports informed, data‑driven decision‑making at all organizational levels. Manages complex, multi‑disciplinary project schedules across mining, minerals processing, and infrastructure portfolios, ensuring alignment of timelines, critical‑path clarity, and coordinated delivery across engineering, procurement, construction, and external stakeholders. Develop and oversees region‑specific execution strategies, compliance frameworks, and governance structures to ensure effective project delivery and adherence to regulatory, contractual, and operational requirements across all jurisdictions in which DRA operates

Specific duties include:

• Identify project deviations and slippages, reporting issues to leadership
• Deliver period program update and information regarding changes and delays that have impacted the program on a period‑by‑period basis
• Ensure that all issues within the program are highlighted and understood by Senior Management, and give appropriate planning advice
• Deliver necessary schedule reports
• Form part of the WBS development process
• Conduct activity coding to support the client’s own reporting requirements
• Facilitate Enhanced Systematic Planning (ESP) sessions
• Review schedules with discipline engineers to obtain ownership of the schedule
• Resource load the schedule, using the agreed weighting method
• Create project S‑curves for reporting
• Maintain project schedules through periodic reviews
• Periodically update the schedule and issue progress reports
• Communicate early warnings of deviations from the plan
• Suggest corrective actions and develop recovery plans
• Expedite subcontractor’s manufacturing, procurement & construction plans
• Assist Procurement staff to develop and maintain the POP (Procurement Operating Plan)
• Develop and maintain Key Date Schedules
• Attend all project progress meetings
• Liaise with the Design & Drawing Offices to ensure targets are met
• Conduct periodic site visits
• Develop a Basis of Schedule document
• Lead the development of the overall baseline program in accordance with the contract
• Monitor job progress, comparing to baseline and reporting progress against schedule
• Forecast the impacts on the schedule of proposed changes
• Develop working control schedules (Level 3 & 4) for day‑to‑day activities for area / units under control
• Develop and maintain an integrated progress reporting system including schedules, S-Curves, tables, milestones and earned value analysis
• Update and maintain schedule data to ensure project consistency and optimization
• Perform project progress monitoring duties including identifying critical activities and reviewing forecasts with progress achieved to date
• Act as a Set work program and target milestones for each phase based on the project plan
• Monitor critical activities based on the project schedule and advise project management
• Serve as Primavera Data Base Administrator for Project
• Interrogate progress reports and prepare action plans on deviations from targets with recommended remedial actions
• Contribute to monthly reporting on projects both internally and externally
• Create and manage Project integrated Schedule by liaising with relevant project Departments
• Provide accurate, reliable, and traceable program data on a scheduled and ad‑hoc basis
• Undertake delay analysis and ensure the project is compliant to demonstrate planning compliance to the contract and for forensic auditing
• Ensure all delivery streams provide accurate, reliable, and traceable data to meet our reporting obligations with project manager signatures on hard copies that are scanned for audit trail
• Ensure the Project Coding Structure is complied with by the project as a whole
• Ensure appropriate planning measures are taken with all clients to reassess, renegotiate and amend the scope of work
• Ensure all contractors have an approved schedule that is aligned with and supports the overall project targets
• Recommend and implement modifications to improve effectiveness and attain project milestones
• Provide leadership to the team to develop planning skills
• Liaise with other project controls departments to ensure information is shared and managed

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Construction Management, or a related field of study, and ten (10) years of experience in a related position in the EPCM environment.
• Work experience or academic coursework must have included:
• Experience with Primavera P6 and MS Project, including development of fully integrated, logic‑driven engineering, procurement, and construction schedules;
• Experience in multi‑disciplinary SMEIP environments, with the ability to structure, sequence, and govern schedules across Structural, Mechanical, Electrical, Instrumentation, and Piping disciplines;
• Experience with progress measurement systems, including earned‑value tracking, performance analysis, and schedule variance reporting within EPCM project frameworks;
• Experience integrating planning systems with procurement workflows, including material tracking, long‑lead item management, and alignment of engineering deliverables with procurement milestones;
• Experience developing and maintaining WBS structures, coding frameworks, and schedule governance standards consistent with corporate and project‑specific requirements;
• Experience manage complex, multi‑sector project schedules, including mining, minerals processing, and infrastructure projects, ensuring critical‑path visibility and cross‑disciplinary coordination; and
• Experience leading, planning and scheduling activities using Primavera P6 and MS Project, with extensive experience operating in multi‑disciplinary engineering and construction environments.
• Weekly travel from Phoenix to the Tucson project site to support on‑site construction coordination and execution activities.

Work location: 4720 E. Cotton Gin Loop, Suite 220, Phoenix, AZ 85040