Front End Planning and Scheduling Lead
About The Position
The Front End Planning and Scheduling Lead establishes the foundation for successful project delivery across a portfolio of large-scale data center construction projects. The role leads front-end planning from project initiation through schedule baseline approval, ensuring schedules are realistic, compliant, and aligned with project objectives and execution strategies. It provides subject matter expertise in schedule development and evaluation, baseline reviews, risk assessment, and planning best practices. The Lead works closely with project teams, construction partners, consultants, and stakeholders to assess proposed schedules, identify risks and opportunities, and establish high-quality baselines before execution begins. This is a highly collaborative, hands-on position requiring construction planning and scheduling expertise, strong analytical capabilities, and the ability to influence teams and stakeholders across a large project portfolio. The role is part of Microsoft Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) and supports projects throughout the Americas portfolio. It includes leading planning workshops across multiple projects and regions and developing executive-ready analyses and recommendations for schedule approval and project decisions.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of experience in Construction Management, engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development, or equivalent experience.
- 4+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
- Ability to meet Microsoft, customer, and/or government security screening requirements, including passing the Microsoft Cloud Background Check upon hire or transfer and every two years thereafter.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor's degree and 10+ years of experience in Construction Management, engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development, or equivalent experience.
- 6+ years of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.
- 5+ years of planning and scheduling experience using P6 and MS Project.
- 7+ years of design and construction project management experience.
- 7+ years of experience planning medium-sized capital projects ($50MM–$200MM+) in construction, oil, gas, chemicals, or a related process industry.
- Proven record of delivering medium-to-large-scale construction projects on time and to client satisfaction.
- Excellent understanding of project planning.
- Demonstrated skills with Primavera P6 and MS Project.
- Strong familiarity with CPM scheduling methodology.
- Ability to analyze EPC plans and schedules and provide insights into trends, issues, and mitigations.
- Strong problem-solving skills and ability to self-direct work in a fast-paced environment.
- Ability to manage multiple project schedules simultaneously and prioritize tasks effectively.
- Strong attention to detail and ability to deliver high-quality work.
- Experience in data center design and construction.
- Deep knowledge of Primavera P6 and other schedule health analysis tools.
- Strong experience with Risk Schedule Analysis.
- Ability to present data at levels of detail appropriate to the audience.
Responsibilities
- Lead front-end planning and scheduling activities across a portfolio of large-scale data center construction projects.
- Review and evaluate contractor, vendor, and project schedules during project development and procurement.
- Assess proposed schedules for completeness, logic, feasibility, alignment with execution strategy, and overall quality.
- Conduct detailed baseline schedule reviews to verify schedules meet planning standards and project requirements before approval.
- Partner with project teams to identify schedule gaps, risks, constraints, and opportunities during baseline development.
- Recommend improvements to schedule quality, constructability sequencing, milestone development, and critical-path logic.
- Support development and maintenance of planning standards, schedule review criteria, and governance processes.
- Evaluate schedule revisions and baseline changes for alignment with project objectives and approved execution plans.
- Promote consistent planning methodologies and scheduling best practices across the portfolio.
- Develop executive-ready analysis and recommendations to support schedule approvals and project decision-making.
- Lead collaborative planning workshops with internal and external stakeholders to align execution strategies and schedule assumptions.
- Facilitate schedule development and baseline review workshops across multiple projects and regions throughout the Americas portfolio.
- Drive early identification and resolution of schedule conflicts, dependencies, and execution challenges.
- Foster proactive planning, accountability, and collaboration across project teams.
- Build working relationships with project teams, Lease Providers, consultants, and stakeholders to support successful schedule development.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Senior
