Planner / Scheduler

Lisboa, Portugal
Department: Planning / Project Controls
Employment Type: Permanent Contract with 6-Month Probation Period

DCS Norway is looking for an experienced Planner / Scheduler to develop, maintain, and control project schedules for medium-voltage (MV) and high-voltage (HV) substation projects delivered under EPC contracts.

The role involves developing integrated programmes covering engineering, procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning, ensuring accurate schedule reporting and supporting project teams in meeting contractual milestones.

Working closely with Project Managers, Design Engineering, Procurement, Site Management, and the Bid team, you will monitor progress, analyse critical paths, identify delays, develop recovery plans, and contribute to the continuous improvement of project planning standards and tools.

Key Responsibilities

Schedule Development

• Develop detailed, resource-loaded baseline schedules for EPC substation projects in line with contract requirements and milestones.

• Define the work breakdown structure (WBS), activity coding, and schedule logic in collaboration with project teams.

• Integrate engineering, procurement, construction, testing, and commissioning activities, including long-lead equipment such as power transformers and switchgear.

• Incorporate client, grid-owner, and outage constraints, permits, seasonal requirements, and weather windows into project programmes.

• Prepare tender-stage programmes and method-based duration estimates to support the Bid team.

Progress Monitoring and Control

• Update project schedules at agreed intervals using actual progress from site, engineering, and procurement teams.

• Analyse critical and near-critical paths, float consumption, and schedule performance.

• Identify delays, risks, and emerging trends early, supporting Project Managers in developing mitigation and recovery plans.

• Maintain 3–6-week look-ahead programmes for site teams and coordinate with Site Managers and subcontractors.

• Track key milestones, interfaces, and dependencies across multiple concurrent projects.

Reporting and Analysis

• Produce clear weekly and monthly schedule reports, progress curves (S-curves), and dashboards for internal and client use.

• Support earned value analysis and progress measurement alongside Project Controls and Finance.

• Prepare schedule narratives and contractual programme submissions in line with client requirements.

• Present schedule status, risks, and forecasts during project and management review meetings.

• Provide resource histograms and forecasts to support company-wide resource planning.

Change, Delay and Risk Management

• Assess the time impact of changes, variations, and delay events, preparing time impact analyses.

• Support extension-of-time applications and change notifications in line with contract conditions.

• Maintain accurate schedule records and revision histories to support claims and dispute avoidance.

• Contribute to project risk registers and schedule risk analysis, including P50/P80 assessments.

• Review subcontractor and supplier schedules to ensure alignment and integration into the master programme.

Planning Standards and Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain planning procedures, templates, activity libraries, and coding structures.

• Capture actual durations and productivity data from completed projects to improve future planning accuracy.

• Support the implementation and effective use of planning software and tools across the organisation.

• Train and support Project Managers and site teams in planning principles and schedule updating.

• Travel to project sites in Norway and Finland as required for planning workshops and progress verification.

Required Qualifications and Competencies

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Electrical, Civil, or Mechanical), Construction Management, or a related field.

• Planning or project controls certification, such as AACE PSP or PMI-SP, is an advantage.

Professional Experience

• Minimum 5 years of experience as a Planner or Scheduler on engineering and construction projects.

• Experience planning MV/HV substations, power transmission, renewable energy, or other energy infrastructure projects is highly desirable.

• Experience with EPC or design-and-build projects, integrating engineering, procurement, and construction activities.

• Proven experience managing schedules across several concurrent projects.

• Exposure to delay analysis, change management, and contractual programme requirements.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6; experience with Microsoft Project is an advantage.

• Strong understanding of the Critical Path Method (CPM), resource loading, baselining, and progress measurement.

• Knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM) and project controls principles.

• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; experience with Power BI or similar reporting tools is a plus.

• Understanding of Nordic and international contract forms, including NS 8405/NS 8407, YSE 1998, and FIDIC, particularly in relation to time and programme requirements.

• Familiarity with schedule risk analysis tools such as Primavera Risk Analysis or Safran Risk is an advantage.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English. Portuguese is an advantage.

• Must have the right to work in the EU/EEA and be available to travel to Norway and Finland as required.

• Strong organisational and multitasking capabilities.

• Strong analytical thinking and attention to detail.

• Confident communication skills, with the ability to challenge assumptions and present schedule information clearly to all levels.

• Collaborative team player, able to work effectively with engineering, site, and commercial teams.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Baseline schedules submitted and approved on time for each project.

• Schedule updates and reports issued on time according to the agreed reporting cycle.

• Schedule forecast accuracy, measured by the variance between forecast and actual milestone dates.

• Early identification of delays and risks, with mitigation plans in place before milestones are affected.

• Schedule quality against planning standards, including logic, open ends, constraints, and float, as assessed through internal audits.

Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)

• Comply with all applicable health, safety, and environmental legislation, regulations, and company procedures.

• Integrate safety-by-design principles into engineering and project activities, ensuring that designs and solutions prioritise the safety of personnel, equipment, and the environment.

• Participate in relevant risk assessments and hazard identification activities.

• Report safety concerns, incidents, and near-misses in accordance with company HSE procedures.

• Support the development and maintenance of a positive safety culture within the team and across projects.

• Ensure compliance with the company Integrated Management System (IMS), covering quality, safety, and environmental standards.

Replacement Policy

• For absences of less than one month, the Planner / Scheduler will be replaced by the Project Manager.

• For absences exceeding one month, a temporary replacement will be appointed by senior management. Internal or external recruitment may apply in accordance with DCS Norway replacement policy guidelines.

• The replacement will assume the key responsibilities outlined in this job description to ensure continuity in planning and project controls activities.

Compensation and Benefits

• Annual variable performance bonus of 0–10%, depending on company and individual performance and subject to an annual performance review.

• Meal allowance of €10.46 per working day, provided via a meal card.

• Private health insurance coverage for the employee.

• 22 working days of annual leave, in accordance with Portuguese labour law.

• For business travel outside Portugal, a nominal Portugal allowance of approximately €89 per day, with 50% payment for the final travel day.

• The company will cover accommodation and travel costs for business trips, as reflected in the employment contract.

• When the daily living-away allowance is paid, the meal card allowance is not payable.

About the Role

DCS Norway operates a competence-based resource model. While this job description defines the primary function of the role, individuals are expected to contribute across other engineering and project functions based on their competencies and business needs. This approach supports team flexibility, professional development, and efficient resource utilisation across projects.