Program Planning & Controls Lead

Company Description

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We believe infrastructure creates opportunity for everyone. Whether it's improving your commute, keeping the lights on, providing access to clean water or transforming skylines, our work helps people and communities thrive.

Our clients trust us to bring together the best people, ideas, technical expertise and digital solutions to our work in transportation, buildings, water, the environment and new energy. We're one global team - 47,000 strong - driven by a common purpose to deliver a better world.

Job Description

Job Summary

The Program Planning & Controls Lead is responsible for developing, maintaining, and controlling the integrated programme baseline across Solar, Wind, and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) workstreams. The role ensures the delivery of accurate, defensible schedules, performance measurement frameworks, forecasting methodologies, and progress reporting to support effective programme governance and client decision-making.

The position provides leadership in planning, schedule assurance, risk-based forecasting, and programme controls while coordinating with package planning teams and project stakeholders to maintain schedule integrity and transparency.

Key Responsibilities

Programme Planning & Schedule Management

• Develop and maintain integrated Level 1 and Level 2 programme schedules linked to package-level Level 3 and Level 4 control schedules.
• Establish and maintain programme schedule baselines, control processes, and governance frameworks.
• Review and validate package planning submissions to ensure alignment with programme objectives and milestones.
• Monitor schedule performance, critical path activities, float consumption, and forecast completion dates.
• Lead schedule integration activities across Solar, Wind, and BESS workstreams.

Programme Controls & Performance Management

• Define and implement progress measurement methodologies, weightages, and reporting protocols.
• Establish data cut-off procedures and schedule change control processes.
• Validate progress updates and ensure consistency across all work packages.
• Reconcile planning information with procurement, engineering, construction, testing, commissioning, and HOTO (Hand Over Take Over) activities.
• Produce programme-level forecasts and performance insights for internal and client stakeholders.

Risk, Analysis & Recovery Planning

• Lead schedule risk assessments and milestone risk forecasting.
• Perform critical path analysis, trend assessments, and scenario modelling.
• Develop and evaluate recovery and mitigation plans for schedule deviations.
• Identify programme risks and planning exceptions requiring management intervention or escalation.

Stakeholder & Client Management

• Support the Program Director in programme governance and reporting activities.
• Coordinate with package planning teams, project controls functions, and programme leadership.
• Present schedule analyses, forecasts, and recommendations to client and senior management teams.
• Ensure timely communication of planning issues, opportunities, and corrective actions.

Deliverables

• Integrated programme baseline schedules.
• Periodic programme update and performance reports.
• Critical path analysis and schedule recovery assessments.
• Forecast and risk assessment reports.
• Executive schedule dashboards and management presentations.
• Monthly progress certificate support documentation.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management, or a related discipline.
• Professional certifications such as PMP, PSP, AACE, or equivalent are desirable.

Experience

• 15+ years of experience in project controls, programme planning, or schedule management.
• Significant experience on large-scale infrastructure, energy, or renewable energy programmes.
• Proven experience managing integrated schedules across multiple work packages and stakeholders.

Additional Information

• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 and enterprise scheduling systems.
• Strong understanding of programme controls, schedule risk analysis, forecasting, and earned value principles.
• Experience in dashboarding and reporting tools such as Power BI or equivalent.
• Strong analytical and data interpretation skills.

At AECOM, we are committed to maintaining a secure and trustworthy recruitment process and take any fraudulent hiring activity seriously. To support this commitment, all newly hired employees are required to attend an in-person Day 1 onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment.