Project Planner & Scheduler - Data Centre Construction

Cloud Operations + Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind one of the world’s largest cloud infrastructures, responsible for powering all Microsoft online Products and Services as well as powering Microsoft’s “Cloud First” mission. Our Global Project Controls team supports the delivery of CO+I’s mission and vision as the trusted advisors that deliver a definitive, responsive, and timely project controls program to all business areas via the industry’s best people, work processes, systems, and tools. We are composed of project management professionals who are committed to providing timely delivery of cost and schedule solutions to positively affect project outcomes. In alignment with our Microsoft values, we are committed to cultivating an inclusive work environment for all employees to positively impact our culture every day.

Microsoft's CO+I team is seeking a Datacenter Engineering Procurement Construction (EPC) Integrated Planner / Scheduler to provide services for Sydney Australia. The employee will provide integrated planning and schedule management services for the relevant sites. They will be required to develop and analyze integrated Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) schedules. Recommend solutions or recovery plans to schedule to minimize cost impact or delays. Required weekly and monthly reporting as assigned in line with Rhythm of business.

Utilizing tools such as Master Schedules, Risk Framework, Quality Checklists and Schedule Health Scorecards, and are hands-on with the PMs in the field, and with the General Contractor with our tools and analysis. This results in Schedule Predictability driving overall delivery efficiencies.

Microsoft’s mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. As employees we come together with a growth mindset, innovate to empower others and collaborate to realize our shared goals. Each day we build on our values of respect, integrity, and accountability to create a culture of inclusion where everyone can thrive at work and beyond.

This role is a field-based role for the Sydney metro. This role is not eligible for hybrid or remote work.

Responsibilities

The Datacenter EPC Integrated Planner / Scheduler

Planning

• Develop Integrated EPC Master Schedules (IMS) including timelines and dependencies for large-scale datacenter construction projects.
• Work with cross-functional teams, including engineers, procurement, and construction to ensure project milestones are met and deliverables are completed on time.
• Monitor project risks and develop contingency plans to mitigate potential issues.
• Study the delay events and their impact to the EPC schedule and present to stakeholders & Regional planning leads.
• Work with clients to understand their needs and ensure project outcomes meet their expectations.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key stakeholders
• Continuously improve project management processes and tools to increase efficiency and effectiveness.
• Work on planning related works as directed by region planning lead/supervision

General Contractor (GC) Procurement & Construction Schedule Baseline Management

• Facilitate and support the development of a detailed EPC Project Schedule along with Regional leads, project team, GC and Sub-Contractor vendors.
• Work closely with the Regional Planning Lead to ensure the GC Baseline Schedule meets the standards and requirements defined within the DIV1 Specification.
• Complete the GC Baseline Evaluation process and provide recommendations in MSFT formats.
• Carry out the GC Proposal Schedule Evaluations and provide evaluation narrative and scores.

Schedule Analysis and Reporting

• Facilitate and participate in weekly schedule reviews onsite with GC schedule teams to analyze and validate progress onsite.
• Proactively analyze project schedules by; comparing cost and resource curves to actuals, tracking float consumption, perform schedule integrity (health) and quality checks, critical path analysis, analyze quantity progress curves, schedule performance index, carry-out delay impact analysis, monitor monthly performance and carry out variance analysis supporting Baseline Management and Change Control processes throughout the Project Lifecycle
• Carry out and communicate Schedule Time Impact Assessments (EOT) of schedule delay events and recommend mitigation strategies to recover and/or control the impacts.
• Record reasons for delay and quantification with all supporting documentation on a regular basis to enable protect owners interest supporting and providing inputs to claims management process.
• Ensure GC compliance with MSFT Monthly and Weekly reporting cadence and Rhythm of Business requirements.
• Evaluate GC Weekly and Monthly Schedule Reports, validate progress, review insights with EPC PMs and provides feedback and recommendations to GC.
• Validate schedule updates along with a narrative for submission to the project team and MSFT stakeholders.
• Identify and mitigate threats to the project's schedule and initiate corrective actions through field staff.
• Analyze resource loading and recommend adjustments / corrective action as appropriate.
• Assess impacts of design and/or long lead equipment changes and provide recommendations to mitigate/recover the schedule.
• Provide final review of schedules for estimating as requested.
• Conduct schedule workshops and its analysis

Collaboration

• Lead collaborative Planning workshops by using the Schedule to help facilitate planning, coordination, and accurate progress reporting.
• Interface with site management regarding critical schedule activities, change, impacts to schedule, change orders, project progress, and claims analysis.
• Provide planning and schedule management support to DCD PMs, MSFT stakeholders, project teams and Redmond-based hub.

Qualifications

Required/Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree AND 2+ years' experience in engineering, product/technical program management, data analysis, or product development OR equivalent experience.
• 1+ year(s) of experience managing cross-functional and/or cross-team projects.

While not required, we also look for the following Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree AND 5+ years experience 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.
• 1+ year(s) of experience reading and/or writing code (e.g., sample documentation, product demos).

Background Check Requirements:

Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:

• Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.

#COICareers | #EPCCareers | #DCDCareers

This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.

Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.