About the role

Reporting To - Head – Project Controls / Project Director

Role Purpose

The Planning Lead will be responsible for end-to-end project planning, scheduling, monitoring, and control of Data Centre projects. The role involves developing project execution schedules, tracking progress, coordinating with cross-functional teams, identifying risks, and ensuring timely project delivery within budget and quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and maintain integrated project schedules for Data Centre projects from design to commissioning.
Prepare baseline schedules, resource loading plans, manpower histograms, and project cash flow forecasts.
Monitor project progress against planned schedules and identify schedule deviations.
Conduct critical path analysis and recommend corrective actions to mitigate delays.
Coordinate with Engineering, Procurement, Construction, QA/QC, and Commissioning teams to ensure project milestones are achieved.
Prepare weekly and monthly progress reports, dashboards, and management presentations.
Track procurement and material delivery schedules to align with project timelines.
Review contractor schedules and monitor subcontractor performance.
Lead project review meetings and provide planning inputs to project leadership.
Develop recovery plans and acceleration strategies for delayed activities.
Ensure compliance with project controls, planning standards, and client requirements.
Support tendering and project execution teams with planning and scheduling inputs.

Desired Candidate Profile

Education

B.E./B.Tech in Civil, Mechanical, Electrical, or related Engineering discipline.
PMP/Primavera Certification will be preferred.

Experience

15–18 years of experience in Project Planning & Controls.
Minimum 5 years of experience in Data Centre projects is mandatory.
Experience in handling large-scale EPC/MEP projects, Mission Critical Facilities, Industrial Projects, or Commercial Infrastructure projects.
Proven experience in managing multiple project schedules simultaneously.

Technical Skills

Strong hands-on experience in Primavera P6.
Knowledge of MS Project and advanced Excel.
Expertise in project scheduling, cost control, progress monitoring, and risk analysis.
Understanding of Data Centre construction lifecycle including Civil, MEP, ELV, HVAC, Power Systems, and Commissioning activities.
Experience in Earned Value Management (EVM) and project reporting.

Key Competencies

Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.
Leadership capability to coordinate with multiple project teams.
Ability to work in a fast-paced project environment.
Strong reporting and presentation skills.

Preferred Industry Background

Data Centres
Mission Critical Infrastructure
EPC Projects
Electrical Infrastructure
Industrial Construction
Commercial Buildings

Team Handling

Lead and mentor project planning engineers across multiple Data Centre projects.
Coordinate with project managers, construction teams, and client stakeholders for project execution excellence.

Key Hiring Criteria:

Mandatory Data Centre project planning experience.
Strong Primavera P6 expertise.
Experience handling end-to-end planning for large EPC/MEP projects.
Ability to manage multiple high-value projects and drive schedule adherence.
Willingness to be based in Hyderabad.