Planning Engineer

About the Role

Penta Consulting, a leading technology resource solutions provider, is seeking a highly skilled Planning Engineer to join our team and support the execution of a large-scale Data Center construction project spanning multiple sites across the EMEA region. This critical role will involve developing, maintaining, and controlling comprehensive project schedules to ensure timely and efficient delivery while adhering to mission-critical facility standards. The successful candidate will play a pivotal part in monitoring progress, conducting critical path analyses, and supporting Extension of Time (EOT) claims, contributing directly to the project’s success.

Key Responsibilities

The Planning Engineer will be responsible for a wide range of scheduling and project control activities, including:

• Planning & Scheduling:
  • Develop, maintain, and update detailed project schedules using industry-standard tools such as Primavera P6 and/or MS Project.
  • Establish and manage baseline programmes for all project phases, including design, procurement, construction, testing, commissioning, and handover.
  • Create integrated master schedules that align multiple project sites and workstreams to ensure seamless coordination.
  • Identify critical path activities and proactively monitor schedule risks and opportunities to mitigate potential delays.
  • Generate short-term, medium-term, and long-term look-ahead programmes to guide project execution.
  • Monitor schedule performance and develop recovery plans to address any deviations from the approved baseline.
  • Collaborate with project teams to ensure that schedule activities accurately reflect on-site progress and resource availability.
• Progress Monitoring & Reporting:
  • Track and measure project progress across all sites against approved baselines to ensure alignment with project objectives.
  • Conduct regular progress reviews with construction, engineering, procurement, and commissioning teams to assess performance and address challenges.
  • Prepare and distribute weekly and monthly progress reports that highlight schedule performance, key milestones, critical activities, and potential risks.
  • Develop dynamic dashboards and KPI reports to provide project leadership and clients with real-time insights into project health.
  • Perform earned value and productivity analysis to evaluate project efficiency and recommend improvements.
  • Analyze schedule variances and propose corrective actions to realign the project with its objectives.
• Delay Analysis & EOT Management:
  • Conduct comprehensive delay impact analyses and critical path assessments to determine the root causes of schedule deviations.
  • Prepare, support, and defend Extension of Time (EOT) submissions to ensure fair and accurate entitlement assessments.
  • Evaluate delay claims submitted by contractors and subcontractors to assess their validity and impact on the project timeline.
  • Maintain meticulous records and documentation to support entitlement assessments and compliance with contractual obligations.
  • Perform forensic schedule reviews and time impact analyses to provide evidence-based insights during disputes.
  • Support commercial and project management teams in claims negotiations and dispute resolution processes to protect the project’s interests.
• Stakeholder Coordination:
  • Serve as a liaison between project managers, construction managers, design teams, consultants, clients, and subcontractors to ensure seamless communication and alignment.
  • Facilitate coordination between procurement activities, construction sequences, and commissioning programmes to optimize project execution.
  • Participate in project progress meetings and provide expert scheduling advice to guide strategic decision-making.
  • Support project leadership in programme optimization and the identification of opportunities for efficiency improvements.

Required Experience & Qualifications

To excel in this role, candidates must possess the following qualifications and experience:

• Minimum 5–10 years of experience in Planning, Scheduling, or Project Controls within major construction projects, with a proven track record in mission-critical environments.
• Mandatory experience in delivering Data Center projects, including pre-construction, construction, commissioning, and handover phases.
• Strong expertise in:
• Programme baselining and schedule development.
• Progress tracking, reporting, and performance analysis.
• Critical path analysis and schedule risk management.
• Delay analysis and the preparation of Extension of Time (EOT) submissions.
• Developing recovery plans to address schedule deviations.
• Highly desirable: Experience working on multi-site or large-scale mission-critical projects, particularly within international contracting, consulting, or data center operator environments.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a Planning Engineer to contribute to a high-impact, large-scale project while advancing their career in a dynamic and challenging environment. If you are a detail-oriented professional with a passion for project controls and a track record of delivering excellence in complex construction environments, we encourage you to apply.