Director of Scheduling

Job Description

Job Description

Location(s)

• Chicago, IL (headquarters-based; relocation benefits available)

Compensation

• $170,000-$235,000 base salary, depending on individual skills and experience
• Annual bonus opportunity
• Equity participation

Position Summary

Lead the estimating and project scheduling functions for high-voltage transmission line and substation projects across the full asset lifecycle, from competitive proposals and early-stage planning through construction, energization, and closeout. This hands-on leadership role develops bid-quality cost estimates and Primavera P6 schedules while building scalable project controls systems, processes, tools, data architecture, and reporting capabilities. The ideal candidate combines deep transmission project controls expertise with strong analytical, collaborative, and leadership skills and the ability to operate effectively in a growing, entrepreneurial environment.

Job Function

• Develop parametric, conceptual, order-of-magnitude, and detailed cost estimates for greenfield and upgrade transmission line and substation projects, including FERC Order 1000 competitive solicitations.
• Build and maintain parametric estimating models and cost bases using contractor estimates, vendor quotations, historical project data, benchmarks, and market intelligence.
• Partner with procurement to ensure estimates reflect current market conditions and verified pricing.
• Progress estimates throughout the project lifecycle from parametric Class 5/4 through definitive Class 2/1 estimates while maintaining traceability of assumptions, exclusions, changes, and estimate basis.
• Prepare a clear Basis of Estimate for each deliverable, including scope assumptions, pricing sources, allowances, contingency, escalation, and confidence ranges.
• Support project managers in quantifying cost risk and contingency, including probabilistic methods such as Monte Carlo simulation when appropriate.
• Provide estimating expertise for conceptual design options, routing alternatives, structure and equipment selections, and execution strategies.
• Support development of cost caps, cost containment commitments, and revenue requirement inputs for competitive proposals in collaboration with development, regulatory, and finance teams.
• Build and maintain detailed Critical Path Method (CPM) schedules in Oracle Primavera P6, from conceptual and proposal schedules through Level 3/4 execution baselines, progress updates, and closeout.
• Establish scheduling standards, including WBS and activity coding structures, calendars, logic and constraint discipline, resource and cost loading, progress measurement rules, and baseline change control.
• Work with project leads to ensure schedules accurately reflect project scope, sequence, resource requirements, and project-specific constraints.
• Develop credible conceptual proposal schedules that support in-service date commitments.
• Review and validate contractor and vendor schedules and help confirm that project milestones and contractual completion dates remain achievable.
• Provide schedule and progress data for Earned Value Management (EVM), performance tracking, variance analysis, forecasting, and changes in scope, design, or execution approach.
• Define the target-state project controls capability across estimating, scheduling, cost management, change control, risk, progress measurement, and reporting, and develop a phased implementation roadmap.
• Participate in evaluating and selecting enterprise estimating and scheduling software, including requirements definition, vendor demonstrations, business cases, and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Design foundational project controls data architecture, including standard WBS, cost breakdown structure, code of accounts, estimating databases, and historical cost and productivity capture processes.
• Identify and deploy automation, data analytics, and AI tools to improve estimating and scheduling efficiency and reduce manual effort.
• Integrate cost and schedule data with ERP and financial systems in collaboration with IT, accounting, and finance.
• Develop scalable estimating and scheduling procedures, templates, checklists, governance, estimate classification standards, review gates, and schedule quality checks.
• Establish standardized project controls reporting for senior management, the Board, and lenders, including dashboards, monthly project reports, forecasts, and variance explanations.
• Develop the future staffing plan for the project controls function and recruit, mentor, and lead estimating and scheduling personnel and specialist consultants as the portfolio grows.
• Serve as the estimating and scheduling subject matter expert, providing guidance on project cost and schedule and promoting continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Act as the primary point of contact for project cost and schedule information across development, engineering, permitting, land, procurement, construction, regulatory, finance, contractors, suppliers, and consultants.
• Present estimates, schedules, and supporting analyses to senior management, project stakeholders, and external parties.
• Provide cost and schedule input to risk reviews and ensure estimating and scheduling activities comply with applicable policies, industry standards, and regulatory requirements.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Construction Management, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in project controls, estimating, and/or scheduling, including at least 5 years supporting high-voltage (>230 kV) transmission line and substation projects.
• Experience preparing parametric and conceptual cost estimates for capital projects with limited scope definition, including development of underlying cost models and estimating bases.
• Experience contributing to the establishment or significant improvement of project controls processes, tools, or systems.
• Experience developing estimates and/or schedules for FERC Order 1000 competitive transmission proposals is highly preferred.
• Two or more years of field experience as a Construction Manager or Field Engineer on substation or transmission line projects is preferred.
• Master's degree is preferred.

Qualifications

• Advanced working knowledge of Oracle Primavera P6, including independent development and maintenance of Level 1 through Level 4 CPM schedules; proficiency in Microsoft Project is also expected.
• Expertise in Critical Path Method scheduling principles and practices and industry cost estimating standards and classification systems, such as AACE International Recommended Practices.
• Strong understanding of construction methods, materials, equipment, and sequencing for high-voltage transmission line and substation projects.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build productive relationships across technical and non-technical stakeholders and convey complex information to executive audiences.
• Proven ability to obtain reliable cost and schedule information from cross-functional colleagues and constructively challenge assumptions when warranted.
• Self-starter with excellent analytical and problem-solving skills, strong attention to detail, sound judgment, and the ability to work effectively with incomplete information.
• Advanced Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel, for cost and schedule data analysis, modeling, and reporting.
• Professional certification such as AACE International CCP, PSP, or DRMP; PMI-SP or PMP; or ASPE CPE is preferred.
• Experience with commercial estimating software and cost databases such as WinEst, CostX, PlanSwift, Sage, or comparable platforms is preferred.
• Experience with schedule risk tools such as Safran Risk, Acumen, Primavera Risk Analysis, or comparable platforms is preferred.
• Experience implementing or administering enterprise project controls or ERP platforms such as Oracle Primavera Unifier/EPPM, SAP, Ecosys, InEight, or comparable systems is preferred.
• Demonstrated use of AI, automation, or advanced data analytics tools, such as Power BI, Python, or large language model-based tools, to improve estimating, scheduling, or reporting processes is preferred.
• Knowledge of Earned Value Management methodologies and EVMS compliance requirements for large capital projects is preferred.
• Familiarity with transmission permitting processes, including NEPA, state siting, and right-of-way acquisition, and their integration into project cost and schedule is preferred.
• Familiarity with FERC formula rates, regulated utility capital accounting, AFUDC, and CWIP as they relate to project cost reporting is preferred.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the willingness to perform hands-on work while building systems and processes that can scale.
• Ability to communicate credibly with field personnel, technical specialists, suppliers, lenders, executives, consultants, and contractors.
• Strategic vision combined with tactical depth, with the ability to move between near-term bid and project deliverables and long-term project controls planning.
• Exceptional time management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and proposals under tight deadlines.
• Confidence and professional judgment to communicate challenging cost or schedule realities to senior leadership.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills.
• Ability to travel 10%-20% of working days within North America.
• Valid non-CDL driver's license.

Benefits

• Attractive benefits package.
• Annual bonus opportunity.
• Equity participation.
• Relocation benefits are available for the Chicago-based position.

Appealing Facts About Living in Chicago, IL

• Chicago offers a major metropolitan setting with extensive dining, arts, entertainment, sports, and cultural attractions.
• The city provides broad transportation options, including extensive public transit and access to two major airports.
• Lake Michigan and the city's lakefront provide access to beaches, trails, parks, boating, and other outdoor recreation.
• Chicago is a major center for business, engineering, infrastructure, finance, and energy-related industries.
• Diverse neighborhoods offer a wide range of housing, dining, and community experiences throughout the metropolitan area.

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Global Talent Resources, Inc. (GTR) is a power industry recruiting firm specializing in substation, transmission, and distribution careers. With 15+ years of experience, we connect engineering and leadership professionals to top roles with leading utilities, cooperatives, EPCs, and consulting firms nationwide.

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