Planner / Scheduler – HV Substations & Energy Infrastructure

Planner / Scheduler – HV Substations & Energy Infrastructure

Location: Portugal
Sector: High Voltage Substations / Energy Infrastructure / EPC
Experience: 5+ years
Package: Competitive salary and benefits package
Travel: Occasional travel to project sites across Europe

The Opportunity

We are seeking an experienced Planner / Scheduler to support the delivery of major medium-voltage (MV) and high-voltage (HV) substation and energy infrastructure projects across Europe.

Based in Portugal, this is an excellent opportunity to join a growing engineering and infrastructure business delivering complex EPC projects across international markets.

You will take responsibility for developing, maintaining and controlling integrated project schedules, covering the full project lifecycle from engineering and procurement through construction, testing and commissioning.

Working closely with project management, engineering, procurement and site teams, you will play a key role in monitoring progress, identifying potential delays, managing programme risks and ensuring critical milestones are achieved.

This role offers the opportunity to contribute to major power infrastructure projects, work alongside experienced multidisciplinary teams and help strengthen project planning and controls as the business continues to grow.

Key Responsibilities

Project Planning & Schedule Development

• Develop and maintain detailed baseline schedules for EPC substation projects in line with contractual requirements and delivery milestones.
• Establish work breakdown structures (WBS), activity coding, sequencing and programme logic in collaboration with project teams.
• Integrate engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning activities into coordinated project programmes.
• Account for long-lead equipment, including power transformers and switchgear, alongside permits, grid-owner requirements and site constraints.
• Prepare tender-stage programmes, construction sequences and activity duration estimates to support bid submissions.

Progress Monitoring & Schedule Control

• Regularly update project schedules using progress information from engineering, procurement, suppliers, subcontractors and site teams.
• Analyse critical and near-critical paths, float consumption and schedule performance.
• Identify emerging delays, programme risks and potential milestone impacts, recommending mitigation and recovery measures.
• Develop short-term look-ahead programmes, typically covering three to six weeks, to support site execution.
• Monitor dependencies, interfaces and milestones across multiple concurrent projects.
• Verify reported progress and challenge schedule assumptions where necessary.

Reporting & Project Controls

• Produce weekly and monthly progress reports, schedule narratives, S-curves and management dashboards.
• Prepare clear programme forecasts and communicate schedule risks to Project Managers and senior stakeholders.
• Support earned value management and progress measurement alongside project controls and finance teams.
• Prepare contractual programme submissions and schedule reports in accordance with client requirements.
• Develop resource histograms and forecasts to support project and business-wide resource planning.

Change, Delay & Risk Management

• Assess the programme impact of variations, scope changes and delay events.
• Prepare time impact analyses and support extension-of-time submissions where required.
• Maintain accurate schedule records, baseline revisions and progress history to support contractual reporting and claims management.
• Contribute to project risk registers and schedule risk assessments.
• Review and integrate supplier and subcontractor programmes into the overall project schedule.
• Work with project teams to develop realistic recovery plans and minimise the impact of delays.

Planning Standards & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and maintain planning procedures, templates, activity libraries and scheduling standards.
• Analyse historical project performance and productivity data to improve future programme accuracy.
• Support the effective use and continuous improvement of project planning software and reporting tools.
• Promote consistent planning and progress-reporting practices across engineering, procurement and construction teams.
• Provide planning support and guidance to Project Managers and site personnel.

RequirementsExperience

• Minimum of 5 years' experience in project planning or scheduling within engineering, construction or infrastructure projects.
• Experience with MV/HV substations, power transmission, renewable energy or electrical infrastructure projects is highly desirable.
• Background working on EPC, design-and-build or other complex multidisciplinary construction projects.
• Proven ability to develop and manage integrated schedules across engineering, procurement and construction activities.
• Experience managing programmes across multiple projects or work packages.
• Exposure to delay analysis, change management and contractual programme requirements.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6.
• Strong understanding of critical path methodology (CPM), schedule logic, baselining, resource loading and progress measurement.
• Knowledge of project controls and earned value management principles.
• Advanced Microsoft Excel skills; experience with Power BI or similar reporting tools is advantageous.
• Understanding of contractual scheduling requirements, including relevant Nordic and international contract frameworks such as FIDIC.
• Familiarity with schedule risk analysis tools, such as Primavera Risk Analysis or Safran Risk, is beneficial.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex programme data and produce meaningful delivery forecasts.

Communication & Collaboration

• Excellent written and spoken English; Portuguese language skills are advantageous.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Confident communication skills, with the ability to present schedule information and challenge assumptions constructively.
• Ability to work collaboratively with engineering, procurement, construction, commercial and project management teams.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving, risk identification and continuous improvement.

Location & Eligibility

• Based in or willing to relocate to Portugal.
• Must have the right to work within the EU/EEA.
• Willingness to travel to project sites across Europe when required.

What’s on Offer?

• Competitive salary and an attractive benefits package.
• Portugal-based position supporting major international infrastructure projects.
• Exposure to complex HV substation and power infrastructure EPC programmes.
• The opportunity to influence project delivery through effective planning, forecasting and risk management.
• Collaboration with experienced engineering, construction and project management professionals.
• Opportunities to develop your expertise within a growing European project environment.

Interested in This Opportunity?

If you are an experienced Planner or Scheduler with a background in EPC, power infrastructure, substations or complex construction projects, we would welcome a confidential conversation about this opportunity in Portugal.

Apply today to discuss your next career move.