PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
The Planning Manager is responsible for leading and managing all project planning, scheduling, and progress monitoring activities across renewable energy projects (solar PV, wind, hydropower, energy storage, and hybrid systems) within the Project Delivery Department. The role ensures that robust, integrated master schedules are developed, maintained, and communicated to all stakeholders, enabling timely delivery within scope, budget, and quality parameters. The Planning Manager acts as the central scheduling authority for the project portfolio and directly supports the Project Director in driving execution excellence.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Schedule Development & Management
Develop, baseline, and maintain Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3 integrated master schedules for utility-scale and distributed renewable energy projects using Primavera P6 and/or MS Project.
Define Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), activity logic, durations, resource assignments, and critical path for all project phases: development, permitting, procurement, construction, commissioning, and handover.
Coordinate with multi-disciplinary teams (engineering, procurement, construction, HSE, commissioning) to gather inputs and ensure schedule alignment.
Manage schedule interfaces between EPC contractors, sub-contractors, equipment vendors, and client teams.
Issue monthly and milestone-based schedule updates to project and executive stakeholders.
Progress Monitoring & Reporting
Track physical progress against baseline and report Earned Value Management (EVM) metrics including SPI, SV, and forecast completion dates.
Conduct regular schedule health checks; identify variances, float consumption, and critical path shifts.
Prepare and issue weekly/monthly progress reports, look-ahead schedules (3-week and 6-week), and executive dashboards.
Facilitate schedule review meetings with project teams and contractors, documenting actions and ensuring follow-through.
Risk, Delay & Change Management
Identify schedule risks proactively; develop and maintain schedule risk registers in coordination with the Project Risk Manager.
Conduct quantitative schedule risk analysis (Monte Carlo simulation) to determine P50/P80 completion probabilities.
Assess the schedule impact of variations, changes, and delay events; prepare Time Impact Analyses (TIA) and support claims management.
Drive recovery planning initiatives when schedule deviations are identified, working with contractors and internal teams.
Planning Systems & Tools
Establish and enforce project scheduling standards, procedures, and templates across the project portfolio.
Maintain planning databases; integrate contractor schedules into the master program using resource-loaded logic.
Support implementation and optimization of project management information systems (PMIS) relevant to planning.
Mentor and guide junior planners and project controls staff within the department.
Stakeholder & Interface Management
Liaise with clients, lenders, government authorities, and third-party verifiers on schedule commitments and milestone compliance.
Coordinate with procurement and logistics teams to incorporate long-lead equipment delivery schedules into the master plan.
Interface with permitting and regulatory teams to integrate approval timelines into project schedules.
Support Lender's Engineer / Owner's Engineer review processes by providing accurate schedule data and analysis.
Commissioning & Closeout Planning
Develop and manage pre-commissioning, commissioning, and energization schedules in close coordination with the commissioning manager.
Ensure planning activities support Commercial Operation Date (COD) and contractual milestone obligations.
Lead lessons-learned documentation on planning and scheduling performance at project closeout.
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
Educational Requirements
Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Project Management, or a related technical discipline. (Required)
Master's degree in Project Management, Engineering Management, or a related field. (Preferred)
Professional certifications: PMP (PMI), PRINCE2 Practitioner, or equivalent. (Preferred)
Planning-specific certification: PMI-SP (Scheduling Professional) or Primavera P6 Certified Associate. (Advantage)
Work Experience
Minimum 8–10 years of project planning/scheduling experience in large-scale capital projects.
Minimum 5 years in the renewable energy sector (solar, wind, hydropower, or energy storage projects).preferred.
Demonstrated experience managing schedules for EPC / EPCM projects with a value of AZN 50M+.
Experience in multi-project portfolio planning within a project delivery organization.
Prior experience in international or cross-border renewable energy projects is an advantage.
Technical Skills
Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 Enterprise Project Portfolio Management (mandatory).
Proficiency in MS Project; familiarity with scheduling integration tools.
Solid knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM) principles and application.
Experience with quantitative schedule risk analysis tools (e.g., Oracle Risk Analysis, Safran Risk, Acumen Fuse).
Working knowledge of renewable energy project lifecycle: development, permitting, EPC, commissioning, and O&M.
Proficiency in MS Office suite (Excel, PowerPoint) and project reporting tools.
Familiarity with PMIS platforms (e.g., Oracle Unifier, Aconex, Procore).
COMPETENCIES & BEHAVIOURAL ATTRIBUTES
Core Competency
Description
Analytical Thinking
Ability to decompose complex scheduling problems, interpret data, and derive actionable insights from schedule performance metrics.
Attention to Detail
Meticulousness in schedule logic, predecessor/successor relationships, and constraint management to maintain schedule integrity.
Communication
Clear and effective communication of schedule status and risks to technical and non-technical audiences at all levels.
Leadership
Ability to lead planning teams, drive performance, and align cross-functional stakeholders around schedule objectives.
Problem Solving
Proactive identification of schedule issues and development of pragmatic, evidence-based recovery options.
Resilience
Ability to work under pressure in fast-paced, multi-project environments while maintaining quality and accuracy.
Collaboration
Team-oriented approach to working across engineering, procurement, construction, and client interfaces.
Adaptability
Flexibility to manage dynamic project conditions, scope changes, and evolving stakeholder requirements.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Based at the company's project management office with frequent travel to renewable energy project sites.
Exposure to outdoor construction site environments; compliance with project HSE requirements is mandatory.
May be required to work extended hours during critical project milestones, commissioning, or emergency situations.
Availability for virtual meetings across different time zones for international project coordination.
Interested candidates can send their cv to the e-mail address in the Apply for job button.
