Project Planning Manager (m/f/d) - HVDC projects

Job Description Summary

Job Description

Shape the schedule behind some of the world's most important power grid project!

High-Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) projects move clean electricity over long distances. They span multiple sites worldwide and bring together international teams. As Project Planning Manager (m/f/d), you join our Project Controls team in Berlin and set the project's planning approach. You build the schedule, align every function behind it, and give project leaders the insight to keep delivery on track.

Key Responsibilities:

• Planning & Scheduling Governance - Develop the planning, scheduling and performance measurement framework, procedures and tools, including Primavera P6 and Power BI. Maintain the Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), Cost Breakdown Structure (CBS), coding, calendars, reporting levels and progress measurement method.
• Integrated Master Schedule Management - Develop, update and control the Integrated Master Schedule, including contractor schedules and internal interfaces. Run schedule logic checks, variance analysis and critical path assessments, and forecast key milestones and completion dates. Align Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning schedules with the execution strategy
• Progress Measurement & Reporting - Manage the project-wide progress measurement system, including progress weightings and earned progress rules. Issue regular performance reports, dashboards, key performance indicators (KPIs) and early-warning trends for the Project Controls Manager and Project Leadership. Present schedule status and recommend mitigation or acceleration actions
• Contractor & Interface Coordination - Review contractor planning deliverables against project scheduling standards. Integrate and align schedules across internal and external stakeholders. Lead schedule review and coordination workshops
• Change, Risk & Scenario Management - Evaluate schedule impacts from scope changes, delays or external factors. Support schedule risk analysis and help develop mitigation strategies. Prepare schedule inputs for Management of Change (MoC), variation orders and claims
• Support to Cost Control & Estimation - Align schedule resource and productivity assumptions with cost estimates and budgets. Support Cost Control with Cash Flow, Cost-to-Complete (CTC) and Estimate at Completion (EAC) updates. Align Earned Progress (schedule) with Earned Value (cost). Share schedule and performance insights for estimating benchmarks and lessons learned

• Bachelor's degree from a technical field such as Engineering, Construction Management, or a related technical field. (master's degree is an advantage.)

• Significant experience in industrial project delivery, including planning/scheduling, progress measurement, and exposure to cost control and change management. Experience in Electrification, HVDC, Substations, Grid Integration, or Oil and Gas projects is preferred.

• Strong expertise in Oracle Primavera P6 (resource loading, cost loading, baseline management, critical path analysis, advanced logic structuring).

• Comprehensive understanding of WBS / CBS, project coding systems, performance measurement frameworks, and Earned Value Management (EVM).

• Solid knowledge of schedule risk and change management, with the ability to support schedule delay analysis and impact assessments.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Power BI / Power Platform for analytics, dashboards, and schedule-performance visualization.

• PMI-SP® Scheduling Professional or PMP® Project Management Professional preferred; AACE PSP® (Planning & Scheduling Professional) is an advantage.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English; German language skills are an advantage.

• Strong interpersonal, coordination, and analytical problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively in cross-functional and multicultural teams.

• Curious, proactive, and committed to continuous improvement of project controls practices and digitalization of planning workflows.