Lead - Project Planning & Control (Gas based DRI)

Role Overview:

The Planning Lead will be responsible for developing and managing the integrated project schedule for the DRI plant. This includes coordinating inputs from engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and logistics teams to build a comprehensive, logical, and trackable schedule. The role requires ensuring proper sequencing, identifying critical paths, providing early delay warnings, and aligning stakeholders for timely decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.

Role & responsibilities

• Develop and maintain a Level 1 to Level 5 project schedule encompassing engineering, procurement, construction, pre-commissioning, and commissioning phases. Break down high-level Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) into detailed tasks, incorporating predecessors and successors to clarify dependencies and ensure accurate critical path analysis.
• Collaborate with discipline leads and contractors to collect schedule inputs and progress updates.
• Identify and monitor critical paths, key milestones, and potential schedule risks.
• Support the creation of baseline schedules, recovery plans, and what-if scenarios.
• Coordinate with cost control and project controls teams to ensure integrated planning efforts.
• Prepare regular schedule updates, dashboards, and detailed management reports.
• Provide early warnings and actionable recommendations to mitigate delays.
• Ensure schedule logic aligns with procurement and construction sequences.
• Assess and allocate resources, including labour, equipment, and materials to support construction and commissioning schedules.
• Track project progress against the baseline schedule, identifying variances and proposing corrective actions to keep the project on track.
• Provide regular reports, including Gantt charts, critical path updates, and resource utilization metrics to project management and stakeholders.
• Conduct schedule risk assessments and propose mitigation strategies for delays, such as supply chain disruptions or weather impacts.
• Work closely with contractors, engineering consultants and vendors to ensure schedules reflect realistic timelines and resource availability.
• Facilitate cross-functional meetings to align on priorities, resolve scheduling conflicts, and clarify responsibilities for tasks.
• Communicate schedule updates and dependencies to stakeholders, ensuring transparency and accountability across teams.
• Ensure schedules comply with safety regulations, environmental standards, and industry best practices for DRI plant construction

Preferred candidate profile

• B.E./B.Tech in Mechanical / Metallurgical / Electrical / Chemical Engineering from a recognized institution.
• 15 to 20 years of experience in planning and scheduling for large industrial projects (preferably in DRI, steel, oil & gas, or infrastructure sectors).
• Proficiency in Primavera P6 and MS Project.
• Strong understanding of EPC lifecycle phases and critical path methodology.
• The candidate must be willing to undertake extensive travel to site locations worldwide.
• Experience in interface coordination and delay analysis.
• Excellent communication, reporting, and stakeholder management skills.