Lead Construction Planner - Blacksmith Project

About the role

Fortescue is looking for an experienced Lead Planner (Construction) to join its Blacksmith Project team, based at the Perth office. The role leads construction planning, scheduling and project controls, covering greenfield and brownfield works, contractor interfaces, commissioning and handover. It involves leading the integrated master project schedule and working closely with project delivery teams to drive schedule performance, identify risks and develop recovery strategies. The roster is Monday to Friday, with regular site travel.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the development, integration and maintenance of Level 3 master and Level 4-5 construction schedules using Primavera P6.
• Lead a small team of Planners and Schedulers, driving consistent planning standards and continuous improvement.
• Drive construction sequencing, work packaging and schedule integration across engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning and handover.
• Review and challenge contractor schedules, progress submissions and resource assumptions.
• Lead quantity-based progress measurement, Earned Value analysis and schedule performance reporting.
• Maintain schedule baselines, planning assumptions and change control processes.
• Monitor critical paths, variances, productivity trends and milestones, and develop 90-day look-ahead schedules and three-week execution plans.
• Lead schedule risk assessments, scenario modelling and recovery planning.
• Collaborate with Construction, Engineering, Commercial, Cost and Risk teams on integrated project controls and reporting.

Required profile

• Tertiary qualification in Engineering, Construction Management, Project Management or a related discipline, or recognised project controls/scheduling certification.
• Minimum 15 years' industry experience, including at least 10 years in planning and scheduling, with leadership on major construction projects.
• Demonstrated experience delivering construction planning across major resources, infrastructure or heavy-industry projects.
• Strong knowledge of greenfield and brownfield construction, work packaging, contractor interfaces, shutdowns, commissioning and handover.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, quantities, procurement information and construction methodologies.
• Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and leadership skills.

Required skills

• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6, including schedule development, integration, baseline management, critical path analysis and change control.
• Resource planning, Earned Value, productivity analysis and schedule forecasting.
• Schedule risk analysis, mitigation strategies, recovery planning and scenario modelling.
• Experience with Acumen Fuse or equivalent schedule analytics tools, Power BI and integrated project controls systems is highly regarded.