Senior Project Planner

Location:

Job ID:

Date Posted:

Company Name:

Profession (Job Category):

Job Schedule: 

Remote:

Job Description:

Hitachi Energy is seeking an experienced Senior Project Planner to serve as the Planning Subject Matter Expert (SME) for our regional project execution organization.

This role goes beyond traditional project scheduling. You will play a critical role in driving planning excellence across multiple engineering and infrastructure projects, influencing planners and project teams across the region, and ensuring consistent planning standards, governance, and best practices.

Working closely with Project Managers, Operations Leaders, Engineers, Procurement and Commercial teams, you will provide strategic planning leadership, schedule insight, and project controls expertise to support successful project delivery.

Your Responsibilities

• Lead the development, maintenance, and governance of integrated project schedules using Primavera P6 and other planning tools.
• Establish and maintain schedule baselines, monitor progress, perform forecasting, and identify potential project risks and delays.
• Conduct critical path analysis and provide recommendations to improve project performance and delivery outcomes.
• Act as the regional Planning Subject Matter Expert (SME), driving planning standards, methodologies, and best practices across the project organization.
• Influence and support planners across multiple business units, providing functional leadership without direct line management responsibility.
• Proactively engage stakeholders to gather, validate, and challenge project information, ensuring planning accuracy and transparency.
• Facilitate schedule reviews, planning workshops, and governance meetings with project teams and leadership.
• Collaborate with Project Managers, Engineering, Supply Chain, Procurement and Construction teams to develop realistic and achievable project plans.
• Support project controls activities, including schedule performance measurement, forecasting, earned value analysis, and reporting.
• Analyse contractor and third-party schedules to assess progress, risks, and alignment with project objectives.
• Develop commissioning, startup, and execution schedules for complex projects.
• Mentor and coach planners and project teams on planning principles, schedule management, and project controls best practices.
• Contribute to resource planning, workforce planning, and future capability development within the project execution organization.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Project Management, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 8-10 years of project planning and scheduling experience within engineering, energy, utilities, industrial, infrastructure, EPC, or large-scale project environments.
• Advanced proficiency in Primavera P6 and Microsoft Project.
• Strong understanding of project controls, critical path methodology, schedule risk analysis, forecasting, and earned value management.
• Experience managing complex project schedules across multiple stakeholders and project phases.
• Demonstrated ability to influence, engage, and gain commitment from stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to extract information, challenge assumptions, and drive alignment across diverse teams.
• Experience establishing or improving planning standards, governance frameworks, and project controls processes is highly desirable.
• PMP, PMI-SP, AACE, or equivalent project management/planning certifications are advantageous.

What Makes This Role Different

This is not a traditional scheduling role focused solely on maintaining project plans.

We are looking for someone who can combine strong planning expertise with stakeholder engagement and functional leadership. As the Planning SME, you will help shape planning excellence across the organization, influence a network of planners and project teams, and drive consistency, quality, and visibility across a growing portfolio of regional projects.

Accessibility and reasonable accommodation

Qualified individuals with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access the Hitachi Energy career site as a result of your disability. You may request reasonable accommodations by completing a general inquiry form on our website. Please include your contact information and specific details about your required accommodation to support you during the job application process.

This is solely for job seekers with disabilities requiring accessibility assistance or an accommodation in the job application process. Messages left for other purposes will not receive a response.

Use of Al and automated tools in recruitment

As part of our recruitment process, Hitachi Energy uses digital and automated tools, including Al-supported solutions, to assist with activities such as application screening, job matching, and interview scheduling. These tools are designed to support our recruiters and do not replace human decision-making. Candidate data is processed in accordance with applicable data protection and employment laws as well as Hitachi's Global Data Privacy Notice.

Background Screening and Security Checks

As part of the hiring process, Hitachi Energy conducts pre-employment background checks that may include verification of employment history, education, criminal records, and other relevant information, in accordance with applicable laws.

For certain roles—particularly those involving access to sensitive information, financial responsibilities, client data, regulated environments, or security-sensitive functions—additional or more comprehensive background or security screenings may be required. These may include, but are not limited to, enhanced criminal history checks, credit history reviews (where legally permissible), sanctions screening, or other due diligence measures aligned with the responsibilities of the position.

The scope and depth of any background or security review will be determined based on the nature of the role and business necessity, and will always be conducted in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. Candidates will be notified and, where required, asked to provide consent prior to the initiation of any such checks.