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Planning Lead - Data Centre Construction

JLL Project and Development Services

Adani Data Centre Project, Dholera, Gujarat

Position Overview

The Planning Lead will be responsible for developing, maintaining, and controlling comprehensive project schedules for the Adani Data Centre project in Dholera. This critical role requires expertise in planning and scheduling complex, mission-critical facilities with multiple interfaces, fast-track delivery requirements, and stringent milestone commitments. The Planning Lead will serve as the primary schedule management authority, providing strategic insights to support project decision-making and ensure on-time delivery of this landmark data centre facility.

Key Responsibilities

Master Schedule Development & Management

Develop and maintain the integrated master project schedule encompassing all phases from design development through construction, commissioning, and handover. Create detailed Level 3 and Level 4 schedules for all work packages including civil works, structural, MEP systems, data centre infrastructure, façade, interiors, and specialty systems. Establish logical relationships, activity sequencing, and resource loading to accurately reflect project execution strategy and constraints. Define critical path, near-critical activities, and float analysis to identify schedule risks and optimization opportunities. Integrate contractor schedules into the master program ensuring consistency, interface coordination, and alignment with project milestones.

Baseline Schedule Management

Establish baseline schedules for all project phases and major work packages following approval by project leadership and Adani stakeholders. Manage baseline change control processes, documenting approved revisions and maintaining historical records of schedule evolution. Conduct quarterly baseline reviews to assess schedule performance, analyze trends, and recommend corrective actions. Ensure all schedule changes are properly documented with clear justification, impact assessment, and stakeholder approval.

Progress Monitoring & Reporting

Conduct weekly schedule updates based on actual site progress, resource deployment, and milestone achievements verified through site inspections and contractor reports. Prepare comprehensive progress reports including earned value analysis, schedule variance analysis, and critical path updates for internal and client stakeholders. Generate lookahead schedules for 2-week, 4-week, and 3-month horizons to facilitate proactive resource planning and coordination. Prepare monthly executive summaries highlighting schedule performance, key achievements, upcoming milestones, and areas of concern. Develop dashboard presentations showing schedule health metrics, milestone tracking, and performance indicators for steering committee meetings.

Critical Path Analysis & Optimization

Continuously monitor and analyze critical path activities, identifying potential delays and recommending proactive mitigation measures. Conduct "what-if" scenario analysis to evaluate impacts of design changes, weather delays, resource constraints, or scope modifications. Recommend schedule acceleration strategies including fast-tracking opportunities, activity overlapping, resource augmentation, or alternative construction methodologies. Optimize construction sequencing to minimize activity conflicts, reduce downtime, and maximize workforce productivity. Identify opportunities for parallel execution and early commissioning of independent systems.

Contractor Schedule Coordination

Review and approve contractor schedules ensuring they align with master program requirements, interface commitments, and milestone obligations. Facilitate schedule coordination meetings with multiple contractors to resolve interface conflicts, sequence dependencies, and resource allocation issues. Monitor contractor schedule compliance and implement corrective actions when performance deviates from planned progress. Ensure contractor schedules reflect appropriate level of detail, realistic durations, and proper logic ties. Verify that contractor updates accurately represent field conditions and remaining work scope.

Data Centre-Specific Planning

Develop specialized schedules for mission-critical data centre systems including UPS installation, generator commissioning, precision cooling deployment, electrical distribution, raised floor installation, and cable management systems. Coordinate sequencing between base building construction and data centre infrastructure deployment to enable parallel activities and early commissioning. Plan for phased commissioning approach allowing progressive handover of operational zones while construction continues in adjacent areas. Integrate IT equipment installation schedules with construction completion to optimize overall project timeline. Account for long-lead equipment procurement including chillers, generators, UPS systems, switchgear, and cooling units in schedule planning.

Commissioning & Handover Planning

Develop detailed commissioning schedules for all building systems and data centre infrastructure including testing protocols, inspection requirements, and acceptance criteria. Coordinate integrated systems testing sequences ensuring proper dependencies between mechanical, electrical, controls, and fire protection systems. Plan for phased handover strategy allowing early occupation of completed areas while construction continues in other zones. Schedule training sessions, documentation delivery, warranty activation, and operational readiness activities. Develop punch list management schedules tracking defect rectification and final completion activities.

Risk Management & Mitigation Planning

Identify schedule-related risks including design delays, procurement issues, contractor performance, weather impacts, and regulatory approval timelines. Develop schedule risk registers quantifying probability, impact, and mitigation strategies for key risks. Conduct schedule risk analysis using Monte Carlo simulation or similar techniques to establish probabilistic completion forecasts. Recommend schedule contingencies and buffer management strategies to protect critical milestones. Monitor risk trigger events and implement contingency plans when risks materialize.

Resource Planning & Leveling

Develop resource-loaded schedules showing labor, equipment, and material requirements across project phases. Identify resource constraints, bottlenecks, and peak demand periods requiring special attention or augmentation. Coordinate with contractors to ensure adequate resource mobilization aligned with schedule requirements. Perform resource leveling analysis to optimize workforce utilization and minimize inefficiencies. Track resource productivity metrics and adjust schedule assumptions based on actual performance data.

Design & Procurement Integration

Integrate design development schedules with construction planning, ensuring timely information release to support site activities. Track design deliverable schedules, RFI response times, and drawing approval cycles impacting construction progress. Coordinate procurement schedules for long-lead items, critical equipment, and bulk materials with installation requirements. Monitor submittal approval workflows and expedite critical path submittals to prevent construction delays. Develop material delivery schedules coordinating with storage capacity, just-in-time delivery requirements, and construction sequencing.

Stakeholder Communication & Coordination

Chair regular planning meetings with project team, contractors, and consultants to review schedule status, upcoming activities, and coordination requirements. Present schedule performance and forecasts to project leadership, client stakeholders, and executive steering committees. Respond to schedule-related queries from Adani stakeholders, addressing concerns and providing data-driven insights. Facilitate three-week lookahead meetings with trade contractors to coordinate sequencing, access requirements, and resource deployment. Communicate schedule impacts of change requests, variations, and scope modifications to decision-makers.

Claims & Delay Analysis

Document schedule impacts of changes, disruptions, or unforeseen conditions providing factual basis for time extension assessments. Conduct delay analysis using industry-standard methodologies including impacted as-planned, time impact analysis, or windows analysis as appropriate. Prepare time extension submissions with supporting narratives, logic diagrams, and impact quantification. Review contractor delay claims, evaluating validity, concurrent delays, and contractual entitlements. Maintain contemporaneous schedule records to support dispute resolution or arbitration proceedings if required.

Tools & Systems Management

Maintain project scheduling software systems ensuring data integrity, version control, and backup protocols. Establish schedule coding structures including WBS codes, activity codes, and custom fields to enable multi-dimensional analysis and reporting. Develop standardized schedule reports, filters, and layouts for consistent communication across stakeholder groups. Train project team members on schedule reading, progress reporting, and lookahead planning processes. Implement digital planning tools including BIM 4D integration, collaborative platforms, and visual schedule communication tools.

Continuous Improvement & Best Practices

Capture lessons learned from schedule performance, identifying opportunities for process improvement and efficiency gains. Benchmark schedule performance against industry standards and comparable data centre projects. Implement planning best practices including pull planning, last planner system, or lean construction methodologies where applicable. Stay current with data centre construction trends, modular approaches, and innovative delivery methods impacting schedule optimization.

Required Qualifications

Education & Professional Credentials

Bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, or related technical discipline required. PMP certification, PSP (Planning and Scheduling Professional), or equivalent scheduling credential highly preferred. Advanced training in critical path method scheduling, earned value management, and schedule risk analysis.

Experience Requirements

Minimum 10-12 years of progressive experience in construction planning and scheduling with at least 5 years focused on large-scale, complex projects. Proven track record planning and delivering mission-critical facilities including data centres, hospitals, laboratories, pharmaceutical facilities, or similar critical infrastructure projects valued at INR 300 crores or above. Experience with fast-track construction delivery, phased handovers, and occupied building renovations beneficial. Prior experience working on projects in Gujarat or understanding regional construction practices, contractor capabilities, and site conditions preferred.

Data Centre & Technical Knowledge

Strong understanding of data centre design, construction sequencing, and commissioning requirements for mission-critical facilities. Knowledge of data centre systems including power distribution, cooling infrastructure, raised floors, cable management, and fire suppression systems. Familiarity with Uptime Institute Tier requirements, commissioning protocols, and operational readiness considerations. Understanding of MEP systems integration, controls commissioning, and building automation in data centre environments.

Software & Technical Skills

Expert-level proficiency in Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project for schedule development, analysis, and reporting. Experience with BIM 4D visualization tools (Navisworks, Synchro) for schedule integration with 3D models. Proficiency in earned value management systems and schedule analytics software. Advanced Microsoft Excel skills for schedule data analysis, dashboards, and custom reporting. Familiarity with collaborative planning platforms and cloud-based project management systems.

Planning Methodologies

Deep expertise in critical path method (CPM) scheduling including activity relationships, float calculations, and constraint management. Knowledge of schedule compression techniques including fast-tracking, crashing, and resource optimization. Experience with schedule risk analysis methodologies and probabilistic forecasting techniques. Understanding of delay analysis methods and forensic schedule analysis for claims management. Exposure to lean construction principles, pull planning, and collaborative planning approaches.

Analytical & Problem-Solving Skills

Strong analytical capabilities to identify schedule trends, performance patterns, and emerging risks from complex data sets. Problem-solving mindset to develop creative solutions for schedule challenges, resource conflicts, and sequencing constraints. Critical thinking ability to evaluate contractor schedules, identify logic flaws, and recommend improvements. Scenario planning skills to model alternative execution strategies and assess time-cost tradeoffs.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

Excellent presentation skills with ability to communicate complex schedule information clearly to diverse audiences including executives, technical teams, and contractors. Report writing capability to prepare comprehensive schedule narratives, impact analyses, and executive summaries. Facilitation skills to lead productive planning meetings, resolve scheduling disputes, and build consensus among stakeholders. Ability to communicate schedule implications of technical decisions to non-technical stakeholders in accessible language.

Personal Attributes

Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational skills to manage multiple concurrent schedules and deliverables. Proactive mindset anticipating schedule challenges and implementing preventive measures. Resilient under pressure with ability to maintain schedule accuracy during fast-paced project phases. Collaborative team player who builds effective relationships with contractors, consultants, and internal teams. Integrity in schedule reporting, providing honest assessments even when delivering unfavorable news.

Working Conditions & Expectations

This position is based in Gujarat with primary office presence at the Dholera project site or regional office. Regular site visits required to verify progress, assess work conditions, and validate contractor schedule updates. Work schedule typically follows standard business hours with flexibility required during critical project phases, milestone deliveries, or schedule crunches. Occasional travel to Ahmedabad, Mumbai, or vendor facilities for coordination meetings, training, or equipment factory acceptance testing. Position demands high responsiveness to address urgent schedule queries, support decision-making, and provide timely updates to stakeholders.

Reporting Structure

This position reports to the Project Manager or Project Director for the Adani Data Centre project, with functional coordination with JLL's planning and controls team leadership.

This role offers an exceptional opportunity to lead schedule management for one of India's most significant data centre infrastructure projects in the emerging Dholera Smart City ecosystem. The Planning Lead will play a pivotal role in ensuring on-time delivery of this mission-critical facility through rigorous schedule management, proactive planning, and strategic coordination.

Location:

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If this job description resonates with you, we encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet all of the requirements.  We’re interested in getting to know you and what you bring to the table!

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