ASSOCIATE PLANNING DIRECTOR, FOR COWI IN NORTH AMERICA

Employer
COWI
Location
Toronto
Starts
Closes
Job Category
Engineering
Job Type
Full-time

Associate Director of Planning

Toronto

Full Time Regular

Hybrid

Do you have experience in working on large multidisciplinary projects from the initial concept, through the planning process to implementation? Can you facilitate, oversee, and manage the contract management core functional processes? And are you a demonstrated and recognized technical leader in the industry? Then, this is the place to apply your knowledge and curiosity to enable a better tomorrow.

Lead with a team of dedicated leaders

We are looking for an Associate Director of Planning (ADP) to join our global team of experts and work closely within our regional North American teams.  The main responsibility of the Associate Director of Planning is to participate in, facilitate, oversee and manage the contract management core functional processes; namely planning, scheduling and progress management.

The ADP should be a hands-on planning expert whose skills cover the whole spectrum of planning and programme management duties i.e. from strategic planning, management of the planning experts team, to hands-on scheduling in Primavera and Microsoft Project, Monte Carlo risk analysis, forensic planning and developing time related claims.

The ADP will work together with the Director of Contract Management (DCM) to implement various tools and methodologies to effectively track progress, establish contractual baselines and any deviations, and report to management trends in project performance. ADP will participate in the pre-bid and bid process, attend project and team meetings where progress of projects, time related claims or programme related issues are to be discussed.

ADP will be a functional lead to all planning resources and perform all functional responsibilities including interview, selection, and professional development of the planning staff (in collaboration with the Line Management and CM Director) as well as ensuring the correct level of quality in the provision of the planning services. Further, ADP will mentor and serve as a sparring partner to planning resources, provide input to their performance reviews and PDP-s, and jointly work with PMs and PfMs in improving COWI’s planning capabilities.

As the functional lead to planning managers/senior planners and planners, ADP is expected to be proficient in almost all project planning activities as set out below. It is also expected that DP is sufficiently proficient in commercial and contractual aspects of projects with emphasis on programme related obligations and a change management.

Your key responsibilities will be to:

  • Facilitate the development of an appropriate baseline programme of services in line with the scope requirements of the contract as well as the COWI internal requirements.
  • Based on project team input develop the programme of works using bespoke or contract-prescribed scheduling software.
  • Facilitate the development of WBS and deliverables register. 
  • Develop progress measurement systems and reports, frequently update programmes for progress and advise of any deviation from the baseline.
  • Maintain a log for scheduling logic changes.
  • Develop resource-based programmes where required.
  • Conduct periodic progress meetings with project teams and discuss corrective/recovery/acceleration measures and develop re-baseline/forecast/acceleration or recovery programmes where appropriate. 
  • Conduct periodic meetings with the client's planning departments and ensure that all scheduling impacts and changes are recorded and communicated.
  • Coordinate with the contract manager any need for notices of schedule impacts, variations and EOT requirements.
  • Prepare progress reports (programme section) and ensure each progress window is described individually to serve for time impact studies (Window’s analysis).
  • Ensure programmes are developed in line with industry norms utilizing correct logic and level of detail.
  • Conduct programme risk assessments and provide input into the risk register. 
  • Be able to develop EOT claims or provide input to the Contract Management Department (CMD) centralized claims team.

Your skills. Our team. Together we design the future.

The first step to success in this role is that you are eager to collaborate with the people around you, whether they are colleagues, partners, or customers. Developing ties with others is something you do by acting respectfully and delivering on your promises. And you never get set in your ways but keep exploring new insights and ways to improve.

To succeed in this position, we believe that you should have an attitude of taking initiative, enthusiasm, eagerness to learn, teamwork, creativity.

On top of that, you will have:

  • Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science or Masters in any of the Engineering or Construction disciplines. In absence of an academic level, the candidate must demonstrate significant experience and a track record.
  • At least 15 years of experience working for contractors or engineers/designers in planning and scheduling disciplines. Preferably someone who previously worked with any of the major market players and/or worked on some large multidisciplinary projects.
  • At least 7 years of experience in managing a planning function and a team of planners.
  • Experience in the planning of the design phase of a project; advantageous to have a working knowledge of a full project delivery cycle (from proposal to a project close-out); exceptional interpersonal and team collaboration skills; excellent written and verbal communication skills; proficient IT skills (MS Office etc.); high attention to detail; excellent organizational skills; great leadership skills.
  • Expert proficiency in Primavera and MS Project scheduling software together with Monte Carlo schedule risk analysis.
     

A place to work and so much more


At COWI, we work together with our customers to shape a sustainable and liveable world. We do it by applying our knowledge and curiosity – and sometimes even our courage – to create the solutions the world needs today to enable a better tomorrow. That is why we say no to fossil-based projects and aspire to have 100 per cent of our revenue come from activities that move our customers towards sustainability.

We value differences and development and cultivate an environment of belonging and having fun. Because that is what brings out the best in you, at work and at home.

With offices primarily located in Scandinavia, the UK, North America, and India, we are currently 7,300 people who bring their expertise in engineering, architecture, energy and environment into play.

What we also offer


Being part of the COWI community offers more than just a competitive salary. We take care of our people both professionally and personally.

Some of our benefits include:

Flexible working arrangement | Top-up parental and childbirth recovery leave | Fantastic close-knit team with a wealth of knowledge to share! | Full time hires get minimum 3 weeks vacation to start |  Floating holiday to celebrate employee diversity | Paid sick leave | Annual Fitness spending account. Yes, you can use this for a ski pass, yoga or gym membership | Group RRSP program with company matching | Personal and professional development fund | Parking or public transit allowance | Extended Health coverage with 100% of premiums paid by us | Employee Assistance Program (EAP) | STD, LTD, AD&D, and Life Insurance | Referral incentive program| Frequent social events

Base compensation: $200,000 to $250,000 for Toronto location. Actual compensation is subject to variations due to education, experience, skill set and/or location.


Got more questions?

Get to know us even better at our website, www.cowi.com, where you can learn more about our projects, our strategy, what we want to achieve and what life is like at COWI.

Equal opportunity employer

COWI provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, COWI complies with applicable provincial and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

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