Lead, Project Planner

Job description

FORTNA partners with the world’s leading brands to transform omnichannel and parcel distribution operations. Known world-wide for enabling companies to keep pace with digital disruption and growth objectives, we design and deliver solutions, powered by intelligent software, to optimize fast, accurate and cost-effective order fulfillment and last mile delivery. Our people, innovative approach and proprietary algorithms and tools ensure optimal operations design and material and information flow. We deliver exceptional value every day to our customers with comprehensive services and products including network strategy, distribution center operational design and implementation, material handling automated equipment, robotics and a comprehensive suite of lifecycle services. At FORTNA, we believe in fostering a workplace that isn't just a job but a movement – a collective effort to redefine success and transform challenges into opportunities. "Join the Movement" encapsulates our commitment to a workplace culture that thrives on collaboration, celebrates diversity, and empowers every individual to contribute to something greater than themselves. Our Team. Our Passion. Our Approach. The Lead Project Planner is the primary planning partner for large, complex, and high-risk-rated material handling projects, or for a portfolio of concurrent projects. This role leads the development and governance of integrated Microsoft Project schedules, drives schedule alignment across functional teams, and provides advanced schedule analysis, risk management, and recovery planning support to Project Managers and project leadership. Acts as the primary planning support partner to the Project Manager on complex and high-risk-rated projects by leading integrated schedule development, driving schedule risk assessment, evaluating change impacts, and developing mitigation and recovery strategies to protect key milestones and overall project delivery. Key Responsibilities Lead the development of integrated master schedules in Microsoft Project from project handoff through final commissioning and closeout. Translate proposal schedules into detailed execution schedules with robust logic, interface milestones, functional ownership, and realistic durations aligned with project scope and contractual commitments. Facilitate schedule development workshops with Project Management, Engineering, Controls, Procurement, Manufacturing, Field Operations, Commissioning, subcontractors, and other stakeholders. Drive alignment of project execution strategy with schedule structure, sequencing, milestone plans, and resource assumptions. Perform advanced schedule analysis, including critical path review, scenario modeling, float trend analysis, milestone forecasting, and schedule recovery planning. Support Project Managers in managing complex and high-risk-rated projects by identifying execution risks early and recommending proactive corrective actions. Lead schedule impact assessments for scope changes, supply chain disruptions, customer-driven changes, field access issues, and installation or startup constraints. Prepare and present schedule health updates, executive summaries, recovery plans, and milestone forecasts for internal leadership and customer reviews. Mentor and provide functional guidance to Senior Project Planners and other planning resources. Drive consistency in scheduling practices, templates, logic standards, update routines, and reporting across projects. Support lessons learned and provide feedback to proposal and estimating teams to improve future schedule assumptions and execution planning. Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Construction Management, Operations, Project Management, or related field; equivalent experience may be considered. Typically 8–12 years of planning/scheduling experience, with proven success on large, complex, engineered-to-order or high-risk projects. Expert-level proficiency in Microsoft Project. Strong understanding of integrated project delivery across engineering, procurement, manufacturing, logistics, installation, and commissioning. Demonstrated ability to lead schedule strategy and support Project Managers in high-pressure execution environments. Strong facilitation, communication, and leadership skills. The base salary range for this role is $100,700 to $151,100. This base salary range represents the low and high end of the base salary range for this position. Actual base salary offered will vary based on various factors including but not limited to location, level, job-related knowledge, skills, experience, and performance. This job description describes the general nature and level of work expected of a person assigned to this position. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. Employees may be required to perform any other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor. It is the policy of FORTNA and its affiliated companies to provide equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, citizenship status (if authorized to work in the U.S.), or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, FORTNA will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities.