Metro Planning (Scheduler) Leader
Cologne, Germany
EUR 90,100-152,500 / year
Microsoft Cloud Operations and Innovation (CO+I) is the team behind Microsoft's cloud infrastructure. Within CO+I, Datacenter Engineering delivers complex, large-scale datacenter construction projects that power Microsoft's global cloud platform. We are seeking a Metro Planning (Scheduler) Leader to provide strategic planning leadership across multiple datacenter construction projects within a metro region. This role is responsible for driving consistency in planning practices, enabling effective project controls, and ensuring project teams have the insights needed to deliver against key milestones and business objectives.
The successful candidate will oversee planning activities across a portfolio of projects, partnering with project planners, project managers, contractors, and cross-functional stakeholders to ensure schedules are integrated, risks are proactively managed, and progress is clearly communicated. They will be responsible for consolidating complex project data into executive-level insights, identifying trends and risks across multiple programs, and supporting decision-making through high-quality reporting and schedule analysis. This role requires solid leadership, stakeholder management, strategic thinking, and the ability to translate detailed project information into clear and actionable recommendations.
The position is based in Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, and is a site-based role supporting construction projects across the region. The successful candidate will bring experience leading planning and scheduling activities within large-scale infrastructure, engineering, or construction environments and will thrive in a collaborative setting where influencing stakeholders, driving alignment, and enabling successful project delivery are critical to success.
Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain Integrated Master Schedules (IMS) for datacentre construction projects.
- Coordinate with engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, and partner teams to ensure key milestones are achieved.
- Support General Contractor baseline schedule reviews, evaluations, and compliance assessments.
- Perform schedule analysis, variance analysis, delay impact assessments, and schedule health checks.
- Lead weekly and monthly schedule reviews with project teams and contractors.
- Prepare reporting and planning deliverables in accordance with Microsoft Rhythm of Business requirements.
- Identify schedule risks and develop mitigation and recovery strategies.
- Support collaborative planning workshops and project execution activities.
- Interface with project managers, contractors, vendors, and regional leadership to ensure schedule alignment and delivery success
Qualifications
Required / Minimun Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent professional experience.
- Experience in project controls, planning, engineering, construction management, or programme management.
- Experience developing and managing integrated project schedules.
- Knowledge of critical path scheduling methodologies and schedule controls.
- Experience using Oracle Primavera P6.
- Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced project environment.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Significant experience supporting large capital construction programmes.
- Datacentre, industrial, energy, oil & gas, pharmaceutical, or mission-critical project experience.
- Experience with earned value management and schedule risk analysis.
- Advanced Primavera P6 expertise.
- Ability to present schedule data and executive-level insights to senior stakeholders.
- Experience working across cross-functional and geographically distributed teams
Background Check Requirements:
Ability to meet Microsoft, customer and/or government security screening requirements are required for this role. These requirements include, but are not limited to the following specialized security screenings:
- Microsoft Cloud Background Check: This position will be required to pass the Microsoft Cloud background check upon hire/transfer and every two years thereafter.
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Technical Program Management IC4 - The typical base pay range for this role across Germany is € 90,100.00 - € 152,500.00 per year. Certain roles may be eligible for benefits and other compensation.
Find additional benefits and pay information here:
https://careers.microsoft.com/v2/global/en/corporate-pay/germany-corporate-pay.html
This position will be open for a minimum of 5 days, with applications accepted on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.
Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, citizenship, color, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, immigration status, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, protected veteran or military status, race, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local laws, regulations and ordinances. If you need assistance with religious accommodations and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application process, read more about requesting accommodations.