Position SummaryThe Master Scheduling Lead is a senior individual contributor leads enterprise-level project planning and field travel coordination functions.across GSI's infrastructure repair portfolio This role has direct pathway to leadership accountability for a team of Master Schedulers and a Travel Services team. This role drives the end-to-end scheduling lifecycle from sales handoff through project close, with an intense focus on resource optimization, schedule stability, and field productivity. The Lead owns the planning function independently-without direct reports-and is accountable for the key mandate of driving the highest possible volume of projects into stable execution 2-4 weeks before start while simultaneously building the systems, tools, and talent that make the planning function world-class.
Core ResponsibilitiesEnterprise Project Planning- Receive project handoffs from Sales via PM and translate scope, specs, and commitments into fully resourced master schedules.
- Plan and allocate all resources required for project execution: materials, equipment, manpower, and subcontractors.
- Manage scheduling across both a production model (repeating, high-volume work) and project execution model (complex, one-off projects).
- Target all non-urgent projects entering execution with a stable start date, scheduled at 1 month and locked at 2 weeks prior to mobilization.
- Maintain a portfolio view of all active and upcoming projects with real-time awareness of resource constraints and interdependencies.
Flex Resources & Recovery Planning- Develop and maintain a pre-qualified bench of flex resources - material vendors, equipment providers, manpower, and subcontractors-specifically designated for schedule recovery.
- Deploy flex resources proactively when planned schedules slip due to delays, change orders, or emergency work insertions.
- Ensure emergency projects can be mobilized rapidly without disrupting committed planned work.
- Maintain escalation protocols and pre-negotiated terms with flex resources to minimize activation lead time.
Daily Management & Cross-Functional Alignment- Initiate and facilitate daily management-style standup meetings with all Master Schedulers and the Travel Services to align priorities and resolve execution conflicts.
- Serve as the coordination hub between Procurement, Fleet, Warehouse, Scheduling, and Travel to ensure resource alignment across the portfolio.
- Escalate schedule risks, resource gaps, and prioritization conflicts to the VP of Operational Excellence with clear options and recommendations.
Planning Tool Development- Partner in the design and development of a next-generation dynamic scheduling and resource planning tool capable of running real-time what-if scenarios and optimizing resource allocation across the portfolio.
- Define functional requirements for multi-dimensional project views including: individual project phase breakdowns, equipment with full spec tracking across all projects, craft manpower with certifications (union vs. non-union, qualifications), subcontractor assignments by project, and material plans with delivery dates.
- Support the build-out of a Gantt-style master view showing all projects with phase-level dependencies, resource assignments, and RAG (Red/Amber/Green) schedule status across the full portfolio.
- Serve as primary subject matter expert and user advocate throughout tool development and deployment.
KPIs, Reporting & Financial Impact- Develop and own the scheduling KPI framework: schedule adherence rate, % of projects locked 2-4 weeks prior to start, resource utilization by type, and schedule recovery rate.
- Build and maintain financial impact reporting that quantifies the cost consequences of schedule changes: delay penalties, demobilization/remobilization costs, expedite premiums, and lost productivity.
- Track and report equipment utilization across the portfolio to maximize asset throughput and minimize idle time.
- Produce regular executive-ready dashboards and reports for the VP of Operational Excellence.
Continuous Improvement (Lean Building)- Champion a Lean Building mindset: continuously identify and eliminate waste in the scheduling and planning process.
- Bias every improvement initiative toward clearing the path for field crews to work productively without delays, rework, or resource gaps.
- Lead root cause analysis on schedule failures and drive systemic fixes into standard planning processes.
- Document and standardize scheduling best practices, templates, and playbooks for consistent execution.
QualificationsRequired:- 8+ years of experience in project scheduling, planning, or operations in infrastructure repair, construction, utilities, or a related field.
- Demonstrated experience managing complex, multi-project portfolios at an enterprise scale.
- Demonstrated experience in change management
- Proficiency in scheduling software; ability to evaluate and adopt new planning tools.
- Strong understanding of resource planning across craft labor (union and non-union), equipment, subcontractors, and materials.
- Experience developing KPIs, dashboards, and financial impact reports tied to schedule performance.
- Exceptional facilitation and cross-functional communication skills.
Preferred:- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Operations, Business, or related field.
- Lean Six Sigma certification or demonstrated Lean/continuous improvement experience.
- Experience in infrastructure repair, industrial field services or construction environments.
- Experience contributing to the design or implementation of enterprise planning/scheduling tools.
US pay range for this role.
$115,000-$145,000 USD
