Senior Project Planner

Job Title: Senior Project Planner

Career Level: D

Introduction to role:

Are you ready to orchestrate complex, end-to-end schedules that bring a new manufacturing campus online faster for patients? Do you thrive at the intersection of strategy and execution, turning data into decisive action and momentum?

As Senior Project Planner, you will be a key driver of the end-to-end schedule that turns a bold campus vision into a high-performing reality. You will partner closely with the Senior Planning Engineer and cross-discipline leaders to build and maintain a single source of truth for time, risk, and progress across construction, engineering, commissioning, procurement, permitting, utilities tie-ins, and operational readiness.

Your work will convert uncertainty into clear, optimized plans; expose risk before it brings up; and enable faster, smarter decisions. The impact is tangible: better coordination, quicker execution, and earlier delivery of life-changing medicines to patients worldwide.

Accountabilities:

• Operational Readiness Scheduling: Lead and support the development of project schedules for multiple operational readiness workstreams (tech transfer, supply chain setup, quality systems, EHS, utilities readiness, digital systems, training, regulatory/inspection readiness) and integrate them with the broader program plan.
• Integrated Master Schedule Leadership: Partner with the Senior Planning Engineer to develop and maintain an Integrated Master Schedule covering the full campus establishment program, including operational readiness, construction, engineering, Commissioning, Qualification and Validation (CQV), procurement (including long-leads), permitting, and utilities tie-ins.
• Cross-Discipline Planning and Decision Enablement: Conduct interactive planning sessions with multi-discipline teams; resolve logic conflicts; drive timely, informed decision-making.
• Planning Optimization: Find opportunities to streamline and optimize schedules, strengthen coordination across teams, and create paths for faster execution and delivery.
• Schedule Risk Management: Lead Schedule Risk Analysis (Monte Carlo); define schedule contingency/reserve and critical risk drivers; integrate outputs into governance forums and recovery actions.
• Controls and Progress Measurement: Implement schedule control and progress measurement systems; leverage third-party systems where appropriate; review third-party forecasts for trend and performance alignment; resource-load schedules as needed.
• Performance Reporting and Insights: Provide monthly schedule performance data; build and own executive critical metric dashboards (Power BI or equivalent) with trend analysis, float erosion tracking, forecasting visualizations, scenario planning for acceleration/re sequencing, and automated data pipelines from P6/SAP/Unifier.
• Cost and Procurement Integration: Coordinate with estimating and cost control to align cost estimates/forecasts and schedule; ensure schedules reflect the program execution plan and procurement strategies.
• Capability Uplift and Standards: Develop and deliver training in planning and scheduling standard processes, including peer reviews; ensure program schedules meet corporate requirements.
• Operating Model and Continuous Improvement: Contribute to the development and implementation of the Project Management function operating model, including procedures, tools, and templates.
• Special Initiatives: Lead special projects and initiatives that advance organizational objectives and performance.

Essential Skills/Experience:

• Demonstrated experience leading and supporting the development of project schedules for multiple operational readiness workstreams and integrating them into a broader program plan.
• Proven ability to partner with planning leadership to develop and maintain an Integrated Master Schedule encompassing operational readiness, construction, engineering, CQV, procurement (including long-leads), permitting, and utilities tie-ins.
• Expertise conducting interactive planning sessions across multi-discipline teams; resolving logic conflicts; and driving decision-making.
• Track record of identifying planning opportunities to create efficient, optimized plans that improve coordination and accelerate execution and delivery.
• Experience leading Schedule Risk Analysis (Monte Carlo), defining schedule contingency/reserve and critical risk drivers, and integrating outputs into governance and recovery actions.
• Hands-on implementation of schedule control and progress measurement systems; experience demonstrating third-party systems; ability to review third-party forecasts to confirm reflection of current trends and performance levels; capability to resource-load schedules where appropriate.
• Ability to provide monthly schedule performance data and to build/own executive critical metric dashboards (Power BI or equivalent) with trend analysis, float erosion tracking, forecasting visualizations, scenario planning, and automated data pipelines from P6/SAP/Unifier.
• Experience coordinating with estimating and cost control resources to align cost estimates/forecasts with schedules and to ensure schedules reflect program execution plans and procurement strategies.
• Experience developing and delivering training in planning and scheduling, including peer reviews; ensuring schedules meet corporate requirements.
• Active support for the development and implementation of a Project Management function operating model, including program and project procedures, tools, and templates.
• Leadership of special projects and initiatives to support the organization.

Desirable Skills/Experience:

• Background in large, multi-phase capital programs within regulated manufacturing environments, including CQV and utilities tie-ins.
• Advanced proficiency with Primavera P6, SAP, Unifier, and Power BI, including automation and data modeling across these platforms.
• Experience with greenfield site establishment and end-to-end operational readiness across tech transfer, quality systems, EHS, digital systems, and training.
• Familiarity with permitting processes and long-lead procurement strategies in complex programs.
• Formal training or certification in facilitation, risk analysis, or advanced scheduling techniques.
• Experience embedding lean planning practices and continuous improvement within scheduling and controls.

When we put unexpected teams in the same room, we unleash bold thinking with the power to inspire life-changing medicines. In-person working gives us the platform we need to connect, work at pace and challenge

perceptions. That's why we work, on average, a minimum of three days per week from the office. But that doesn't mean we're not flexible. We balance the expectation of being in the office while respecting individual flexibility. Join us in our unique and ambitious world.

Why AstraZeneca:

At AstraZeneca, your planning craft accelerates real-world impact. You will shape a flagship campus within a global manufacturing and supply network that turns molecules into medicines at scale, using innovative science, digital technologies, and lean practices to drive speed and reliability. We bring unexpected combinations of expertise together to spark bold thinking and practical delivery, and we value kindness alongside ambition—so you can push boundaries while being supported by teammates who care deeply about patients, sustainability, and each other. Here, your ability to simplify complexity and align diverse stake holders directly influences how quickly quality medicines reach people who need them most.

Call to Action:

If you are ready to set the pace for a world-class campus and help deliver life-changing medicines sooner, bring your planning leadership to AstraZeneca and make your mark now.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Date Posted

Closing Date

AstraZeneca embraces diversity and equality of opportunity.  We are committed to building an inclusive and diverse team representing all backgrounds, with as wide a range of perspectives as possible, and harnessing industry-leading skills.  We believe that the more inclusive we are, the better our work will be.  We welcome and consider applications to join our team from all qualified candidates, regardless of their characteristics.  We comply with all applicable laws and regulations on non-discrimination in employment (and recruitment), as well as work authorization and employment eligibility verification requirements.