Commissioning Scheduler
McLean, Virginia, US
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We are seeking an experienced Construction / Commissioning Scheduler to support the planning, coordination, and execution of complex construction and commissioning projects.
This position is responsible for developing, maintaining, and analyzing integrated project schedules that connect construction completion with equipment startup, testing, commissioning, and final turnover. The Scheduler will work closely with project management, construction teams, commissioning personnel, contractors, vendors, and clients to provide clear visibility into project progress, upcoming milestones, critical-path activities, constraints, and schedule risks.
The ideal candidate brings strong construction scheduling experience, proficiency with Primavera P6, and an understanding of how MEP construction activities transition through startup and commissioning to operational readiness.
What You'll Do
Schedule Development & Management
- Develop and maintain detailed construction and commissioning schedules using Primavera P6 and other approved scheduling tools.
- Apply Critical Path Method (CPM) scheduling principles and sound activity logic.
- Integrate construction, procurement, equipment delivery, startup, testing, commissioning, turnover, and closeout activities into the overall project schedule.
- Establish appropriate durations, dependencies, milestones, calendars, constraints, and sequencing.
- Maintain baseline schedules and incorporate approved project changes.
- Structure schedules to effectively track progress by area, system, subsystem, equipment, or commissioning phase.
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Construction & Commissioning Integration
- Work directly with construction and commissioning teams to establish logical sequencing from construction completion through final turnover.
- Develop and track milestones for:
- Construction and mechanical completion
- System turnover
- Equipment energization and startup
- Controls/BMS readiness
- Pre-functional activities
- Functional performance testing
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- Electrical systems testing
- Integrated systems testing
- Deficiency resolution and retesting
- Client demonstrations and training
- Final documentation and turnover
- Identify dependencies that may prevent systems or equipment from being ready for commissioning.
- Coordinate schedule requirements associated with vendor support, energization, startup, controls integration, and specialized testing.
Progress Tracking & Reporting
- Collect and evaluate schedule updates from project managers, commissioning managers, contractors, vendors, and field personnel.
- Compare planned progress against actual field conditions.
- Develop short-term look-ahead schedules to support field planning and execution.
- Prepare weekly and monthly schedule reports highlighting:
- Overall project progress
- Critical and near-critical activities
- Upcoming milestones
- Schedule variance
- Commissioning readiness
- Constraints and blockers
- Potential delays
- Required recovery actions
- Provide clear and actionable schedule information to project teams and leadership.
Schedule Analysis & Risk Management
- Perform critical-path and near-critical-path analysis.
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- Monitor float and identify activities that may affect key project or commissioning milestones.
- Evaluate schedule impact associated with delays, scope changes, resource constraints, equipment deliveries, and changes in sequencing.
- Identify emerging schedule risks before they affect major project milestones.
- Assist project teams with recovery planning and alternative sequencing strategies.
- Professionally challenge unrealistic durations, logic, sequencing, or reported progress when necessary.
Project Coordination
- Participate in construction, commissioning, scheduling, and project coordination meetings.
- Coordinate with general contractors, subcontractors, vendors, testing agencies, commissioning teams, and client representatives.
- Support system-by-system turnover planning and commissioning readiness reviews.
- Communicate schedule changes and potential impacts to appropriate stakeholders.
What We're Looking For
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Project Management, a related discipline, and or equivalent experience preferred.
- Equivalent technical education combined with relevant industry experience will be considered.
- 3+ years of construction scheduling, project controls, commissioning, or related project experience preferred.
Experience supporting complex, MEP-intensive
- construction projects strongly preferred.
- Experience with data centers, mission-critical facilities, healthcare, semiconductor, industrial, utility, or other technically complex facilities is highly desirable.
Technical Skills
- Proficiency with Primavera P6.
- Strong Microsoft Excel skills.
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- Working knowledge of:
- Critical Path Method scheduling
- Work Breakdown Structures
- Activity logic and dependencies
- Baseline management
- Progress measurement
- Critical path and float analysis
- Schedule variance analysis
- Look-ahead planning
- Milestone and constraint tracking
- Experience with Microsoft Project, Power BI, or construction/project controls platforms is a plus.
Commissioning Knowledge
The ideal candidate will have working knowledge of construction and commissioning sequencing associated with systems such as:
- Electrical distribution systems
- Switchgear and electrical equipment
- UPS and emergency power systems
- Generators
- Mechanical and HVAC systems
- Chilled-water and cooling systems
- Building automation and controls
- Fire/life-safety systems
- Equipment startup and vendor testing
- Functional performance testing
- Integrated systems testing
You do not need to be a commissioning engineer or technical authority, but you must be able to understand and manage the sequence between construction completion, energization, startup, controls integration, functional testing, integrated testing, and final turnover.